This week in our ‘5 questions with…’ series, we put the spotlight on Christian Henao, Business Development Manager.
Discover what Christian has to say about his time working with Gill and his love for languages and tea.
Q.1 – What excites you most about Gill and your role here?
I still remember that when I was 21 years old and had just graduated with a degree in Electronic Engineering, my first job was as an installation engineer for meteorological stations. Some of the first anemometers I installed were the WindSonic and the WindObserver. The quality and robustness of these products were something that truly impressed me.
Throughout my professional career in the Hydromet and air quality markets, Gill sensors have always been present. Today, being part of Gill and leading the business across Latin America is something that fills me with pride.
Every day, I am in contact with system integrators, distributors, and new customers. Building these relationships and supporting their projects is one of the things I love most about my job.
Q.2 – What’s one thing that makes Gill a good place to work?
I do not want to sound cliché, but Gill truly feels like a family company, and family comes first.
My wife and I have two children under the age of five, so you can probably imagine what our daily routine looks like. Balancing family life and work is not always easy, and unexpected situations are part of everyday life.
What I appreciate most is that Gill provides flexibility and understanding when those situations arise.
I have heard things like, “I want you to disconnect and come back when your child is feeling better,” or “I read there was an earthquake in your country. Is everyone okay? Please let us know if there’s anything we can do to help.”
Working in a fully remote role naturally creates a physical distance that can sometimes be difficult to overcome. However, the genuine care and concern for your well-being and that of your family help break down those barriers and brings people closer together.
Q.3 –How do you see the industry changing in the next five years?
Everyone is talking today about the impact of AI on the technology market. However, AI is only as good as the data it receives. Reliable forecasting, early warning systems, and intelligent decision-making all depend on trusted, high-quality hardware. It needs to be robust, accurate, and offer outstanding value for money, and this is where Gill plays an important role.
The path forward is precision, portability, miniaturization, and low power consumption. I know many companies that do not have the same R&D mindset. As the Mandalorians say, “This is the way.”
Q.4 –What’s something you’re currently learning, inside or outside of work?
One of my passions is learning languages and understanding both their logic and their occasional lack of logic. Because of my regional role across Latin America, learning Portuguese is one of my current goals.
When I was a child, I always used to say that I wanted to speak five languages, and I am working toward making that dream a reality in my spare time. I believe that when you speak someone’s language, you are not just talking to them, you’re speaking to their heart.
That is one of the reasons I enjoy learning languages so much. Every new language opens the door to a deeper understanding of people, cultures, and perspectives.
Q.5 -Tell us something about yourself that might surprise us.
I was born in Colombia, but I do not drink coffee. Instead, I am a passionate black tea enthusiast, always without sugar.
My friends know that the best gift or souvenir they can bring me is black tea. At the moment, my collection includes teas from Egypt, Burundi, Turkey, and Sri Lanka. Wherever I go, I always carry tea with me. If you want to see me happy, just offer me a cup of tea!
I love traveling. I have lived in four different countries and visited more than 50 countries.
In fact, my friends and family rarely call me by my first name. Everyone calls me Ahmad.
