The Partnership That Helped Jose Pereira Survive Five Years of Prison

Being an entrepreneur can be lonely. You carry the responsibility, make the decisions, and often face challenges on your own. But imagine facing true isolation—alone in a prison cell.

In this episode of The Power of Two, we hear the extraordinary story of Jose Pereira, who was wrongfully imprisoned in Venezuela for nearly five years on fabricated charges.

Jose Pereira is a best-selling author, international speaker, resilience coach, and former CEO of Citgo Petroleum. After a long career in the oil and gas industry, Jose was preparing to retire in 2017 when he was called to a meeting in Caracas. What he thought was a routine presentation turned into an ambush.

Jose and five colleagues were arrested and accused of being American spies. The media later dubbed them the “Citgo Six.” After enduring harsh conditions and years of uncertainty, Jose was eventually released in a prisoner exchange and now dedicates his life to teaching resilience and leadership.

One of the most powerful lessons from Jose’s story is that survival—and success—rarely happens alone. Jose's first year of imprisonment was in solitary confinement. When he was finally placed together with his fellow executives, they created what they called a “survivor plan,” assigning roles based on each person’s strengths. By supporting each other, respecting expertise, and creating structure, they formed a partnership that helped them endure unimaginable circumstances.

Catch these highlights from our discussion....

>> Why entrepreneurs often struggle when they try to do everything alone

>> How respecting the expertise of others on your team brings you closer together raises everyone's performance

>>The importance of routine and structure during difficult times

>> How strong relationships support resilience and mental wellbeing

>> Why humility is essential for effective leadership

>> How the power of collaboration can help you overcome even the most adverse challenges in your business and your life

Jose’s story is a powerful reminder that resilience is rarely a solo effort. Whether in business or life, the right people around you can make the hardest journeys possible—and even transformative.

Here are some useful resources from our interview:

➡️ Jose Perreira's Book 'Unbreakable'

➡️ Jose Perreira Website

➡️ Jose Pereira's LinkedIn Profile

Connect to the host, Danny Bermant:

➡️ Connect to Danny on LinkedIn

➡️ Connect to Danny on Facebook

➡️ Danny’s Joint Venture Mastery Newsletter

➡️ Danny’s Get JV Ready in Just 5 Days Bootcamp

What is The Power of Two?

The podcast where we unravel the success stories of entrepreneurs just like you who have transformed their business through the magic of Joint Venture Partnerships.

Being an entrepreneur can be a tough and lonely journey, but in the world of collaboration, you’re never alone. Whether you’re launching a new product, promoting a new offer or if you’re just looking for great ideas, there’s always another business owner out there to support you.

So join me, Danny Bermant, host and founder of CaptainJV, as we dive deep into the journey of business owners who have harnessed the incredible potential of partnerships and turned them into a powerful a catalyst for growth.

Are you ready scale your business through JV partnerships? – This is the Power of Two podcast.