UlTImATE SUccESS GUIdEall over the world during the past half-century. For instance, the end of
the cold war, the fall of the Berlin Wall, the real estate crisis in 2008,
the Arab spring of 2011, the oil price increases of recent times, or the
difficulties in some European countries; these are a few events that ex-
emplify the magnitude of changes in our current world. These historical
issues and times are having a profound impact in how societies behave,
how world politics develops and how economies function and operate
today. Changes have affected us in ways we still cannot imagine, and
will for years to come. Realize now that it is under these uncertain reali-
ties that leaders have continued to emerge and grow, and are continu-
ously exploring new frontiers. Strong leaders emerge under the most
critical circumstances.
Now take a look at the changes in the cultural, economic or political sys-
tems that have taken place in most emerging markets, and realize that
these are shaping the future of developing societies. Too many people
in the emerging world are living under many difficulties, adapting to the
daily challenges they bring us. Latin American economies and societ-
ies - all different in sizes, shapes, people, heritage, or political systems
- have had to adapt to continuing evolving situations, but also live in the
very different reality of uncertainty. The Merriam-Webster dictionary
defines “uncertainty” as (a) the quality or state of being uncertain (as in
a doubt) and (b) likely to change^1. Now add turbulence to the equation
and you have a very complex reality. So, under these definitions, how
do you cope with uncertainty? And, what do all of these conditions have
to do with leadership?
Change and uncertainty increase the challenges that a leader has to face,
and it is not always easy. A person might live in a country that is worlds
apart from the rapid changes in technology or scientific innovations;
true we have large natural resources, but we are lacking in our educa-
tional systems, in the productivity of our factories, or in the ways our
society is organized. But the biggest challenge of all is living in a world
with an unclear and constantly changing set of rules, laws, and pro-
cedures – which affects the way people behave or businesses are run,
working under the effects of large economic swings, with lower growth,
higher inflation or unemployment rates, a legal system that does not
promote free trade or real competition, not to mention the difficult po-
litical situations that exists in several countries. In other words, we do