Mauricio Umansky's Toughest Challenge Yet: Lessons from Special Forces

Lucía Torres · 2026-09-23

Mauricio Umansky is no stranger to high-pressure situations. As the founder and CEO of The Agency, he's closed multi-million dollar deals and navigated complex negotiations. But nothing could fully prepare him for the grueling reality competition "Special Forces," set in the Malaysian jungle. In this exclusive Q&A, Umansky opens up about the experience, what it taught him about resilience, and what it was like competing alongside his daughter, Alexia. ### Pressure Tested in the Jungle "It was probably the hardest thing I've ever done, physically and mentally," Umansky admits. The show, modeled after actual military selection processes, pushed him to his limits. But he quickly learned a crucial lesson: you can't let your mind get too far ahead of you. "You had to stay calm, focus on what was directly in front of you and get through the next challenge." That mindset translates directly to business. As a CEO, Umansky faces difficult moments and decisions outside his control. "You can't panic. You assess the situation, make the best decision you can and keep moving forward." The experience reinforced the power of mindset. ### Father-Daughter Dynamic Under Fire Competing alongside Alexia, who also works with him at The Umansky Team, brought a unique dimension. "Alexia and I know each other extremely well, so there was an instinctive understanding of when the other person needed encouragement and when they needed space," he says. But it was also a chance to see his daughter in a new light. "I got to see her resilience and strength in an entirely different environment. There were moments when I wanted to protect her as her dad, but I also had to let her compete and find that strength within herself. I was incredibly proud of her." ### Real Estate Skills That Paid Off In real estate, resilience, communication, and performing under pressure are essential. "You can prepare as much as you want, but something unexpected will always happen," Umansky notes. "You have to adapt quickly without losing focus." That was true every day on Special Forces. "You never really knew what was coming next, so you couldn't waste energy worrying about it. You had to trust yourself, trust the people around you and deal with the challenge in front of you." ### Mind Over Matter One of the biggest takeaways for Umansky was realizing that your mind gives up before your body does. "Whether you're competing on Special Forces or leading a company through a difficult moment, resilience is deciding you're going to keep moving forward," he says. That lesson has stuck with him. "It reminded me that we're all capable of a lot more than we think we are. Your mind will sometimes tell you that you're done before your body actually is. Learning to push beyond that voice was incredibly powerful." As a CEO and entrepreneur, resilience has always been important, but this gave him a completely different understanding. "Building a company comes with highs and lows. There are moments when things are incredibly difficult, and you have to keep believing in what you're building and keep moving forward. That's mind over matter in a different form." > "The biggest thing I learned is that your mind gives up before your body does. Whether you're competing on Special Forces or leading a company through a difficult moment, resilience is deciding you're going to keep moving forward." — Mauricio Umansky ### Watch It Unfold You can see it all play out when "Special Forces" premieres Thursday, September 24th at 9 PM EST & PST on Fox (streaming live on YouTube TV, and the next day on Hulu and Disney+). This experience not only tested Umansky's limits but also deepened his bond with Alexia and reinforced the mindset that drives his success in business and life.