Tillie Hidalgo Lima
About this Executive:
Name:
Tillie Hidalgo Lima
Company:
Best Upon Request Corporate, Inc.
Interview Topics:
Corporate and Professional Services
Region:
Region 5 - Southwest Ohio
There are people we meet in life who have amazing business accomplishments and who inspire us to achieve more professionally. Then there are people who, through the way they live their lives, inspire us to make a difference personally. Tillie Hidalgo Lima is one of those rare individuals who is incredibly inspiring both personally and professionally.
Tillie is CEO of Best Upon Request, a concierge services firm that helps companies improve bottom line profit performance by helping employees better integrate their work and personal lives. Under her leadership, Best Upon Request has nearly quadrupled in size and in 2005 was awarded the Small Business Excellence Award for minority business of the year by the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. But her role as a mother and volunteer leader in organizations like the Girl Scouts, YWCA, the Cincinnati Chamber's Women Excel Executive Advisory Board, Leadership Cincinnati Steering Committee and Agenda 360, is what provides Tillie with a fulfilling life, which, as she puts it, "helps define my dash."
Q: We are saying to executives that everything they need to build a successful business is here in Ohio. Has that been true for Best Upon Request?
A: Yes, in several ways. Most important to me is the quality of the people in Ohio. For example, there is a wonderful Midwest work ethic among those on our leadership team. They are energetic and engaged in life. These qualities translate into a passion for providing customer service and in our business that means superior performance for our clients. I also have been impressed by the support we receive from the Cincinnati USA Regional Chamber. They have been a source of information we have leveraged often to help build our business. The quality of the Ohio education system is also top notch. I have personal experience with both the University of Cincinnati and The Ohio State University. Both have cutting edge research programs and amazingly vibrant campuses. Based on my experience, the graduates of those programs are well prepared to be highly successful in life.
Q: As a small business leader, do you feel Ohio has a friendly business environment for entrepreneurs?
A: One of the more remarkable programs in Ohio is the Third Frontier Program. My husband is involved with the initiative. This program provides entrepreneurs the opportunity to network with other professionals and get guidance on best practices that can make them successful in the marketplace. Grant money is available to support entrepreneurs that have qualified technical projects with great commercial potential. This program has the potential to put Ohio on the map for entrepreneurs and is a definite reason to take a close look at Ohio as a place to invest capital. In addition, there is a great infrastructure in place to help small businesses access venture capital funding, making it easier for entrepreneurs to realize their dreams.
Q: We claim success in Ohio is defined in the broader context of a balanced life. Your company mission is to support employer efforts to help employees achieve work:life integration so they can achieve more professionally and personally. What benefits do your clients see when their employees achieve that goal, and do you think the choice of business location plays a role in this outcome?
A: Yes. We have data from our surveys that demonstrate employees can save an average of two hours per every fulfilled concierge service request. Almost 60% of respondents say that this saved time is invested in increased productivity on the job. It also results in employees taking less work home and having more available time to spend in pursuit of their personal goals. We've also found the new generation of employees want a more fulfilling life. They want to integrate their work and personal lives in a way that allows them to accomplish their goals in both. I think Ohio offers the possibility to have the best of both worlds. Time freed up by being more productive during the work day is of little value if you can't afford to capitalize on it, or there are few opportunities to enjoy yourself.
Q: What has been your personal experience with balancing personal and professional success in Ohio?
A: One of the things I cherish about Ohio is that I can be home for dinner with my family. It is an important time for us. I have always made it a priority to be part of my children's lives as they grow up because I believe it is a lot harder to have a meaningful relationship with them after they are adults if you didn't have one when they were children. In Ohio, there are a lot of things to do as a family - bike trails, parks, the Ohio River, the small towns, the theme parks, the museums, the restaurants and downtown Cincinnati. This is a great state in which to raise a family and provide the solid grounding children need to be successful in making their way in a global economy. I think Ohio is an ideal location to raise a child.
Q: Talk to me about the Ohio business climate for minority led companies. Would you recommend it as a location to consider for capital investment for a minority company?
A: Diversity is an area of great personal passion for me. Best Upon Request was an honoree for the 2006 and 2007 Torch Awards, the Marketplace Ethics Award of the Better Business Bureau. And in 2007 we were ranked 47th on Hispanic Business magazine's 100 fastest-growing Hispanic companies in the United States. I'm also frequently asked to speak on the subject of diversity. I think Ohio's potential to be a beacon of light for valuing diversity in the workplace is outstanding. Ohio is a place where individuals can make a meaningful difference in the lives of others and my experience is that the people in Ohio live the YWCA concept of "lift as you climb." In Ohio, I see examples of minority leaders reaching out a hand to lift others whenever possible. I would say to minority business leaders that Ohio is a state that is definitely worth a close look and would welcome their business with an open heart.