Gerardo Davila

🎉 Celebrating 25 Years of Mercado Libre: From the Inspiration of an entrepreneur in Latin America to become an Industry Leader and beyond! 🎉 On August 2, 2019, Mercado Libre celebrated its 20th anniversary by surpassing eBay’s market capitalization for the first time. This milestone was particularly significant as eBay inspired Mercado Libre’s founder, Marcos Galperin, when he started the company in 1999. Fast forward to yesterday, August 2, 2024, and Mercado Libre marked its 25th anniversary with even more impressive news: following their remarkable Q2 results, they have become the most valuable company in Latin America, boasting a market cap of $93.57 billion—more than three times the $27.90 billion market cap of eBay! 🚀💼 Here’s a look back 25 years ago at their incredible journey: Internet Access: At inception, only 2% of households had internet, reaching about 7% of the population. E-Commerce: E-commerce accounted for less than 0.1% of retail sales, with most transactions happening in physical stores. Mobile Phones: Phones were limited to calls and SMS, with no smartphones. Personal Computers: Only 5% of households owned a personal computer. Social Media: Social media platforms did not yet exist. Banking: Most banking transactions were done in person. Payment Methods: 80% of transactions were cash-based, with credit and debit cards used by less than 20% of the population. Courier Services: Delivery services were slow and expensive, often taking more than a week. Media Consumption: Over 90% of households had cable TV, and video rental stores were popular. Streaming services were not available. Digital Economy: Contributed less than 1% to GDP. With Mercado Libre’s market cap now significantly surpassing that of eBay, more than 3 times larger. The future holds exciting possibilities. Maybe MELI will acquire eBay? May be they will expand outside of Latin America organically? The prospects are certainly intriguing as Mercado Libre continues to lead and innovate. Congratulations to the entire Mercado Libre team on this remarkable achievement! Your dedication and vision have set a new standard in the industry. Besides Marcos, I had the pleasure of meeting over the early years some of their key founding members like Nico Berman, Hernan Kazah and Ignacio Vidaguren who went to achieve significant accomplishments as entrepreneurs; they deserve a big part of the credit to bring the company to a leading position in the early days. Also, hats off to Sean Summers whom I met before he had joined Mercado Libre, the marketing transformation Meli has seen since he started leading marketing was incredible. A testament of that were the recent commercials at CONMEBOL Copa America 2024. #MercadoLibre #Anniversary #Ecommerce #Fintech #Innovation #Leadership #DigitalTransformation #Latam #BusinessGrowth #TechInnovation #Entrepreneurship #MarketLeader #EconomicImpact #FuturePossibilities #Growth

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HAVE YOU HEARD: Argentinians are protesting! This is one of the largest protests in 20 years!! For those unaware, Argentina’s economy has massive debt to service as years of fiscal mismanagement have severely weakened the economy. The country’s latest leader, President Javier Milei, was the first to introduce radical improvement plans, including reducing subsidies, government job cuts, and removal of several welfare programs. While the move helped record the country’s first fiscal surplus in years, it also devalued the currency by 50% and spiked inflation up to 270+%!! Moreover, the latest austerity plan to reduce funding for public universities has seen the sharpest resistance to date. The cuts are so severe that the prestigious University of Buenos Aires, which fostered 5 Nobel laureates and several national leaders, might shut down! Hundreds of thousands are protesting as the South American nation has been engulfed in protests once again! Students, professors, trade unions, and even politicians have joined the protest as slogans like “Studying is a right,” and “Up with the budget, down with Milei’s plan.” are being chanted! What do you think? Are Javier Milei’s methods effective? Or is it another corrupt politician profiting at the expense of civilians?? Follow Jobaaj Stories (the media arm of Jobaaj.com Group) for more. #argentina #economy #protest #protests #thousands #economic #reforms #currentaffairs

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According to Iran Reyes Fleitas, head of engineering at global marketing and advertising company Media.Monks, we will all soon have a ‘persona in our pocket’—a GenAI-powered personal likeness that we can interact with via our devices, to help us make better decisions and take actions in all kinds of situations. Iran should know. He’s already built his own digital twin in Monks.Flow, Media.Monks’ AI-centric, professionally managed service that connects with Amazon Bedrock. Before sitting down for an interview with Amazon Web Services (AWS), he asked it what he should keep in mind. Find out what advice it gave him, as well as other ways our customers and partners are using Amazon Bedrock to work better, and faster, and have some fun at the same time. https://lnkd.in/gRbbCyqk What tasks would you ask your digital twin for help with at work?

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#Q2: Solid growth for Mercado Libre in all of its businesses. In this quarter, as we celebrate our 25-year history, the operating and financial results presented today are proof of the strength of the path we are on and the potential that the region holds. 📦 We doubled our net income and experienced solid growth in GMV. In addition, the addition of unique shoppers accelerated to almost 57 million users, while items sold accelerated by 29%. In both cases our fastest growth since early 2021! 💳 With Mercado Pago we reached an impressive milestone: we are 52 million monthly active users! An ecosystem that continues to gain traction and where we incorporate more and more products and services. 📈 Mercado Ads revenues soared 51% year-on-year, demonstrating the immense potential and impact of our advertising solutions. And this is just the beginning! These achievements are a reflection of our commitment to Latin Americans and our ability to offer tools that make life easier and empower the work of millions of people. The results encourage us to continue innovating to eliminate barriers and generate greater opportunities for development in a region where there is still much to transform. As we always say, "Lo mejor está llegando".

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𝐇𝐨𝐰 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐬𝐟𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩𝐬 𝐏𝐲𝐌𝐄𝐬 (𝐒𝐌𝐁𝐬) Only 15% of Mexican PyMEs (SMBs) currently leverage a digitalization strategy. This untapped potential presents a significant growth opportunity in a market where eCommerce is booming (average increase of 8%) 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞: Many PyMEs struggle to navigate the digital landscape. Lack of resources, technical expertise, and a clear understanding of the benefits often hinder their digital transformation journey 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐒𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: When PyMEs take a strategic approach to digitization, they can benefit with: 𝐄𝐧𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐜𝐞𝐝 𝐄𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲: Streamline operations, automate tasks, and improve data management for better decision-making 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐝 𝐑𝐞𝐚𝐜𝐡: Grow your customer base by reaching new markets through e-commerce platforms and online marketing 𝐈𝐦𝐩𝐫𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐝 𝐂𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐨𝐦𝐞𝐫 𝐄𝐱𝐩𝐞𝐫𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞: Offer greater convenience and personalization to retain customers and attract new ones 𝐇𝐞𝐫𝐞'𝐬 𝐡𝐨𝐰 𝐰𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐧 𝐡𝐞𝐥𝐩: iMeil specializes in empowering PyMEs with tailored digital transformation strategies. Our team guides you through every step, from assessing your needs to implementation and ongoing support 𝐉𝐨𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐝𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐥 𝐫𝐞𝐯𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧: Don't miss out on the potential of digital commerce. Contact us today to discuss how we can help your PyME thrive in the digital age 𝐓𝐢𝐩: Our focus is long term and to minimize expenses #DigitalTransformation #SMB #eCommerce #Growth P.S. Share your thoughts! In the comments below, tell us what barriers prevent your PyME from going digital

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Sobre la importancia del storytelling: “No one ever made a decision because of a number. They need a story.” - Daniel Kahneman - “The most powerful person in the world is the storyteller. The storyteller sets the vision, values and agenda of an entire generation that is to come.” - Steve Jobs - #management #entrepreneurship #personalgrowth #coaching 

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Leíste alguna vez "Outside In: The Power of Putting Customers at the Center of Your Business" de Harley Manning y Kerry Bodine? Cecilia nos comparte este libro mega recomendado si queres ser un especialista en CX!! #CustomerExperience #RealCX #CapacitacionCX #ExperienciaDelCliente #EspecialistaCX #ExpertosEnCX #ConversacionesRealCX

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Leadership Is a Journey of Growth A retail leader once taught me a profound lesson: leadership is about constant adaptation and reinvention. From his beginnings as an accountant to becoming the president of a leading electronics chain in Latin America, his story showed me that success isn’t just about results—it’s about building a culture that embraces change. In this article (in Spanish) featured in El Financiero, I reflect on his journey and the lessons we can all take from it. Read the full article here: https://lnkd.in/ggDvzVQz

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First time playing around with the Apple Vision Pro, and what an experience it was Ana Isabel De La Guardia (...after we worked out how to turn it on...classic! 🤣 ) The experience brings to life the rich legacy, craft and culture that makes #DonJulio one of the world’s most authentic Mexican tequilas, all without you having to step foot on a plane to Mexico 🇲🇽 A few things stood out to me: 1. Having been on a few distillery tours now, it's safe to say the format is fairly similar. What I loved about this experience is that it blends the traditional educational aspects (ie. how the spirit is produced), with gamification, like when I had to try and karate chop the piñas. This is something I wouldn't get to do on the 'in-person' version of a tour so a great example of leveraging technology to go beyond what's possible IRL. 2. Naturally, when we experience something in real life, we use all our senses to take it in. In this virtual reality, 'sound' plays a disproportionate role in how we infer and absorb our surroundings. Bit of a no brainer really....sound aids in spatial awareness, compensates for visual limitations, and reduces cognitive load. But 'touch' is also important. Or perhaps better said as the absence of touch as you can't actually hold anything for real, but that's not to say there isn't value in the imagining you are. I was flinging my arms around throughout the experience and that movement certainly makes it more engaging and visceral. One particular highlight...a macro moment where you could get close to the richness of the red soil and almost feel it running through your hands. 3. Luxury brands excel at storytelling, extending their craftsmanship to the narratives they create. While digital craft is essential for new experiences, the storytelling must be exceptional to meet the heightened expectations of the format. Unlike an in-person experience, you don't have to follow the structure of the IRL tour visit... you can experience the magical and unexpected in a non-linear story arc, where the user charts their own personalised path, and can go deeper into the experience. The hummingbird buzzing about throughout the experience was a nice unexpected touch. Congrats to the team at Diageo 👏 It's an incredible accomplishment and I can't wait to see how it evolves. #AppleVisionPro #ExperienceDesign #Luxury

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 Facing challenges helps us develop resilience, problem-solving skills, and a deeper understanding of ourselves. It's through overcoming difficulties that we often experience the most significant personal growth and gain confidence in our abilities. How do you usually approach challenges in your life? #growth #opportunities #mentalhealth #people #learning #experience #work #success #future #mindset

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Another great win for the #RetailMedia industry, this time in Latin America! In collaboration with IAB, led by Jeffrey Bustos, and a group of industry experts and visionaries on Retail Media from Latin America, we created and launched the first guideline for Retail Media for the Region. It is the belief of this group that Retail Media will accelerate significantly behind this guide, unifying Retailers, Brands, Agencies and Technology providers towards the development and prosperity of Retail Media in Latin America. Thank you to all contributors, it was an honor to be part of this group representing Criteo and the broader Measurement community. At the risk of missing someone, here is the list of contributors and visionaries: 🇲🇽 Adriana Torres Villeda, Gerente de Captación y Atención a Socios, IAB México. 🇲🇽 Alejandra Lopez Martin del Campo, Directora General, Consejo de Investigación de Medios, A.C. 🇨🇴 🇨🇱 Ana María Molina Vélez, Customer Engagement & Media Manager, dunnhumby 🇨🇴 Ana Romero-Tschann, Senior Manager, Strategic Planning & Operations, Criteo 🇨🇴 Andrés Castillo, Chief Media Officer, dentsu 🇨🇴 Angélica Gómez León, Head of OMG TRANSACT, Omnicom Media Group 🇨🇴 Armando Martínez Sierra, Managing Director, OMG TRANSACT 🇻🇪 Carlos Bermudez, Vice President, Commerce Lead LATAM, Publicis Commerce 🇨🇱🇺🇾 Carolina Cifuentes, Gerente Marketing y Operación, Cencosud S.A. 🇲🇽 Cecilia Vanin, E-commerce Marketing & Retail Media Lead, PepsiCo 🇲🇽 Aracely (Cely) Moreno-Mosier, Senior Director, Omnichannel Marketing, Head of Retail Media Partnerships, PepsiCo 🇦🇷 Charlie Shaw, General Manager, IAB Argentina 🇧🇷 Cristiana Leal, Director of Retail Media, Data. Monetization, Trade Marketing, Grupo Carrefour Brasil 🇧🇷 Daniel Tovar Angel, Senior Product Marketing Manager, Mercado Livre Brasil 🇧🇷 Daniela Pegoraro, Coordinador de Marketing, IAB Brasil Last but not least, thank you to all other IAB leaders for bringing our industry together for this effort: 🇵🇪 Beatriz Hernandez, IAB Peru 🇺🇾 Carolina de León Sánchez, IAB Uruguay 🇲🇽 Gabriel Richaud, IAB México 🇨🇴 Paola Restrepo Ospina, IAB Colombia 🇨🇱 Rodrigo Saavedra, IAB Chile Below is the original post in spanish.

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Shout out to all the Saturday side hustlers, keeping your sueños alive and paying your dues to the process. If I can offer one piece of advice—it doesn’t have to be perfect to be profitable. Aquí te dejo cómo superar el perfeccionismo y mantenerte productivo: 1️⃣ Set Realistic Goals: Break down your big sueños into bite-sized tasks. Think of it like making a Puerto Rican pastelón—you don’t just throw everything together and hope it works. You layer it piece by piece: first the plantains, then the meat, then the cheese (perdóname for drooling in my mouth rn). Focus on progress, not perfection. Small, consistent steps lead to big wins. 2️⃣ Embrace the MVP (Minimum Viable Product): Launch when it’s good enough to solve a problem or meet a need. Don’t wait until it’s perfect—get it out there, get feedback, and tweak it. Imaginate si Janet Jackson waited for perfection… we’d never have those iconic hits that make us all dance in the shower. Your MVP doesn’t need to be flawless para empezar, it just needs to be functional and valuable enough to get into the hands of users. 3️⃣ Prioritize Your Tasks: Not everything needs to be done ahora mismo. Figure out the top things that will push you forward and tackle those first. Borrow my Business Order of Operations for Solopreneurs: Product, Sales, Operations, Marketing. You gotta have something to sell (product), a process for selling it (sales), the systems in place to fulfill those sales (operations), and then you’re off to the races with marketing. Focus on what’s crucial today in your business. 4️⃣ Learn from Feedback: Don’t be scared of criticism. It’s like that tough love from your no-nonsense tía—it stings a bit but helps you grow. Use tools like VideoAsk and surveys to create feedback loops. This not only helps you gather testimonials but also assesses opportunities for upsells and renewals. With VideoAsk, you can create personalized video messages asking for feedback, making the process more engaging and human. Embrace the lessons, keep improving, and turn feedback into actionable steps for growth. Recuerda, it’s all about progress over perfection. Sigue empujando, refining as you go, and watch your side hustle take off. No success is overnight. Don’t let the quest for perfection hold you back. ¡Dale con todo! #SideHustle #Entrepreneurship #Productivity #SaturdayGrind #SmallWins #ProgressOverPerfection

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Adapting B2B sales strategies to Latam’s changing market 🚀🚀🚀 The B2B landscape in Latam is evolving quickly, and adaptability is more crucial than ever. Economic shifts, political changes, and rising inflation across the region are forcing businesses to rethink their approach. From my perspective, success in this market comes down to a few key strategies: 1. Solution flexibility: Latam’s diversity requires tailored solutions. Customizing offers and adapting to local market conditions builds stronger client relationships. 💡 2. Digital integration: With accelerated digital transformation, leveraging data and AI in your sales process is no longer optional. It’s crucial for lead generation and customer insights. ⚙️ 3. Agile pricing: Volatile markets demand flexible pricing models. Clients expect adaptability, especially in an uncertain economic climate. 💰 In Latam, staying ahead means being ready to pivot quickly and meet the region’s unique challenges 🎸 #B2BSales #LatamMarket #Adaptability #DigitalTransformation #SalesStrategy

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Are you tired of wasting time and money on wigs that don't meet your expectations? Do you want to make informed decisions when purchasing perucas (wigs) and achieve a flawless and natural look every time? Look no further! Our digital product, "5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Perucas (Wigs)," is here to revolutionize your wig shopping experience. By highlighting the most common pitfalls and blunders made by wig shoppers, we empower you to make wise choices and avoid costly mistakes. This video guide is designed to help both wig enthusiasts and beginners navigate the intricate world of perucas, ensuring a smooth and satisfying purchasing journey. With "5 Mistakes to Avoid When Buying Perucas (Wigs)," you can bid farewell to wig-shopping frustrations and embrace a successful, stress-free experience. Whether you're buying a wig for daily wear, special occasions, or cosplay, this digital product is your ultimate guide to becoming a savvy wig shopper. Shop https://lnkd.in/epVd5Zk5

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Hace algunas semanas terminé este curso – Business of Creativity – dictado por el gran Sir John Hegarty. Les comparto algunos highlights y ojalá les sirva de algo 😊 1. The Brief – look to inspire, capture the ambition. “I love the freedom of a tight brief” 2. Implementing Creativity – consistency is the name of the game (Nike Vs Reebok). From good to great! Your competitors are good, you should be great. Steve Jobs said: “The ipod must be so good, I want to lick it.” 3. Storytelling: “Complexity destroys profitability”. Simple takes a lot of effort. If the client feels you understood their problem, you are 90% on a good path. Use the client words, not your words. Empathy is key. 4. Pitching: Remember you are selling the future, you are selling the tomorrow. Create a future that the client says “wow! I want to be part of that”. Do not show everything, just the big idea, not the minutia – they will tear it apart. 

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If $9.2 trillion is the opportunity of #AI for #Retail globally, about $560B of that is opportunity within the #LATAM market. Discover how AI is revolutionizing operations in LATAM with Greg Buzek and Hayan Ortega, in the latest episode of RETHINK Retail's exclusive AI in Retail mini-series with Microsoft and IHL Services. "With the use of AI, you can improve product recommendations, personalize promotions, and increase customer engagement. This is the largest area of growth we see for retailers in this industry." - Greg Buzek, President of IHL Services Watch now: https://bit.ly/3Y0Uthu #Retail #AI #LATAM #SupplyChainOptimization #CustomerExperience #RetailTransformation #msftadvocate

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