‘Never compromise your integrity’: five minutes with Global Government Summit participant Arturo Herrera Gutierrez
Arturo Gutierrez, global director for governance global practice, equitable growth, finance, and Institutions Practice Group (EFI) vice presidency at the World Bank, tells Global Government Forum about steering the Mexican economy through COVID, investing in technical capabilities, and rock climbing in his spare time
In this sister series to our ‘Five minutes with’ interviews, we share insights from the civil and public service leaders attending our Global Government Summit in Singapore in February.
What have you achieved in your career that you’re most proud of?
Steering the Mexican economy, in my former role as minister of finance, during COVID, the worst health crisis in the world for the past 100 years.
What is the best piece of advice you’ve been given in your working life?
Do what you love and love what you do.
What advice would you give someone starting out in the civil service?
Invest in your technical capabilities, be faithful to your values, and never compromise your integrity.
What do you like most about working in the civil service?
I like that it’s about contributing to building the collective wellbeing and a fairer society.
Which country’s civil service or government department or agency are you most inspired by and why?
The British delivery unit is an example of how to address government priorities and make sure they’re implemented.
Can you name one lesson or idea from abroad that has helped you and your colleagues?
The example of the Spanish Tax Administration which managed to identify, sanction, and recover taxes from several professional soccer players who were evading payments. We ran a series of audits on Mexican soccer teams and found similar results.
What attributes do you most value in people?
Fairness and intellectual honesty.
Do you have any unusual hobbies?
Rock climbing and chess (not so unusual nowadays).
What is your most treasured possession?
My library.
Find out more about the Global Government Summit, including the agenda and list of participants here. Please note, it is an invite only event.
About Mia Hunt
Mia is a journalist and editor with a background in covering commercial property, having been market reports and supplements editor at trade title Property Week and deputy editor of Shopping Centre magazine, now known as Retail Destination. She has also undertaken freelance work for several publications including the preview magazine of international trade show, MAPIC, and TES Global (formerly the Times Educational Supplement) and has produced a white paper on energy efficiency in business for E.ON. Between 2014 and 2016, she was a member of the Revo Customer Experience Committee and an ACE Awards judge. Mia graduated from Kingston University with a first-class degree in journalism and was part of the team that produced The River newspaper, which won Publication of the Year at the Guardian Student Media Awards in 2010.
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