Horse, a leader in strategic consulting based on Big Data, has launched CEOs Change Makers LATAM, the third edition of the ranking that recognizes the public efforts of top executives in Latin America who actively promote discussions on key corporate agenda topics and make a positive societal impact. This ranking is unique in its category, as it is entirely data-driven. It processes information from major media outlets, LinkedIn, and Twitter, focusing on significant global corporate agenda themes: Innovation, Sustainability, Talent, Work-life Balance, and Diversity and Inclusion.
While the entire list is fascinating, we have chosen to highlight a few notable Latin American Change Makers.
#1 Marcos Galperín (Argentina) – Mercado Libre
Marcos Galperin, born on October 31, 1971, is a notable entrepreneur and business leader. He graduated with honors from the Wharton School of Business at the University of Pennsylvania in 1994 and earned an MBA from Stanford University in 1999. Galperin founded MercadoLibre in 1999, a leading IT company in electronic commerce in Latin America, and serves as its President and CEO.
MercadoLibre has become the largest online buying and selling community in Latin America, with operations in multiple countries and over 1,000 employees.
The company saw significant growth and success, including a strategic alliance with eBay in 2001 and several key acquisitions of competitors. Under Galperin’s leadership, MercadoLibre launched MercadoPago, the largest online payment platform in Latin America, and achieved profitability with substantial revenue growth.
The company went public on NASDAQ in 2007, earning the “Renaissance Capital 2007 IPO of the Year” award. Galperin received numerous accolades, including being named one of the top 40 successful entrepreneurs under 40 by Fortune Magazine in 2010, the Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year in Argentina in 2012, and the Platinum Konex Award in 2018.
#2 David Vélez (Colombia) -Nubank
Born in Medellín, Vélez moved to Costa Rica in the 1990s, completed high school, and sold a herd of cows to fund his Stanford education. In 2012, he moved to São Paulo, recruited by Sequoia Capital's Douglas Leone. On October 1st, Leone called Vélez with bad news: Sequoia's Brazilian venture had ended. Vélez's motivation to create Nubank stemmed from a frustrating experience at a bank in the Faria Lima neighborhood, where he encountered poor service and excessive bureaucracy. Realizing the need for a better banking experience, he aimed to provide a better experience for account holders and the 60 million unbanked Brazilians. He partnered with Brazilian engineer Cristina Junqueira and American IT expert Edward Wible and launched Nubank in 2014 with twelve employees, including the co-founders. Nubank quickly grew. By April 2023, Nubank, headquartered in São Paulo, already one of the largest digital banks in the world, reached 80 million customers in Latin America.
#4 Roberto Alvo (Chile) – Latam Airlines
Born to Chilean parents in Mexico, Alvo completed his primary and part of secondary education there before finishing it in Chile. He initially studied physics but switched to civil engineering at UC and holds a postgraduate degree from the University of Lausanne in Switzerland. Fluent in four languages, he started his career in a relative’s company in 1993, Alef Data. There he led its international expansion successfully selling the company’s software products in Colombia and Ecuador. In 2001, he joined the airline LAN (before its merger with TAM) as finance manager, eventually becoming Director of Financial Planning in 2003, Vice President of Planning in 2008, and International CEO. He was pivotal in bringing Qatar Airways on board as a shareholder. In 2017, he was appointed Commercial Vice President, responsible for overseeing the airline’s commercial operations and strategy. His leadership and vision culminated in him succeeding Enrique Cueto as CEO of the LATAM Airlines Group, one of the largest airline conglomerates in Latin America. Throughout his career, he has been recognized for his strategic insights and ability to drive international growth and partnerships.
#8 Mónica Flores Barragán (Mexico)
Mónica Flores Barragán is the President of ManpowerGroup for Latin America, overseeing operations in 18 countries with over 3,700 staff employees and more than 350,000 outsourced workers. She champions diversity and fosters partnerships between governments, civil organizations, and the private sector to align labor market supply and demand. Previously, she served as President of the American Chamber of Commerce of Mexico and is involved in various educational, governmental, and business boards. She is also the President of the ManpowerGroup Foundation, a STEM Movement Advisor, and the author of “How to Get Your First Job,” a guide for young people entering the workforce. Recognized as one of Latin America’s most powerful businesswomen, she has been named a top global diversity promoter and was honored as “Outstanding Woman of the Year 2011” by the Mexican Senate. In 2016, the Mexican Institute of Public Accountants recognized her as the “Outstanding Woman of the Year in Business” for Mexico and Latin America. Flores Barragán has spoken at forums worldwide, including the World Economic Forum, Global Summit of Women, and OECD’s New World Forum. She holds a degree in Actuarial Science from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM), a Master’s in Philosophy, and a Master’s in Business Management, along with diplomas in Philosophy and Cultural History of Mexico.
References:
¿Quiénes son los líderes empresarios más disruptivos de América Latina?
https://www.horse.com.ar/post/quiénes-son-los-líderes-empresarios-más-disruptivos-de-américa-latina
Marcos Galperín es el CEO más disruptivo de América Latina según este ranking: los otros argentinos en el top 5
https://www.forbesargentina.com/negocios/marcos-galperin-ceo-mas-disruptivo-america-latina-ranking-otros-argentinos-top-5-n55119
Marcos Galperin
https://www.fundacionkonex.org/b3051-marcos-galperin
David Vélez: la historia del hombre que confundó Nubank
https://es-us.finanzas.yahoo.com/noticias/david-vélez-historia-hombre-cofundó-200000865.html
Nubank alcanza los 80 millones de clientes en América Latina
https://www.valoraanalitik.com/nubank-alcanza-los-80-millones-de-clientes-en-america-latina/
La desconocida faceta de Roberto Alvo, el CEO de Latam Airlines
https://www.df.cl/reportajes/la-desconocida-faceta-de-roberto-alvo-el-ceo-de-latam-airlines
BCC Conferenciantes: Mónica Flores Barragán
https://grupobcc.com/mx/speakers/monica-flores-barragan/#:~:text=Mónica%20Flores%20Barragán%20es%20actuaria,de%20la%20Cultura%20en%20México.
