Yango Bolivia: how leadership style help to become the top mobility app

?? Today, we're rolling out our new newsletter section ??

Here, Yango Country Managers from different countries will share their insights on leadership, business management, and stories about Yango's growth and launches.

At Yango, we're all about providing cutting-edge technology, and our Country Managers are the ones making it happen on the level of local communities. As we spread Yango services to more regions, it's important for us to share how we launch our services, the challenges we face in different countries, and how we deal with them.?

Let's kick it off with our first guest – Juan Velasco , Country Manager at Yango Bolivia, who embodies the spirit of entrepreneurship and leadership that drives Yango in the country.

Juan's journey with Yango began in 2022 when he assembled a team of 50. Under his leadership, Yango Bolivia has skyrocketed – within a year, Yango became the top app in urban mobility and a leader in the delivery market in Bolivia. Following this, Yango Delivery, our express delivery service, also rapidly emerged as a leader, experiencing exponential growth. They also made several incentives for local communities:?

?? Sponsored Bolivia's largest Carnival

?? Partnered with Santa Cruz and La Paz biggest football team

?? Collaborated with Aldeas SOS, an NGO dedicated to helping homeless children

The Bolivian team now has several new services coming up in 2024 –?so stay tuned!

We asked Juan what gives his team the edge to move forward more efficiently and quickly, and the answer was – the team of professionals that he has brought together from his previous projects. Juan shared, ‘It all comes down to my leadership style – I've always prioritised giving my team autonomy. That's the main reason people want to work with me again.’

Juan gave us a behind-the-scenes look at his strategy

‘Instead, I believe in letting my team members take the helm of their work.? I'm not about handing down orders. Insted, I promote independence, allowing team members to make their own decisions autonomously. This team spirit and approach of fostering autonomy has not only kept our spirits high but has also enabled us to create projects that make a difference in people's daily lives. This is how we operate Yango delivery and ride-hailing services every day in our office.’

The core of his leadership approach is based on the right goal setting

‘My approach is simple: define a clear goal and vision, recruit the best talent, and make sure they're as excited about it as I am. I maintain close interaction with each team member to make sure that the set goal is clear. This isn't just about keeping everyone updated; it's about forming connections, irrespective of our team's size. Regular one-on-one meetings are key — they ensure we're aligned and cohesive as a unit.’

What steps to take if you notice someone is underperforming in the team? Here's Juan’s strategy ????

1?? Lay Out the Big Picture. Start with the professionals – what you're aiming for & why it's gonna rock. Use stories or examples that make everyone go, "Wow, we're part of something big." Paint a picture so they can literally see themselves making things happen.

2?? Make the Connections Clear. Help your team see how what they do every day is actually pushing the whole machine forward. It's like showing them they're not just cogs in the wheel but key players in the game. That gets people cheer up because they see their value.

3?? Hand Over Some Control. Nothing gets people more invested than letting them steer the ship a bit. Involve them in decisions, let them set personal goals that tie back to the big dream, or brainstorm ideas. When they feel like they own a piece of the action, they're all in.

4?? Be the Example. Be that spark. If you're jazzed about the goals, let it show! The team can't help but get caught up in your energy when they see you're 100% in.

5?? Provide Feedback and Support. Everyone wants to know how they're doing and how they can be better. Keep the lines open, dish out the props, guide them through the rough patches, and arm them with whatever they need.

6?? Build a Positive Culture. The result of the leadership style is in the organisational culture –?showing up to the Yango office isn't a must in the culture. I come here because I enjoy it, but what I’ve noticed is that others turn up daily, despite it not being obligatory. This means to me that the teammates enjoy being at work every day, which makes achieving results more possible.

By tackling it this way, you're not just telling the team about the mission; you're making them feel like they're essential to the mission's success, and that's when the magic happens. It all helps to provide the top resources worldwide to execute this vision and to turn the goals into reality.

Measurement is a key factor for success

To provide resources worldwide at Yango we are keeping an eye on everything, from how many rides we're doing a month to how our team's performing. Juan has shared with us:

‘I am all about metrics and numbers. I strongly believe in the value of data-driven decision-making. Ensuring we have robust tools to measure performance is important to me. When I notice someone is underperforming, my first thought is always about how I can help them improve.’

What steps to take if you notice someone is underperforming in the team? Juan insights ????

1?? Implement solid tools to keep track of how everyone's doing, both as individuals and as a team

2??Check in on those key metrics regularly to see where we're rocking it and where we need to need to step it up

3?? Offer up feedback and coaching to help teammates improve, overcome challenges, and achieve their goals

4?? Always be questioning how I'm doing as a leader too, looking for ways to better support the team

Juan shared some insights with us about what drove the team's success at Yango Bolivia, and it turns out that it was a mix of his leadership style, along with the team's hard work, talent, and dedication. Together, the Yango Bolivia team has succeeded in many things from becoming the top app in urban mobility to spearheading community initiatives like sponsoring Bolivia's largest Carnival. The success is rooted in a simple yet powerful principle: prioritising autonomy and fostering collaboration, driven by effective leadership. It's all about giving the team the freedom to own their projects and work together, backed up by leadership that trusts and supports them. This approach has helped the team to make a real difference to the lives of our customers and local communities in La Paz.

*We're rolling out our newsletter monthly, featuring interviews with our Country Managers from around the globe. Make sure to follow along to keep in the loop!