What Mentors and Two Cultures Taught Me About Leadership 

Contributed by Alan Belinky, General Manager, R.S. Hughes Mexico, 18 years 

Where Mentorship Meets the R.S. Hughes Way 

When I think back on the most important lessons of my career, they all link directly to the many mentors I’ve had. I wouldn’t have achieved nearly as much without them. First and foremost, they taught me to have high standards for myself and my team and to never be content with the status quo. 

My path toward always doing better began with R.S. Hughes’ management training program right out of college in 2007 in Anaheim, California. Back then, I was surrounded by mentors, including R.S. Hughes legends Frank Parente, John Power, Bob DeFusco and, later on, Carolyn Wilkinson. Their mentorship, along with everyone else along the way, was instrumental in my success. 

What I learned from them were the soft skills — understanding how to work with our partners and thinking big picture. What’s the best way to get things done? What does the customer care about? It wasn’t about putting together a sales plan but about learning how to handle situations and make smart decisions. It was about holding high standards for ourselves, our processes and our interactions, putting ourselves in the customer’s shoes and focusing on what they need to hear, not just what we want to say. 

At R.S. Hughes, that mindset is part of what we call the R.S. Hughes Way, our relentless commitment to serve the customer. It means having a sense of urgency, understanding the customer and getting that order out the door before the day is done. It’s about taking care of what’s in front of you before anything else. 

Taking Ownership 

I remember walking into the warehouse when I first got the job in Anaheim and thinking, “All right, this is my responsibility. This is my business.” The scale of the Anaheim facility was a big deal, and that sense of ownership was important to me from the start. Immediately, the team and I worked to create a more efficient, professional culture. 

I’ve always believed that culture is a collection of conversations we have through stories, examples and shared experiences. What stories are we telling when we get together for dinner or when we’re interviewing someone new? Every team has stories that reveal what they value and reward. Some are fun social moments outside of work, which are essential in the growth of any team, while others truly reaffirm our standards to being the industry’s best. That’s why it’s so important for leaders, especially those with tenure, to be intentional about their conversations.  

Crossing Cultures and Building Connections 

When I joined R.S. Hughes Mexico — as the Regional Operations Manager — mentors continued to help me grow. One of those people was Sales Manager Marte de Alejandro, who taught me to understand the business culture, customers, vendors and what makes the wheel move. 

Although I grew up in Southern California, I was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where most of my family still lives. In college, I studied international business with an emphasis in Spanish. In this industry, and especially in Mexico, relationships are everything. You must build trust before doing business. The person with a stronger customer relationship usually has more “luck.”  

What I love about the Latin American cultures is the people — warm, open and community-focused. One of my favorite traditions in Mexico is sobremesa, which literally means “over the table.” After dinner, we’ll talk about life, work or whatever comes up, and before we know it three hours have passed. Those conversations often turn into lasting relationships and partnerships. It’s something I really value, and it reflects what makes Latin American culture so special. 

I’m grateful for every person and experience that has shaped me because they’ve all pushed me to grow, connect and keep raising the bar.