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Listen "Bringing Humanity to Business Hustle - With Ivan Fernandez"
Episode Synopsis
How do you build a thriving business grounded in respect?
Meet Ivan Fernandez, CISSP, the founder and CEO of SPN Networks, a 24-year-old IT and cybersecurity firm that Ivan launched straight out of high school, with no marketing plan, just grit, hustle, and a commitment to service. Today, his company employs 17 people across the U.S. and is quietly redefining what it means to lead with both heart and consistency.
Watch/listen to the entire conversation here.
Ivan and I met at a Microsoft networking event, and what struck me immediately was his humanity. Following him on LinkedIn only confirmed it—especially the way he integrates his family into his work life and leads with vulnerability.
In our conversation, Ivan offered powerful reflections on what respect looks like in action:
💬 “Respect is earned, not given. But it’s also the little things.”
"If an employee walks into my office, I turn away from my screen. I give them my full attention. That simple act tells them they matter."
Ivan reminds us that respect isn't always loud. It's often the quiet moments: eye contact, follow-through, owning mistakes, that build respect over time.
Read the full article on LinkedIn. Watch/listen to the full episode on YouTube.
Meet Ivan Fernandez, CISSP, the founder and CEO of SPN Networks, a 24-year-old IT and cybersecurity firm that Ivan launched straight out of high school, with no marketing plan, just grit, hustle, and a commitment to service. Today, his company employs 17 people across the U.S. and is quietly redefining what it means to lead with both heart and consistency.
Watch/listen to the entire conversation here.
Ivan and I met at a Microsoft networking event, and what struck me immediately was his humanity. Following him on LinkedIn only confirmed it—especially the way he integrates his family into his work life and leads with vulnerability.
In our conversation, Ivan offered powerful reflections on what respect looks like in action:
💬 “Respect is earned, not given. But it’s also the little things.”
"If an employee walks into my office, I turn away from my screen. I give them my full attention. That simple act tells them they matter."
Ivan reminds us that respect isn't always loud. It's often the quiet moments: eye contact, follow-through, owning mistakes, that build respect over time.
Read the full article on LinkedIn. Watch/listen to the full episode on YouTube.
More episodes of the podcast Leading With Respect
Human-to-Human Leadership - With Ben Sieke
17/09/2025
In God we trust