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6
José Ochoa
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Why This Episode Matters
José Ochoa started his packaging company in 2008 with no savings, no clients, and a wife with two kids under two—quitting a secure job at Siemens to close the gap between manufacturers and clients. In this conversation, he explains why a flawless customer experience means being "mission ready," how automation is forcing everyone to sharpen their skills, and why his Star Wars collection keeps him grounded on tough business days. For entrepreneurs taking the leap and anyone building B2B relationships, this is a masterclass in betting on yourself.
Key Takeaways
Close the gap between industries
Working at Delphi and Siemens, Jose saw vendors who didn't understand client needs—timing, cost, design. He quit to build a company that closes that gap. The pain he experienced became the business he built.
Mission ready: flawless customer experience
If a client needs 1,000 packaging items and you deliver 998, there's a problem. Jose's company reverse-engineers every process to ensure on-time, on-quality, on-quantity delivery. No excuses.
Family must be aligned for entrepreneurship to work
When you start a business, family struggles first. Time and money go into the business. If your partner isn't aligned with that mentality, it leads to divorce and disaster. Alignment is everything.
Automation is raising the bar for everyone
Manufacturing is shifting from 500 operators to 50 robot handlers. Those without skills will be unemployable. The investment in yourself must triple—school knowledge alone won't cut it anymore.
Star Wars keeps him grounded
When business gets aggressive, Jose looks at his Star Wars collection and feels like a kid again. It reminds him that life isn't just about business—it's about feelings, people, and enjoying the short time we have.
Conversation Outline
00:00 — "Automation will make many people unemployable—raise the bar"
01:00 — Mexican-American entrepreneur on the US-Mexico border
03:00 — Coaching entrepreneurs through Kiva and Mass Challenge
05:00 — The leap: quitting Siemens with no savings, two kids, no clients
08:00 — Learning from his mother's reinvention and his aunt's construction company
10:00 — Delphi and Siemens: seeing the gap between vendors and clients
14:00 — Mission ready: why 998 out of 1,000 is a failure
18:00 — Sustainable packaging: the industry is changing fast
22:00 — Automation: from 500 operators to 50 robot handlers
26:00 — Stanford Latino Business Program and Singularity University
30:00 — Meeting Joe Foster (Reebok founder) and writing a book
33:00 — Dream conversation: Mark Cuban—45 minutes during COVID
36:00 — Star Wars collection: feeling like a kid again during tough days
38:00 — Life is short—make the best of it
José Ochoa
→ Founder of packaging company serving commercial and US government clients
→ Industrial Engineer specializing in manufacturing
→ Stanford Latino Business Program graduate
→ Singularity University alumni and leadership team member
→ Mentor at Kiva and Mass Challenge
→ Former Global Packaging Engineer at Siemens and Delphi Automotive
Show Notes & Links
Mentioned In This Episode
→ Delphi Automotive Systems — Jose's first major employer
→ Siemens — German company where Jose was global packaging engineer
→ Stanford University — Latino Business Program graduate
→ Singularity University — alumni and chapter leadership
→ Kiva — worldwide foundation where Jose mentors entrepreneurs
→ Mass Challenge — organization where Jose is a mentor
→ Joe Foster — Reebok founder, met in Mexico City
→ Mark Cuban — 45-minute session with Stanford cohort during COVID
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