Jean Francois Heno’s Experience
Jean Francois Heno is an entrepreneur and business administrator with 20 years of experience in corporate positions in general management, sales, and consulting, primarily in the technology sector in Europe, Latin America, and Asia. Since 2016, he has focused on developing his own business in the health sector in Colombia.
In your experience, what are the biggest health sector opportunities in Colombia?
I believe the biggest opportunities are in AI and software in general, as well as introducing new technologies. There is also potential in consulting to improve business organizations. Many skilled doctors run their businesses with very little academic background in business.
Using three words, how would you describe the health sector in Colombia?
Three words: passion, dedication, quality.
Can you share three things you wish you knew before breaking into the Colombian health market?
I wish I had known better about local regulations, which are sometimes outdated and present real difficulties for scaling up the business.
What made you decide to do business in Colombia? Can you tell us a bit about yourself?
I started working in Colombia as a consultant in 2003 for the startup Ola, which today is Tigo. Later, I did another assignment for Nokia in 2004 and accepted a job offer from Nokia. Once here, I started 1485 Dental Spa in 2015 and left my corporate job. My wife is Colombian, and I got married in 2002 in Spain, which obviously influenced our decision to move here initially.
After spending many years as a consultant and then as a general manager in corporate firms, I decided to start a new life as an entrepreneur and launched 1485 Dental Spa, a network of dental clinics focused on customer experience and particularly on reducing stress and pain in dental treatments. I have two little girls, and I am fond of tennis and fencing. I have now been living here for 17 years, having initially come for a three-month project. Colombia is an attractive and charming place to live, and most people I have known end up staying longer than expected.
Is there something in your specific sector that surprised you when opening your business? Something, for example, that was a huge roadblock that you had to work hard to pivot or push through?
Yes. Licenses are very tough to obtain from the authorities. Another roadblock is the difficulty of dealing with health professionals who focus on health issues and tend to be underprepared regarding business considerations.
Why would you recommend Europa Network?
I would recommend Europa Network for their professionalism and the quality of the people I have met there.
