Meet David Chitel: CEO & Founder of The New Generation Latino Consortium

On Monday April 11, 2011 the New Generation Latino Consortium will host the fourth installment of the industry leading ‘NGLC Media, Marketing & Entertainment Conference’ at the Harvard Club of NYC. I will be one of many Latino bloggers, entertainers and media professionals in attendance. To celebrate the event and the impact it has on the Latino community, I recently interviewed David Chitel, NGLC Founder and Chairman.

1. As a young child did you ever see yourself having the career you have today? Did you ever think that you would become a mentor to many?

I LED A PRETTY “GRINGO” LIFE UP UNTIL COLLEGE WHEN I LIVED ABROAD IN SEVILLA, SPAIN. SINCE I’M 50% SPANISH, IT REALLY PUT ME IN TOUCH WITH MY CULTURAL BACKGROUND, AND OF COURSE, THE SPANISH LANGUAGE IN WHICH I’M NOW TOTALLY FLUENT. AFTER THAT, IT WAS A NATURAL PROGRESSION INTO APPLYING MY PASSION FOR ALL THINGS LATINO AND MEDIA. FOLLOWING WHAT I WAS PASSIONATE ABOUT LED ME INTO THE FIELD I’M IN TODAY. IT’S THE ONLY THING I’VE EVER DONE PROFESSIONALLY.

AS FAR AS BEING A MENTOR, I JUST TRY TO STAY TRUE TO WHO I AM AND WHAT I’M PASSIONATE ABOUT. SOMETIMES THAT IMPACTS OTHERS IN A POSITIVE WAY WHICH IS VERY GRATIFYING TO ME.

2. Being a Latino man, what do you feel you bring to the table of success?

TO ME THERE IS NO REAL “TABLE OF SUCCESS,” BUT MORE PEOPLE WHO HAVE REALIZED THEIR DREAMS AND ARE STILL REACHING FURTHER FOR MORE. I MEASURE MY SUCCESS BY HITTING MY PERSONAL GOALS WHICH SOMETIMES ARE VERY SMALL AND SEEMINGLY INCONSEQUENTIAL IN THE TRADITIONAL SENSE. TO BE AN EFFECTIVE ENTREPRENEUR YOU NEED TO BREAK THINGS DOWN INTO VERY SMALL PIECES AND CHECK BOXES ALONG THE WAY, OR YOU’LL QUICKLY GET OVERWHELMED BY THE ENORMITY OF THE BIG IDEAS WE TEND TO HAVE. I GUESS I’M TRYING TO SAY THAT SUCCESS IS SOMETHING THAT I MEASURE IN A MORE PERSONAL WAY THAT PROBABLY ONLY MEANS SOMETHING TO ME.

3. If you could provide a timeline to market a new business what would this be? Many of us want to take that big step in starting our own business and information like this is very valuable.

IT’S LIKE PEOPLE TRYING TO CREATE “THE NEXT VIRAL VIDEO.” THERE IS NO TIMELINE OR ROADMAP TO FOLLOW IN MY OPINION. IT JUST HAPPENS. IT’S NOT TO SAY YOU SHOULDN’T HAVE DATES AND GOALS IN MIND, BUT 9 OUT OF 10 TIMES, YOU’LL NEED TO ADAPT ALONG THE WAY AND ADJUST TO REALITIES THAT ARE PRESENTED TO YOU. TO ANYONE WHO WANTS TO START THEIR OWN BUSINESS, JUST MAKE SURE YOU’RE READY TO COMMIT EVERYTHING TO IT. MONEY, PASSION, TIME, SACRIFICES AND RELENTLESS COMMITMENT TO GETTING IT OFF THE GROUND NO MATTER WHAT. HAVE A PLAN, BUT BE PREPARED TO BE WRONG AND ADJUST. I’D SAY THAT’S PROBABLY THE BIGGEST REASON PEOPLE GIVE UP. YOU NEED TO HAVE A VISION AND BELIEVE IN IT 100% EVEN IF THE PATH TO REALIZING IT ISN’T 100% CLEAR AND/OR CHANGES ALONG THE WAY. I LIVE BY THE MOTTO “VISION OVER VISIBILITY.” I TATTOOED IT ON MY WRIST AS A REMINDER.

4. David, what do you do on your down time?

IN MY DOWNTIME I SPEND TIME WITH MY WIFE AND 2 KIDS. I ALSO PLAY MUSIC IN A BAND AND DO AT LEAST ONE TRIATHLON PER YEAR.

5.What is your goal for the year of 2011 and what projects are working on now for 2012?

IN 2011 I’M EXCITED ABOUT THE WORK I’M DOING WITH MY ORGANIZATION, THE NEW GENERATION LATINO CONSORTIUM (www.NGLC.biz) AND MY NEW COMPANY WITH JOHN LEGUIZAMO (www.UrbanoTV.com). BOTH HAVE ME QUITE BUSY THESE DAYS. 2012 WILL BE MORE OF THE SAME. TO USE A TRIATHLON ANALOGY, I’M STILL ON THE “SWIMMING LEG” OF THE RACE. MILES TO GO BEFORE HITTING THE PROVERBIAL “FINISH LINE.” THEN WE’LL HAVE TO DREAM IT ALL UP AGAIN AND START OVER.