CEO Club
Decision-making: From looking back to looking ahead
Decision-making is an inescapable fact of business life. Some choices work out, others are regretted. But learning from those decisions helps season an executive. Diego Ramos, executive vice president of Audi Latin America, pictued above, led discussion on ways to improve decision-making during WorldCity’s CEO Club event May 8. Talks had an automotive tint since Ramos worked at…
Read MoreDigital payments: Scaling up PayPal in Latin America
Digital technology is turning the business of financial services “completely on its head,” and the pace of innovation is quickening to “light speed,” compared to just five years ago. Millennials in particular are sour on banks, and “if they could send money through Facebook messaging, that’s what they would do.” Those were among the views…
Read MoreAmid disruptive change, Lexmark pivots from hardware to software, services
Why would a company that made its name selling printers tell customers to stop and consider before they hit that copy button? That was the intriguing intro to a discussion led by Carlos Bretos, vice president and general manager at Lexmark Latin America, pictured above, at WorldCity’s CEO Club meeting March 6. The answer illustrates how…
Read MoreSelling premium U.S. beer in Latin America: Think global, act local
To sell premium U.S. brands in Latin America requires careful calibration to go local while also staying true to a brand’s global identity. Jose F. Rios, general manager for Latin America, Caribbean and U.S. military for beer maker Molson Coors, pictured above, discussed his experiences in finding the right mix during WorldCity’s CEO Club on Feb.…
Read MoreWays to keep headquarters keen on Latin America in slower times
When U.S. and European economies tanked in 2009, many multinationals turned their attention to Latin America as a source for growth. Brazil in particular became hot. But now, as the U.S. market rebounds and Brazil’s economy sags, many in Corporate America see chances for growth elsewhere and are re-thinking plans for Latin America. That shift…
Read MoreManaging growth at multinationals: Acquisitions, millennials and communication
Speedy growth presents all sorts of challenges for multinational companies, from how to integrate employees of newly-acquired firms to how to communicate to staff worldwide. Fernando Campo, vice president of software company Citrix Systems (pictured above), shared his experience with global growth and led talks on the topic at WorldCity’s CEO Club on Oct. 3. Discussion…
Read MoreHiring and keeping talent in the age of social media, Millennials
Staying 15 years with a large company used be a positive sign that someone could be counted on. Now, it may be a red flag to recruiters that someone can’t adapt to new circumstances. That was one insight into talent acquisition shared Sept. 5 at WorldCity’s CEO Club by Lorena Keough, a managing director in…
Read MoreSelling professional services in Latin America: What architects Perkins+Will have learned
Gone are the days when U.S. companies could show up in Latin America and sell the services they wanted at a premium. With more world-class professionals living in the region, including many trained in the United States, competition is stiffer, and U.S. companies must collaborate with local firms inside Latin America and offer expertise in…
Read MoreRestructuring: Focus first on work flow, Clorox chief says
To restructure a business and cut administrative expenses, focus on the work, not the people. Figure out how the work should flow and leave the issue of precisely who does it for later. That will take away the painful and emotional issue of who to cut from the staff and will guide personnel choices more logically.…
Read MoreInside the Federal Reserve: How Wizard of Oz relates to money
Deep inside the Federal Reserve Bank branch in Miami, beyond layers of security, teams of employees operate a warehouse handling millions of dollars in cash. Vaults in the warehouse look like a Home Depot store with shelves from floor to ceiling. But instead of lumber or paint, the stacks hold rows of clear-sided boxes,…
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