minute reads

It’s Time to Build the Latin American Dream — MADE IN LATAM EP1. with Ricardo Van Wielink from VaWi

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Ricardo Van Wielink, CEO de VaWi, comparte su transición del mundo de las agencias al emprendimiento, motivado por la necesidad de construir su propio sueño. Su empresa crea un ecosistema que proporciona a los freelancers autonomía junto con respaldo, procesos y estructura, conectando a las empresas con talento freelance para evitar contrataciones inciertas y el estrés de trabajar en solitario. También analiza errores comunes en el sector creativo latinoamericano, como la falta de claridad en las agencias y el enfoque en ideas sin resolver problemas reales del cliente. Destaca la salud mental como pilar empresarial y subraya la importancia de las relaciones públicas en México, donde son clave para generar confianza. Finalmente, reflexiona sobre una lección aprendida del fracaso de Sky Rider al expandirse a México sin investigación previa, enfatizando la necesidad de entender el mercado. El episodio está dirigido a quienes buscan emprender con claridad, mejorar relaciones laborales o conectar con Latinoamérica evitando errores comunes.

In this episode, Ricardo Van Wielink, CEO of VaWi, shares his experience of leaving the agency world to start his own business. He did not do it out of romanticism, but out of the need to build his own dream. Instead of promoting independence without direction, VaWi creates an ecosystem where freelancers have autonomy, but also support, processes, and structure. This approach is designed to connect companies with freelance talent while avoiding the roulette of uncertain hiring and the stress of working alone.
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Ricardo also talks about common mistakes in the Latin American creative world, such as the lack of clarity inside agencies and the tendency to fall in love with ideas without thinking about the client’s real problems. Mental health appears as a core pillar of the business, because a freelancer with a calm mind and a clear goal can deliver stronger results. And in the B2B space, he highlights something very clear: in Mexico, public relations are not optional. They are personal, ongoing work that opens doors and builds trust.
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Finally, Ricardo shares a lesson from his experience with Sky Rider, a company that, when expanding into Mexico, ran into a market it did not truly understand. The failure, he says, came from a lack of research. And if you do not research, you are moving in the dark. This episode is for anyone who wants to build with more clarity, improve professional relationships, or connect with the Latin American market without falling into common mistakes.
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