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Gustavo Alvarez Moreno
Connecting humans to nature. Wanna join us?
Gustavo Alvarez Moreno is a dynamic entrepreneur with over 15 years of extensive experience in business operations, community building, and people management. Acknowledged for his ability to develop and lead multicultural teams, Gustavo has established himself as a prominent figure in the Latin American entrepreneurial landscape. His commitment to fostering growth and innovation can be seen through his numerous significant contributions to the startup ecosystem across the region.
A graduate of the Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México, where he earned a Bachelor of Business Administration focused on Entrepreneurship and Entrepreneurial Studies, Gustavo has enriched his academic credentials with additional training from the altMBA program and as an LF1 Fellow at Latitud. This solid educational foundation has enabled him to deeply understand the nuances of entrepreneurship and business development, further solidified by his practical experience in various leadership roles.
Throughout his career, Gustavo has demonstrated an unwavering commitment to empowering entrepreneurs. He played a pivotal role in consolidating one of the most active communities of leaders among aspiring entrepreneurs in Latin America, positively impacting thousands across the region. His work with a multi-lateral bank led to innovative projects that challenged the status quo, engaging executives to promote growth and development in Latin American communities. Additionally, his mentorship has been invaluable to many Mexican founders, providing them with the support to overcome challenges, launch products, and successfully scale their ventures.
Gustavo's professional journey is marked by numerous notable positions, including roles as Chief Operating Officer and Head of Business Development at Aire Libre Running, and Co-founder & CEO of LECO_mx. His expertise in business expansion is evident from his tenure as Director of Business Development for Latin America and VP of Expansion for Startup Programs at Techstars. His influence extends to non-profit and community-oriented initiatives, having served as a mentor at Collective Academy and as a global facilitator at Startup Weekend. Amidst his successes, Gustavo acknowledges the lessons learned from the ventures that did not materialize as planned, indicating a growth mindset and a commitment to continuous learning in his entrepreneurial journey.
Highlights
¿Ya le entraste al hielo?
Pocas veces había sentido ese nivel de dolor en mis extremidades: en los pies, las manos, las piernas, los brazos. La mente me exigía salir de ahí. Mi cuerpo estaba en shock. Fueron los dos minutos, cuarenta y tres segundos más largos de mi vida (probablemente exagero poquito).
Era octubre de 2019 y nunca lo había hecho. Lo más poderoso no fue estar ahí dentro, sino entender la fragilidad de mi cuerpo así como reconocer cómo me relaciono con el miedo; en este caso, el miedo a lo desconocido.
Tras varios años transcurridos, 5 años de duchas con agua fría (renuncié al agua caliente y ahora pago Max y Apple TV con el ahorro de gas en casa, ja) y varias inmersiones en el hielo, el dolor sigue presente, la incomodidad no ha disminuido, pero mi relación con esa sensación es diferente, porque ahora la conozco.
Trillado, sí. Pero me pareció una buena idea compartirte un bonito recordatorio de que me ha ayudado personalmente: enfrentarme al miedo que emana de lo desconocido con curiosidad y valentía, ha resultado en una buena manera de expandir los límites de lo que imagino como posible.
Una conversación difícil; un proyecto nuevo; aprender a usar una nueva herramienta; confrontar una problemática cultural al interior de tu empresa.
Hay muchos retos en la vida adulta. ¿Cómo te relacionas tú con ellos?
𝗥𝗲𝗶𝗻𝗳𝗼𝗿𝗰𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗕𝗲𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗳𝘀 𝗼𝗿 𝗘𝘃𝗼𝗹𝘂𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝗼𝗳 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗽𝗲𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗲 It’s been almost two years since I joined Aire Libre. Back then, I had a vision, a hypothesis, and the excitement of helping create a positive impact in modern companies. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐕𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧: To provide founders with spaces where their teams can build honest, human relationships, trusting that they work in a safe environment, through unconventional activities outside of the typical workspace. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐇𝐲𝐩𝐨𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐬: What if, instead of focusing on activities that often feel forced during team retreats, we created safe spaces to express ourselves, get to know our colleagues as human beings, and address the issues that have created silos and mistrust in a healthy way? This year at Aire Libre, we faced challenges that affected the team’s morale. It wasn’t until we paused, went to the mountains together, entered a temazcal, and looked each other in the eyes to confront our issues, that we could refocus on what was draining our collective energy. It wasn’t a cure-all, but it was a starting point to remind us that we share a mission, that we all have the same goal, and that the only way to achieve it is by keeping individual interests aligned with the organization’s goals. We’re still facing challenges, still navigating rough terrain, but we’re more united than ever. Getting together occasionally in settings different from the usual party and alcohol scene can have a powerful effect on reconnecting as a team. Returning to my mission at Aire Libre, experiencing it firsthand, reminded me how essential it is to create these spaces. 𝐋𝐞𝐭’𝐬 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐦𝐚𝐤𝐞 𝐢𝐭 𝐚 𝐡𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐭 𝐭𝐨 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐩 𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐯𝐞𝐬.
