Jorge Echenique shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Jorge , it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What do you think is misunderstood about your business?
One of the most common misconceptions about operations is that it’s purely logistical or rigid but in reality, it’s a deeply creative role. Things rarely go exactly as planned in live events, so success often hinges on your ability to adapt in real time. For me, it’s about finding the right balance: keeping things on track while navigating unexpected changes with agility, problem solving under pressure, and doing it all with a sense of style and intention that reflects the spirit of the event. Creativity in operations is what keeps everything moving and keeps it all looking seamless to the audience
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jorge Echenique, and I’m an event operations professional with a passion for turning complex ideas into seamless, real-world experiences. I oversee the full lifecycle of event production from initial planning and logistics through onsite execution and post event evaluation.
I was born in Peru and moved to the U.S. at the age of nine, an experience that shaped my adaptability and gave me a deep appreciation for cultural diversity. That perspective has carried into my work helping me navigate team dynamics, understand audiences, and bring people together through shared experiences.
What makes my work unique is the way I approach operations: not just as a checklist of tasks, but as a creative and strategic discipline. Live events rarely go exactly as planned, and I believe the magic happens in how you adapt, stay calm under pressure, and keep things moving forward with intention and style. I’m driven by the belief that opportunity means little without consistency and preparation and I try to bring that mindset to every project I take on.
At the end of the day, my goal is simple: create events that feel effortless to the audience, even when the work behind the scenes is anything but. For me, every event is a chance to tell a story, build connection, and leave a lasting impression.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
The person who taught me the most about work is my mother. Watching her rebuild our life from the ground up after we moved from Peru to the United States gave me a real, firsthand understanding of what dedication, sacrifice, and consistency look like. She didn’t just work hard, she worked smart, stayed focused, and always found a way forward, even in unfamiliar territory.
Her example taught me that success isn’t just about talent or timing it’s about showing up, doing the work, and being ready for opportunity when it comes. That mindset has shaped every step of my professional journey and continues to guide how I lead, collaborate, and take ownership in my role today.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
I would tell my younger self, “You’re doing better than you think and all the change, all the uncertainty, is shaping you into someone strong, adaptable, and capable of creating real impact.”
I didn’t always see the value in the challenges I was facing. But looking back, every difficult moment taught me resilience, cultural awareness, and the importance of staying ready for opportunity. I’d remind myself that it’s okay not to have all the answers yet and that staying consistent, staying grounded, and trusting the process will pay off in ways you can’t yet imagine.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
One cultural value I protect at all costs is respect for people, their time, their backgrounds, and their contributions. Growing up between two cultures taught me the importance of honoring different perspectives and meeting people where they are. In operations, respect isn’t just a soft skill it’s essential to building trust, maintaining calm under pressure, and creating environments where teams can perform at their best.
Whether I’m working with a production crew, coordinating with vendors, or engaging with clients, I make it a priority to listen, communicate clearly, and show up prepared. Respect creates the foundation for strong collaboration and ultimately leads to smoother events and stronger relationships. For me, it’s not just a professional standard it’s a personal non negotiable.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
I hope people say that I was someone who showed up fully, consistently, and with intention. That I wasn’t just reliable in the technical sense, but dependable in a way that made people feel supported, respected, and empowered. I hope they say I brought clarity to chaos, that I could take complex situations and turn them into well-executed moments that felt effortless to everyone else.
More than anything, I hope the story people tell is that I led with humility and purpose that I stayed connected to where I came from, that I never stopped learning, and that I created space for others to rise alongside me. That I turned opportunity into impact, not just for myself, but for the teams, communities, and people I worked with.
If my legacy is one of consistency, integrity, and quiet leadership that helped others succeed, then I’ll know I did something meaningful.
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Jake Littman
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