Jose Angel Pereira Ruimwyk of Cypress on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Jose Angel Pereira Ruimwyk shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Jose Angel, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What is something outside of work that is bringing you joy lately?
Lately, what’s been bringing me the greatest joy is spending intentional time with my grandsons and serving through my church. Staying with them, sharing laughs, and especially going to the movies together has become a cherished tradition. Those moments—full of curiosity, fun, and love—remind me of how precious life is, and they keep me grounded.

At church, I’m actively serving in two ministries that are close to my heart: TAG (The Art of Giving) and Golden Heart, our senior citizen outreach. TAG allows me to give back through acts of kindness and generosity, while Golden Heart gives me the privilege of honoring and supporting our elders. These ministries have become a vital part of my life and spiritual walk, bringing joy through connection, purpose, and community.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Jose Pereira, and I’m the founder of JoseConnect.com LLC, a leadership and resilience coaching company inspired by one of the most defining chapters of my life. As the former CEO of CITGO Petroleum and a survivor of nearly five years of wrongful imprisonment as part of the Citgo6, I emerged from captivity with a renewed mission: to help others rise from adversity and lead with integrity, purpose, and unshakable faith.

Today, I’m a bestselling author, international keynote speaker, executive coach, and host of the “Building Resilience” podcast and newsletter, where I share tools, strategies, and interviews that empower leaders to thrive under pressure. I’ve delivered speeches on major global stages—including the United Nations, universities, business summits, and corporate events—on topics such as crisis leadership, resilience, faith, and purpose.

Beyond my professional work, I actively serve in two ministries at my church, supporting spiritual development and outreach. I’m also the founder of Angels Helping in Earth, a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping immigrants and trauma survivors recover and rebuild with dignity and hope.

What makes my brand unique is that everything I teach—resilience, leadership, emotional strength—comes not from theory, but from lived experience. I turned my suffering into a platform to support others, and I’m committed to helping individuals and organizations rise stronger—no matter the storm they face.

Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
The moment that truly shaped the way I see the world today was the day I was taken as a hostage—wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela as part of the Citgo6. In an instant, everything I knew collapsed. I went from being a CEO and respected executive to a prisoner, isolated and stripped of my freedom, dignity, and control over my own life.

But that moment didn’t break me—it transformed me.

It forced me to confront the deepest parts of myself. I saw the world through a different lens: the fragility of success, the strength of the human spirit, and the power of faith when everything else is gone. I witnessed both the cruelty and the kindness of humanity. And I learned that real leadership doesn’t come from position or title—it comes from purpose, resilience, and the ability to serve others even when you’re suffering.

That experience rebuilt me from the inside out. It gave me clarity, courage, and a calling: to use my story to help others lead through adversity, rediscover their values, and rise stronger—no matter what challenges they face.

What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?
Yes, I carry wounds—deep ones. The greatest came from being wrongfully imprisoned for nearly five years as part of the Citgo6. I was stripped of my freedom, dignity, and voice. I experienced betrayal, injustice, isolation, and the aching silence of being separated from my family.

But those wounds did not define the end of my story—they became the beginning of my healing.

Healing started with faith—leaning into God when everything else was gone. It continued through the 1,000 secret letters I exchanged with my wife, which reminded me daily that I still mattered, that I was still loved, and that hope is always alive.

But part of my healing also came after my release—when I began to speak, to coach, to write my story, and to stand up as a voice for others who are still suffering in silence. I have now given hundreds of interviews and spoken on global stages to raise awareness about hostage diplomacy, becoming one of the most prominent former hostage voices in the U.S. I actively support organizations like Hostage Aid Worldwide, Hostage US, and the James Foley Foundation, because I know what it means to feel forgotten—and I am determined to ensure others never feel that way again.

I also found healing in service. Today, I serve in two ministries in my church, and I’ve founded Angels Helping in Earth, a nonprofit dedicated to helping immigrants and trauma survivors rebuild their lives with dignity and strength.

Therapy continues to be part of my journey, not because I’m broken, but because I believe in the power of continuous growth.

My scars are no longer a source of shame—they’re the proof of God’s grace, the fuel behind my purpose, and the reason I now help others rise from pain into power.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What’s a belief or project you’re committed to, no matter how long it takes?
I am deeply committed to the belief that no one should suffer in silence—especially those who have been wrongfully imprisoned, traumatized, or stripped of their voice. No matter how long it takes, I will continue to advocate for hostages, fight against hostage diplomacy, and stand with survivors of trauma—especially immigrants who are rebuilding their lives.

One of the projects I’m most devoted to is building and expanding my nonprofit, Angels Helping in Earth. This foundation is more than a mission—it’s a calling. It exists to support immigrants, trauma survivors, and underserved communities with emotional, spiritual, and practical tools to recover and thrive. I know firsthand what it means to feel abandoned by the system, and I refuse to let others walk that road alone.

At the same time, I remain fully committed to growing JoseConnect.com LLC and my Unbreakable Leadership Coaching Program, because I believe that leaders who heal, lead with purpose—and that leadership rooted in resilience can change lives, communities, and even nations.

This is not just work. It’s my life’s assignment. Whether it takes years or decades—I’m in it for the long haul.

Okay, so let’s keep going with one more question that means a lot to us: What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
When I’m gone, I hope people don’t just remember the titles I held or the adversity I survived—I hope they remember the man I became because of it.

I want people to tell the story of someone who faced injustice, pain, and unimaginable loss… and still chose faith over bitterness, purpose over fear, and service over silence. That even after nearly five years of wrongful imprisonment, I didn’t come back seeking revenge—I came back seeking meaning.

I hope they say, “Jose never gave up. He used his pain to lift others. He spoke when others were afraid. He stood for the forgotten, the voiceless, the broken. He built bridges of hope.”

I want to be remembered as someone who turned suffering into healing, who believed deeply in redemption, and who walked with humility, passion, and purpose.

Let them talk about the father, the husband, the servant leader, the mentor, the coach, and the believer—someone who didn’t waste the second chance God gave him, and instead used it to help others rise.

That’s the story I pray they tell.

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all image are taking by myself

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