With an everlasting inclination for technology, Sergio Tang has been devoted to understanding its role in communities and human life since he was a child. When he was ready to attend university, he considered studying systems engineering, but went the finance route instead, graduating with a degree in the field in his home country of Peru. Despite this, true to his nature, Sergio found his way back to technology.
His career is an illustration of how powerful technology can be when used to serve communities all over the world. He has seen how implementing new technologies can change how businesses connect with their employees and customers, disrupt challenging property ownership dynamics for low-income families, and even make education more accessible during tough times. Through a variety of experiences, Sergio has become an astoundingly gifted product manager and growth marketing expert, navigating each new challenge with a creative spin and delivering impressive results.
Currently, Sergio is the Head of Product and Growth at Vivela, an organization that aims to democratize access to mortgages in Peru for low-income, first-time homebuyers. The average mortgage that Vivela works with is roughly $25,000; the entire team supports Peruvian people who have struggled to access homeownership.
To better serve its customers, Vivela needed an overhaul. Sergio launched a rebranding campaign, overhauled the customer experience, and used connective marketing tactics to communicate with Vivela's users. This required a deep examination of the "voice of the customer" which compiled countless hours of customer interviews and market studies, resulting in design plans that addressed the findings. An unintuitive customer experience makes the benefits of a platform like this one less accessible, and for Sergio, accessibility was critical. Now, thanks to Vivela's fresh approach, hardworking families in Peru can get into safer, more comfortable living situations.
Sergio champions Human-Centered Design and Engineering in every project he takes on. This methodology helps solutions and technologies thrive in complex human environments, making these solutions more likely to work. His passion for HCDE grew from his own lived experiences; as a child, Sergio would watch families in his communities that were frustrated that taxes weren't going toward making roads safer or farms more successful. As he grew older and had the chance to implement these ideals, he began to challenge himself to create better businesses, impact people in positive ways, and listen to their needs before jumping into "creation mode."
He watched businesses attempt to expand their impact or grow in new countries, and they often failed because they didn't consider the reality of the human experience in that location. Products and services work properly only when people need and use them, and in a range of places, with unique communities, a tailored approach is crucial. Proptech isn't the only industry where Sergio has seen this approach work. Edtech, Entertainment, and Fintech are just a few examples of industries where HCDE is desperately needed. When products and services are created to support humans, they should be designed with humans in mind.
Sergio has spent his career learning; he often takes on new skills, educational opportunities, and projects that allow him to step out of his comfort zone. He finds that his approach allows him to think creatively and avoid growing stagnant in how he implements his projects.
As a thought leader in a critical and ever-changing arena, Sergio dedicates time to lecturing, consulting, and teaching up-and-coming leaders around him. He was recently named the "Global Chief Transformation Officer of The Year - Finance" by the Global Leaders Awards and sits on the Forbes Technology Council. Sergio works day in and day out to reaffirm that when humans are the focal point of any business, no matter where it is or what it does, that business will be more successful in the long run.
