Driving Disruption: Bernardo Enciso Of Moonfall Productions On The Innovative Approaches They Are Taking To Disrupt Their Industry

An Interview With Cynthia Corsetti

Focus on Authentic Storytelling: We seek out stories that delve deeply into human experiences and social issues. Our films aim to provoke thought and discussion, not just entertainment.

In an age where industries evolve at lightning speed, there exists a special breed of C-suite executives who are not just navigating the changes but driving them. These are the pioneers who think outside the box, championing novel strategies that shatter the status quo and set new industry standards. Their approach fosters innovation, spurs growth, and leads to disruptive change that redefines their sectors. In this interview series, we are talking to disruptive C-suite executives to share their experiences, insights, and the secrets behind the innovative approaches they are taking to disrupt their industries. As part of this series, we had the pleasure of interviewing Bernardo Enciso.

Bernardo Enciso is the founder of Moonfall Productions and the visionary leader behind SquareWorks Consulting. At SquareWorks, Bernardo has successfully grown the company to over 800 customers and 50 employees in just eight years, developing cutting-edge automation tools that enhance operational efficiency across industries. His passion for technology and storytelling inspired him to establish Moonfall Productions, where his debut film, “Después,” premiered at the Guadalajara International Film Festival and is under consideration for the 2024 Chicago International Film Festival. Born and raised in Mexico, Bernardo combines his technological expertise and storytelling passion to empower independent filmmakers and bring culturally significant narratives to a global audience.

Thank you so much for joining us in this interview series. Before we dive into our discussion about disruption, our readers would love to “get to know you” a bit better. Can you share with us the backstory about what brought you to your specific career path?

Absolutely. My journey has been anything but linear, and it’s shaped by a blend of technology, problem solving, entrepreneurship, learning, and creativity. Growing up in Mexico, I was equally captivated by new technologies, which at the time was the emergence of the internet and software technology, but also by films and the art of storytelling.

On one hand, movies were a window to different worlds, and I spent countless hours immersed in the narratives of both local and Hollywood films, and parallel to this passion for film, I was also fascinated by technology. This led me to found SquareWorks, where we focus on innovative software solutions and services. For the past eight years, we’ve been building cutting-edge SaaS solutions that aim to make a significant impact. However, the pull towards storytelling never decreased. The idea of creating a space where unique, compelling stories could thrive inspired me to start Moonfall Productions. It’s my way of merging the two things I love the most: technology and films.

What do you think makes your company stand out? Can you share a story?

Moonfall Productions stands out because of our commitment to authentic, boundary-pushing storytelling. We focus on giving a voice to independent filmmakers who might not have the platform to share their unique narratives. This dedication to the art of storytelling sets us apart.

One story that exemplifies this is our involvement with “Después.” The film’s exploration of grief, mental health, and family relationships offers a raw and unfiltered look into these profound themes. When Sofia Gomez-Cordova, the director, shared her vision with me, it resonated deeply. Despite the film’s non-mainstream appeal, we believed in its potential to touch audiences profoundly. This conviction is what drives Moonfall, we take risks on projects that we believe will leave a lasting impact, even if they challenge conventional norms.

You are a successful business leader. Which three character traits do you think were most instrumental to your success? Can you please share a story or example for each?

I’d say resilience, humility, and passion.

Starting with resilience, I always think of being adaptable and having the ability to manage very high ups and very low downs. Starting a new business is never a straight line, and you can be on the top of the world when sales are coming in, or you get recognition in the marketplace. But you also need to stay strong when you have several bad consecutive months when sales are just not coming in, finances are not looking great, and people start questioning your leadership capability. We’ve been on both sides of that coin and having the ability to lead a team and building a culture of resilience is incredibly important.

Humility is key as well. You ultimately need to assume that you are going to get some things right but that you’re going to make a lot of mistakes along the way. The profound understanding that you need to learn from your mistakes and accept that you missed the mark in some areas and learn from others, requires a leader to be humble and be very quick to acknowledge mistakes, make the necessary changes and move on.

Finally, passion is key. When you lead a team, people are always observing. If they see a leader that lacks passion for what they do, they get demotivated. If you have passion and you show it, people are more likely to get on board, believe in your vision, and execute accordingly.

Leadership often entails making difficult decisions or hard choices between two apparently good paths. Can you share a story with us about a hard decision or choice you had to make as a leader? I’m curious to understand how these challenges have shaped your leadership.

I have plenty of examples. One that comes to mind is our journey at SquareWorks and the transformation we went through as our SaaS business started growing rapidly and consumed most of our time. Keep in mind that we started as a consulting business, so there was a natural tension regarding our identity: were we all of the sudden a software business? Or were we still a services business? We had long discussions within our team, and we finally acknowledged that the two were not mutually exclusive. We found a healthy intersection between the two that allowed us to continue to do both, but even better, allow for a more complete solution for our customers by leveraging services and software products. The process required hard conversations because not everyone agreed with this, but as I said before, it’s important to show passion and conviction on what you believe is the right thing to do, while having the humility to listen to everyone and acknowledge when you may be wrong. In the end, we made the best decision we could based on the information available at the time, and we’re happy with where we are today. Our customers appreciate that we’re able to deliver both, and they work well with each other.

Ok, thank you for that. Let’s now jump to the primary focus of our interview. Let’s begin with a basic definition so that all of us are on the same page. In the context of a business, what exactly is “Disruption”?

In business, “disruption” refers to the process of challenging and fundamentally changing the status quo. It involves introducing innovative ideas, products, or services that significantly alter or even replace existing market norms. Disruption often leads to the creation of new markets and value networks and can transform the way industries operate.

How do you perceive the role of ‘disruption’ within your industry, and how have you personally embraced it? Is it a necessity, a strategy, or something else entirely in your view?

In both technology and film, disruption is not just a strategy — it’s a necessity for growth and evolution.

In the film industry, Moonfall Productions embraces disruption by focusing on stories and filmmakers that might not fit the traditional mold. We believe that fresh, diverse perspectives can reshape the narrative landscape and provide audiences with unique and impactful experiences. We’re looking for those films that when they end, people want to talk about them. For us, disruption is about opening new avenues for storytelling and championing voices that might otherwise go unheard.

What lessons have you learned from challenging conventional wisdom, and how have those lessons shaped your leadership style?

Challenging conventional wisdom has taught me the importance of courage and openness. In both my tech and film ventures, questioning the norm has often led to breakthrough ideas and solutions.

In leadership, this has shaped my approach to be more inclusive and experimental. I encourage my teams to voice their ideas, no matter how unconventional or different they might seem, and to be willing to take calculated risks. This openness fosters a culture of innovation and continuous improvement.

Disruptive ideas often meet resistance. Could you describe a time when you faced significant pushback for a disruptive idea? How did you navigate the opposition, and what advice would you give to others in a similar situation?

Absolutely. The best example I can give you is what I’m doing right now with both SquareWorks and Moonfall. Before I got into the film production business, everyone was skeptical: “Why are you getting into a money-losing business?”, “That’s not your space, you’re a tech entrepreneur”, “You’re doing well in tech, why even bother with film production?”. My view is very different. I think that there’s a very clear common thread in both, which is that both industries have the most creative minds in the world. I’m here to prove to the skeptics that you can be highly successful in two industries that yes, may have a lot of differences but at the core share something so foundational that you can be successful in both. Life’s too short, so even if I fail, I feel like I’ve won just by trying. Talk about a radical and disruptive idea right there.

What are your “Five Innovative Approaches We Are Using To Disrupt Our Industry”?

When I think of what we’re doing with Moonfall, here’s what I’d say:

1 . Empowering Independent Voices: We prioritize working with independent filmmakers who bring fresh perspectives and stories that challenge mainstream narratives. Our involvement in “Después” is a prime example, as we chose to back a film with a profound, non-commercial storyline.

2 . Leveraging Digital Platforms: Embracing new distribution channels, we’re not confined to traditional theaters. By exploring platforms like streaming services and even YouTube or others, we aim to reach audiences wherever they are. This approach allows us to distribute films more widely and to diverse audiences.

3 . Cross-Industry Innovation: We support and fund projects that use diverse influences and methods from various fields to enrich the filmmaking process. This includes backing films that incorporate unique storytelling techniques from different cultural narratives or fostering collaborative environments where filmmakers and artists from various backgrounds can bring fresh perspectives to their work. By funding these innovative approaches, we help create films that resonate on multiple levels and offer something truly unique to audiences.

4 . Focus on Authentic Storytelling: We seek out stories that delve deeply into human experiences and social issues. Our films aim to provoke thought and discussion, not just entertainment.

5 . Building Global Connections: As someone with cross-cultural experiences, I’m passionate about creating international collaborations. We work with filmmakers from various backgrounds and aim to bring their stories to a global audience. This approach helps us contribute to a more inclusive and diverse film industry.

Looking back at your career, in what ways has being disruptive defined or redefined your path? What surprises have you encountered along the way?

Being disruptive has defined my career by constantly pushing me out of my comfort zone and challenging me to think differently. At Moonfall, it involved taking bold steps to support unconventional stories and filmmakers.

One of the surprises along the way has been the incredible support and collaboration from unexpected quarters. Whether it’s a tech project that found success through unconventional methods or a film that resonated with audiences in ways we hadn’t anticipated, these experiences have reinforced the value of embracing disruption.

Beyond professional accomplishments, how has embracing disruption affected you on a personal level?

On a personal level, embracing disruption has taught me the importance of resilience and adaptability. It’s pushed me to continuously learn and grow, and to approach challenges with a problem-solving mindset. This journey has also deepened my appreciation for diverse perspectives and the power of storytelling to connect us all. It’s been immensely fulfilling to see the impact of our work at Moonfall and to contribute to meaningful cultural dialogues through film.

In your role as a C-suite leader, driving innovation and embracing disruption, what thoughts or concerns keep you awake at night? How do these reflections guide your decisions and leadership?

What keeps me awake at night is the balance between maintaining our core values and adapting to an ever-changing landscape. Staying true to our vision while navigating the pressures of the market can be challenging. I often reflect on how to ensure that we continue to innovate without losing sight of what makes our work meaningful and impactful.

These concerns guide my decisions by reinforcing the importance of strategic planning and thoughtful risk-taking. They also remind me to prioritize our team’s well-being and to foster a culture of openness, where everyone feels empowered to contribute to our mission.

You are a person of great influence. If you could start a movement that would bring the most amount of good to the most amount of people, what would that be? You never know what your idea can trigger. :-)

In an increasingly nihilistic world, I’d love to inspire people to go out and live. There’s so much good in this world, and so many things that are worth experiencing. You don’t need to be a millionaire to enjoy life in a way that’s just incredibly amazing. The true pleasures of life are always within reach, but people consume too much negative information. I’d start a movement to change that.

How can our readers further follow your work online?

Your readers can follow our journey at Moonfall Productions through our official website and social media channels. We regularly update these platforms with news about our latest projects, upcoming films, and insights into the filmmaking process. You can visit our website at Moonfall Productions and follow us on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook.

Thank you for the time you spent sharing these fantastic insights. We wish you only continued success in your great work!

About the Interviewer: Cynthia Corsetti is an esteemed executive coach with over two decades in corporate leadership and 11 years in executive coaching. Author of the upcoming book, “Dark Drivers,” she guides high-performing professionals and Fortune 500 firms to recognize and manage underlying influences affecting their leadership. Beyond individual coaching, Cynthia offers a 6-month executive transition program and partners with organizations to nurture the next wave of leadership excellence.