Reflections on 2023

As I reflect on 2023, I’m filled with gratitude. Earlier this year, my team and I built and launched CXO4, and our first months have been incredible. We’ve helped nearly 20 companies improve their go-to-market efforts from all angles. We’ve guided them as they’ve extended business into the US, established nearshore operations or landed and expanded in Latam, and increased demand — all at a fraction of the typical cost, thanks to our consulting and fractional leadership model.?

In this new chapter, my previous experiences continue to serve as a valuable foundation. For example, I still embrace the mantra I lived by at IBM – To grow, you have to get comfortable with being uncomfortable.?

This remains true in my work with CXO4 as we take on new challenges. In the spirit of transparency, I want to share three valuable recommendations we put into practice in 2023 as we’ve built CXO4 from the ground up.

3 Tips to Develop, Launch & Grow Your Business

1?? Craft a Clear Vision

Building a company, launching a product, and expanding into new regions all require the same starting point — a clear vision. I highly recommend scheduling a focused brainstorming session with key decision-makers to begin drafting your vision.?

Brainstorming was a critical early step for CXO4. We discussed everything from our vision to our values, business model and differentiators. Collaborating with digital innovation company #Amalgama helped us refine and communicate our vision. They helped us develop our logo and website, ensuring our external image and messaging aligned with our internal values.

2?? Establish Shared Values

We’ve all spent countless hours in meetings where people were late, distracted, or off-topic. That’s why I recommend that teams define their expectations when it comes to how they work together.?

At CXO4, we created a social contract to clarify how we would collaborate and what was important to us. We then turned those preferences and priorities into our shared values. For example, being punctual, fully present, and focused became a cornerstone of our shared values for us and for our clients. Time and attention are valuable, and should be treated as such!

3?? Communicate Unique Differentiators

Your key differentiators are the distinct and unique values that set you apart in the market. They should be compelling and easy to communicate.

When we built CXO4, we knew that having Latin American origins and extensive experience in top global roles made us stand out among other consultant and analyst companies. Our work with diverse clients gives us a unique perspective on the market. Additionally, few people can provide both strategy and hands-on execution. So we developed a tagline, "From Strategy to Execution," to emphasize this value-add. The icing on the cake? We offer fractional C-level expertise, making us accessible to companies seeking top-tier leadership at a fraction of the cost. Together, our differentiators create a compelling offering in the market.

Many Rewarding Moments

On this journey, I’ve had the privilege of building and strengthening relationships, creating ecosystems, and giving back to the community.?

1?? One pleasant surprise has been working with dear friends in new capacities. It’s been a gift to share my life’s work with longtime friends and former colleagues.?

2?? Additionally, working with multiple companies allows me to tackle challenges in ways that were unimaginable when I worked exclusively for a single company. It’s been especially rewarding to discover synergies between our friends and clients; we often end up introducing them to each other to help them multiply their value.?

3?? And lastly, as I wrote about last month, being able to give back to causes like Fundacion Ruta 40 fuels my purpose and fills my heart.??

I’m especially grateful to everyone who has helped CXO4 turn our vision into reality. I’d like to thank my partners, clients, family, and friends for your unwavering support in 2023.?