# La Primera experiencia es la base para un buen profesional | Edwin Montaña | TEDxUIS Source: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wpQasueCCeI Recap page: https://rapidrecap.app/video/wpQasueCCeI Generated: 2026-01-05T19:02:58.254+00:00 --- ## Quick Overview Edwin Montaña concludes that the foundation for becoming a good professional, whether in engineering or entrepreneurship, lies in embracing the inherent difficulty and risks of the journey, a realization solidified by the demanding schedule he maintained while caring for his newborn daughter. **Key Points:** - Montaña worked as a plant operator for many years, simultaneously studying engineering at night to advance his career. - The speaker took a significant financial risk, investing his savings and going into debt to start his own business after the birth of his daughter. - He faced initial rejection when seeking support, as no entity financially backed his venture due to his lack of experience in the market. - His strong motivation was driven by the need to provide for his family, including his daughter, and keep his promise to her. - During the challenging period (2016-2020), he worked intensely, juggling studies, work, and caring for his newborn, often sleeping only 2-3 hours a night. - The speaker emphasizes that the biggest risk is choosing not to take risks, highlighting the importance of perseverance through difficulties. - By 2021, his persistence led to professional recognition, with companies actively seeking him out, and he and his team transitioned into roles as engineers and entrepreneurs. ![Screenshot at 04:04: The speaker stands on stage next to the large TEDx letters while a slide behind him reads: 'LA PRIMERA EXPERIENCIA ES BASE PARA UN BUEN PROFESIONAL Edwin Montaña', emphasizing the central theme of the talk.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/wpQasueCCeI/00-04-04.jpg) **Context:** This TEDx talk, delivered by Edwin Montaña at TEDxUIS (Universidad Industrial de Santander), is a personal narrative about overcoming significant professional and personal challenges, particularly balancing demanding work and studies with the responsibility of fatherhood, to achieve entrepreneurial success and professional recognition. The core message revolves around the idea that early struggles and risks are essential for long-term professional development. ## Detailed Analysis Edwin Montaña shares his personal journey, starting as a plant operator who studied engineering at night for years, driven by the desire to advance. He recounts the immense difficulty of this period (2016-2020), which included the birth of his daughter and the need to secure a better financial future for his family. This necessity fueled a major risk: investing everything he had, going into debt, and starting his own business even when established entities wouldn't support him due to his lack of market experience. He describes working grueling hours—studying late and waking up early to care for his baby—because he felt he had promised his daughter he would succeed. A key turning point came when he realized the greatest risk was not taking risks at all. He decided to actively seek opportunities, approaching clients in cities like Bucaramanga, San Gil, and Socorro, selling acrylics and signage, and funding his education. By 2020/2021, as the pandemic hit, his company was established enough to be recognized, and he and his team, now composed of engineers and entrepreneurs, were being sought after by other organizations. He concludes by stressing that life teaches you to enjoy the process, even when things are difficult, and that his hard-won experience was the true foundation for his success. ### Introduction and Early Struggle - Acknowledging the honor of speaking at TEDxUIS - Speaker previously worked as a plant operator while studying engineering at night - He experienced long nights and early mornings caring for his newborn daughter. ### The Major Risk and Motivation - Speaker invested his savings and went into debt to start a business after his daughter was born - He faced rejection from entities that did not support him due to lack of experience. ### Overcoming Adversity - Speaker traveled to cities like San Gil, Socorro, and Barranca to sell products (acrylics, signage) to fund his studies and fulfill his promise to his daughter. ### The Realization - Speaker realized that the greatest risk is not taking risks; he needed to be visible and push forward despite the difficulties. ### Professional Growth and Outcome - By 2021, his company gained traction, and former colleagues/students started seeking them out for their expertise - The speaker and his team are now recognized as entrepreneurs and engineers. ### Concluding Message - The importance of enjoying the process, as life presents challenges that prepare one for future success. ![Screenshot at 00:05: Introductory slide with the theme 'La ingeniería no solo resuelve, también inspira' \(Engineering not only solves, it also inspires\).](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/wpQasueCCeI/00-00-05.jpg) ![Screenshot at 00:10: Speaker Edwin Montaña taking the stage on the TEDxUIS platform.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/wpQasueCCeI/00-00-10.jpg) ![Screenshot at 02:04: Slide displaying the main theme: 'LA PRIMERA EXPERIENCIA ES BASE PARA UN BUEN PROFESIONAL Edwin Montaña'.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/wpQasueCCeI/00-02-04.jpg) ![Screenshot at 03:59: Speaker gesturing while describing the difficult period of his life.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/wpQasueCCeI/00-03-59.jpg) ![Screenshot at 15:14: Final slide displaying the logos of the organizing and supporting institutions.](https://ss.rapidrecap.app/screens/wpQasueCCeI/00-15-14.jpg)