We recently connected with Jose Barboza and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Jose, thanks for joining us today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – walk us through the story?
A Risk That Changed Everything – From Stability to Purpose
Before joining Leanware, I was working as a Retail Area Manager for a leading Mazda dealership group in Colombia. My career there had grown steadily. I started as a service workshop coordinator and quickly rose through the ranks, earning national recognition with awards like Best Customer Experience in Colombia 2018, Best Continuous Improvement in Service 2018, and Top Customer Retention Dealership 2018. I was doing well financially, I had job security, and from the outside, it looked like I was on a winning path.
But the demands of that role became overwhelming. I was constantly traveling, and while I told myself that it was the right time in life to push hard—young, energetic, ambitious—it came at a cost. My family life was suffering. I rarely had quality time with my wife and children, and the stress was taking a toll on all of us.
Then came the 2019 COVID lockdown. While it was a difficult time globally, for me, it was also a blessing in disguise. It gave me the rare chance to reconnect with my family and reevaluate what truly mattered. My wife and I made a bold decision: we would change our environment, and I would shift careers. We set our sights on Canada, where I planned to pursue a postgraduate program in Business and Global Logistics at Mohawk College in Hamilton.
I was fully prepared—visa approved, tuition paid, flights booked, everything ready for our new chapter. But just as the lockdown ended and I returned to work, I caught COVID during a business trip. I fell seriously ill, spending three weeks in a coma. I survived—a miracle in itself—but missed my window to relocate. After three months of recovery, I tried again. I had everything lined up for a second attempt at the move to Canada.
That’s when Carlos Martínez, CEO of Leanware (www.Leanware.co) and a long-time friend since I was 14, reached out. He had started Leanware during the pandemic and offered me a Project Manager role. At first, I hesitated—I was so close to leaving—but I agreed to meet him in Bogotá. After hearing his vision for the company, something clicked. I felt deeply connected to what he was building.
Once again, I took a leap of faith. I gave up my plans for Canada and accepted a job at Leanware, earning less than half of what I made before. But I was finally following my passion. As an industrial engineer, project management and process design had always excited me. The world of tech was new to me, but I quickly discovered a love for it. I found joy in creating from scratch, learning constantly, and delivering value. My people skills translated naturally, and I built strong relationships with clients and teams alike.
That risk paid off. I grew from PM to Senior Product Owner, and now I’m in the transition to become Leanware’s Chief Operating Officer. I’m not only working in something I love, I’ve also become part of shaping the company’s future. I get to be home with my family every day, watch my kids grow up, and pursue a mission I truly believe in.
Looking back, this experience taught me that taking risks aligned with your passion—especially when guided by instinct and purpose—can lead to incredible outcomes. Life gave me a second chance, and I chose to live it fully.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
About Me – From Industrial Operations to Scalable Tech Leadership
My name is José Humberto Barboza Safar, and I’m currently the Chief Operating Officer (COO) in transition at Leanware (www.Leanware.co), a Colombian software development company specializing in high-quality custom solutions for clients across North America and beyond.
Before joining the tech industry, my professional journey began in diverse yet highly structured environments that shaped my leadership style and process-driven mindset.
At Nabors Drilling International Ltd, a global oil and gas contractor, I served as Asset Coordinator and Preventive Maintenance Systems Lead. I provided logistical and operational support, implemented maintenance protocols, and worked closely with engineering and operations teams across Venezuela and Houston.
I then moved to Ford Motor de Venezuela, where I was Preventive Maintenance Coordinator. There, I led strategic maintenance planning across plant operations, helping optimize equipment reliability and minimize downtime—honing my skills in industrial engineering and process efficiency.
I also served as Project Implementation Lead at Universidad de La Sabana, managing the public-sector project “Educación a la Nube,” which brought digital tools and STEM integration to Bogotá’s public school system. This role revealed the transformative power of technology when combined with a social mission.
These formative roles across oil & gas, automotive, and education provided a solid foundation in project management, systems design, and operational strategy—all of which I later brought into the tech world.
My Pivot to Tech and Leanware
In 2021, after years of career success in the automotive industry—culminating in my role as Retail Area Manager for Mazda Colombia—I felt the need for a change. While I had earned national recognition for customer service and continuous improvement, the job’s constant travel strained my personal life. The COVID-19 lockdown gave me time to reflect, reconnect with my family, and reimagine my future.
I was preparing to move to Canada to pursue postgraduate studies when I received an offer from Leanware. Something about the company’s vision immediately resonated. I took a risk—leaving behind a well-paid career path and starting over in tech. I joined as a Project Manager, and within two years, I progressed to Senior Product Owner, and now COO-in-transition.
At Leanware, I found a place where I could combine strategic thinking, agile execution, and people-centered leadership. My background in industrial engineering became a competitive advantage in managing software development projects with precision and scalability.
What We Do at Leanware
We help companies—especially in the U.S. and Canada—build world-class digital products through:
Custom Software Development
Product Ownership & Agile Delivery
Team Augmentation & Nearshore Engineering
Digital Process Optimization
My role is to solve complex business problems by aligning technology with strategy. I’ve led projects for companies like Paysafe, Blueback Global, and Elephant CPA, helping them:
Launch new products on tight deadlines (e.g., Leena, an MVP delivered in just 3 months).
Expand internationally (e.g., LATAM tech team scaling for Workstate).
Improve operational outcomes via agile frameworks like SAFe and Scrum.
What Sets Me Apart
A cross-industry background blending industrial engineering, client service, and tech execution.
Proven ability to scale teams and revenue.
A people-first approach—leveraging emotional intelligence, structured feedback loops, and coaching to build resilient, high-performing teams.
A passion for creating scalable, value-driven systems, not just delivering code.
What I’m Most Proud Of
Helping Leanware evolve from a small team to a strategic nearshore partner for U.S. clients.
Building a development culture based on transparency, ownership, and trust.
Having made a risky pivot into a completely new industry—and turning it into a platform for impact, innovation, and personal fulfillment.
What I Want You to Know
I believe in work that has meaning. In people who grow when given the right culture. And in software that doesn’t just function—but solves real problems. At Leanware, we build digital solutions with intention and integrity.
If you’re looking for a team that blends technical expertise with business acumen, and leads with both heart and discipline, we’re the partner you’ve been looking for.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
The Lesson I Had to Unlearn: That Career Success Always Requires Personal Sacrifice
For a long time, I believed that professional success required sacrificing personal time, family life, and even health. I thought: “I’m young, I have the energy this is the time to give it all.” That belief shaped my early career.
the COVID-19 lockdown. For the first time in years, I was home. I reconnected with my family, and I realized just how much I had missed. It was a wake-up call: if success came at the cost of presence, was it truly success?
That reflection changed everything. I gave myself permission to redefine my path. I turned down a secure, high-paying role to take a risk with Leanware a startup where I could follow my passion for product and project management, and build something meaningful without giving up my family life. I started over in a new industry, at a lower salary, but with balance and purpose.
Now, as COO-in-transition at Leanware, I lead a company that values both impact and well-being. I spend quality time with my children every day, and I’ve proven that it’s possible to grow a business without sacrificing what matters most.
So the lesson I had to unlearn was this: you don’t have to trade happiness for success. Real success is when your professional life supportsnot competes with your personal one.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
Yes, several books have deeply influenced my management and entrepreneurial mindset.
“The Leader Who Had No Title” by Robin Sharma taught me that leadership is about influence, not hierarchy, a lesson I applied early in my career and one that continues to guide how I lead teams in startup environments.
“The Knight in Rusty Armor” by Robert Fisher is a short fable that helped me understand the importance of emotional intelligence and self-awareness—essential traits for sustainable leadership, especially during personal and professional transitions.
“Atomic Habits” by James Clear reinforced my belief in the power of small, consistent actions. I use its principles to build high-performing, disciplined teams at Leanware.
“The Lean Startup” by Eric Ries gave me a framework for testing, learning, and iterating quickly—vital in the fast-paced world of software development.
“The Four Models of Corporate Entrepreneurship” by Wolcott and Lippitz helped me think strategically about how to foster innovation within organizations.
Together, these books and articles shaped how I lead: with clarity, intention, and a strong balance between structure and innovation.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.leanware.co/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/leanware-io/
