climbers & scalers

S1:E28 Marcos Galperin: The future of Mercado Libre. And Marcos' future

What makes Mercado Libre transform itself again after having already achieved almost everything? In this episode of Climbers & Scalers, Marcos looks back on key stages in Mercado Libre’s history and explains why he believes a new one is just beginning. He talks about the moment they rewrote their tech architecture, the impact of smartphones and apps, and why today he feels the same energy as in the early days. He also shares his vision on education, technology, and the role that both Mercado Libre — and he himself — can still play in the region. An episode about the future and all that has yet to be built. Producer & Host: Federico Eisner | https://www.linkedin.com/in/feisner/

S1:E27 Marcos Galperin: Artificial intelligence and Chinese competitors. Welcome

Holding your ground is sometimes a strategy. But other times, it’s a message. In this episode of scalers & climbers, Marcos recalls the toughest years against Amazon, the decisions made when the numbers didn’t add up, and why they chose to invest where others would have walked away. He also talks about the Chinese e-commerce giants, about how they compete in a market that blends shopping, entertainment, and social networks, and why in a world of artificial intelligence and invisible platforms, growth is not about imitation but about choosing which game to play. A conversation about culture, focus, and long-term vision. Producer & Host: Federico Eisner | https://www.linkedin.com/in/feisner/

S1:E26 Marcos Galperin: The easiest letter to write and the hardest decision to take

On May 21, 2025, Marcos surprised everyone by announcing that he was stepping down as CEO of Mercado Libre. He did it with a short letter, written in fifteen minutes with the help of artificial intelligence. In this episode, he tells for the first time how that process unfolded: what personal, family, and strategic factors led him to the decision, what role the Board played, and why stepping aside sometimes requires as much commitment as staying in charge. An intimate conversation about letting go, leaving a legacy, and knowing when to change roles. To keep scaling, from a different place. Producer & Host: Federico Eisner | https://www.linkedin.com/in/feisner/

S1:E25 Linda Rottenberg: Paying it forward and helping build the entrepreneurship ecosystem in Latin America

Linda Rottenberg is the founder and CEO of Endeavor, the leading global community of high-impact entrepreneurs. In the late 1990s, Linda flew down to South America and settled in Argentina. She began working in the social sector, until she concluded that what the region needed was not more microcredits, but more Microsofts being launched locally. She secured the first funding and the first entrepreneurs. Her story — and that of Endeavor — changed forever when she met Marcos and Hernán, the co-founders of Mercado Libre. Producer & Host: Federico Eisner | https://www.linkedin.com/in/feisner/

S1:E24 Ari Szarfsztejn and Juan Martín de la Serna: The best is yet to come

They have a genuine calling to change the lives of millions of users. They look ahead. They love to compete and are far from being intimidated. They constantly re-prioritize. Because the context shifts so much, every year they redesign the org chart. They’d rather not hire than lower the bar. They sit side by side, argue fiercely, and from that clash come better ideas. Ari and Juan Martín share all of this in this episode. And it’s from this culture — one you can understand and embrace — that you realize the best is yet to come. Producer & Host: Federico Eisner | https://www.linkedin.com/in/feisner/