Magic happens when you start engaging.

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Last week, I took off from Miami, and 9 hours later, I landed in Santiago, Chile.

If you've never been, let me tell you: Chile is a cradle of innovation in Latin America. The quality of talent coming out of the universities is impressive. And I’m not just saying that because I’m of Chilean descent (though, yes, a little bias is unavoidable).

There’s something electric about that city's energy, ideas, and conversations. Every time I go, I feel recharged.

I've always dreamed of creating meaningful projects in Chile.

And for me, that always starts with the people.

I don’t do transactional networking. I believe business is a byproduct of genuine human connection. I lead with curiosity, listen before pitching, and focus on offering value.

And this trip?

It reminded me how powerful that mindset can be, even when you’re thousands of miles away from your usual network.

Before I arrived, I cold-messaged Pia Cárdenas from SpinPitch. She's someone I’d admired on LinkedIn but never met. She's a pitch expert, so I was excited to connect with her.

I applied my networking 101 technique: I didn’t send a generic note. I told her exactly how I found her, why I respected her work, and asked if she’d be open to connecting while I was in town.

She said yes!

We met. And the conversation? Effortless. Deep. Aligned. FUN.

It was one of those “I'm so glad I reached out” moments. A reminder that the magic happens when you stop watching and start engaging.

But I was just getting started!

To wrap the week, I hosted a happy hour with an amazing group of Chilean entrepreneurs with the most diverse perspectives.

And it was everything I love about gatherings: no pitching, just real conversations, shared stories, and a lot of laughter.

We had great bites, better drinks, and even better company.

Bottom line?

Another unforgettable trip. More brilliant people in my circle. And yes—I’m already planning the next one.

To everyone I met: thank you for the warmth, the wisdom, and the welcome.

To those I haven’t met yet: don’t let geography get in the way.

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Networking tip of the week A strong network is like a safety net. It's always there when you need it most. Take time to build it.