Arturo Alvarez-Demalde

arturo alvare demalde hobbyjam 1

Arturo Alvarez-Demalde is the managing partner, a firm in which he is able to utilize his extensive experience in international business, venture capitalism and private equity. A graduate of the Harvard Business School who is proficient in four languages, Alvarez-Demalde previously served as a manager with Siemens AG in Munich, Germany, and also as a partner with Leadgate. In addition to his current role, Alvarez-Demalde is also an advisory committee member with Harvard’s David Rockefeller Center for Latin American Studies as well as a board member with ARIS, a non-profit organization aimed at providing greater educational opportunities and encouraging economic empowerment.

What is your hobby?

I have played chess since I was very young, and I have even begun to make my own chess sets out of a variety of materials.

How did you get started with this hobby? What inspired you?

My family members all played fairly often, and it was quite common for multiple chess matches to be going on simultaneously.

Tell us what you love about it.

The strategy involved, from opening theory to middle- and end-game strategy, is absolutely fascinating.

Are there any groups you’re a part of or events that you attend related to your hobby?

I mostly play with friends and family, but I have considered becoming a part of a chess club or group.

Have you had to invest in equipment and if so, please share some of the things you’ve bought.

I prefer to use the chess set I have had since I was very young, but I have invested in some unique materials for creating my own chess sets by hand.

Where do you buy most of your supplies?

For creating a chess set, the tools and other supplies really depend on the material. As an example, I recently bought some woodworking tools to make a set out of a variety of found materials, but mostly the driftwood I’d collected over a period of several months.

Are there any good books for beginners?

I think Bobby Fischer’s book is still the best book for a beginning chess player. It’s titled, appropriately enough, “Bobby Fischer Teaches Chess.”

How has this changed your life?

I think anyone who has ever played chess understands the way it affects the decision-making process and strategic thinking in just about every other facet of life, and I believe that playing the game of chess for so long has truly played a role in my entrepreneurial success.

What advice do you have for others starting out with this hobby?

There is no substitute for playing chess on a regular basis, but it is important to study the game whenever possible.

Are there any other hobbies you have?

I like to be intellectually and physically active, so chess is the hobby that keeps my mind active while cycling is the hobby that keeps me physically active.

You can learn more here: http://twitter.com/arturoalvarezd