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Marcela Borrero | Deck Operations Manager

Candidate Status: Technical Exercise Completed

→ Review Technical Exercise Responses Here

Location: Santiago, Chile

Compensation range discussed (USD): $2,000 - $2,800

LinkedIn Profile | Email: marcelaborrero1@gmail.com | Phone: +56 9 8486 9804

Summary

Operations and Commercial Strategy Leader with 2+ years of experience in Commercial Real Estate (CBRE), and 9+ years of overall experience in high-growth functions within Managed Services and MedTech. Holds a Master’s degree in Services Administration. Successfully managed operational and commercial teams of up to 30 people, with proven success in developing and implementing long-term facility management strategies, creating and managing operational budgets, and negotiating complex vendor contracts. Her international experience includes directly supporting US-based operations. Expertise in process optimization, strategic B2B partnerships, and agile decision-making.

Candidate Snapshot

Real Estate / CBRE Expertise:

→ Key experience in Facility Management and Procurement, including the development and implementation of long-term strategies, budget management, and office relocation/procurement services for major clients (e.g., Siemens).

High-Volume Team Management:

→ Proven ability to lead and mentor large operational teams (up to 30 people), focusing on developing sub-teams and fostering engagement through direct communication and feedback sessions.

Strategic B2B & Growth:

→ Demonstrated success in commercial expansion, B2B strategic partnerships, and lead generation to position brands effectively in competitive markets.

Operational Excellence:

→ Focus on measuring performance through key operational indicators (KPIs) related to project management, operational efficiency, compliance, and budget adherence.

Education:

→Master of Science (MS) in Business Administration and Management | Universidad de los Andes (2023)

→Bachelor's Degree in International Relations (Focus on International Economics) | Universidad del Norte (2019)

Certifications:

→Business Development: Strategic Planning | LinkedIn (2024)

Meet Marcela

This video from our screening interview provides a look into Marcela's background and her experience.

Key Qualifications & Highlights

Real Estate Experience

→Strategic Procurement Management: Provided specialized support in Procurement Management for major real estate clients (e.g., Siemens), focusing on strategic office relocations and new site acquisition.

→End-to-End Office Solutions: Managed the entire process of finding and securing new commercial spaces, including identifying specific client requirements, presenting options, and facilitating price negotiation and contract review with CBRE.

→Facility Management Strategy: Experience in developing and implementing long-term facility management strategies aligned with overarching organizational goals and operational needs.

Team Leadership Environment

→Large Team Oversight: Successfully managed and led operational teams ranging from 25 to 30 people within demanding sectors like Commercial Real Estate (CBRE), Mining, and Healthcare IT.

→Empowering Sub-Team Structure: Implemented a leadership philosophy focused on creating smaller, autonomous sub-teams and assigning team leaders, promoting individual investment, enthusiasm, and a sense of value among team members.

→Culture of Continuous Feedback: Instituted regular meetings with team leaders and full teams to actively listen, identify bottlenecks, discuss current challenges, and collaboratively propose system-wide solutions and improvements.

Operations & Process Management

→Operational Budget Control: Expertise in creating and managing detailed budgets for facility operations, maintenance, and capital projects, ensuring financial compliance and efficiency.

→Vendor and Contract Negotiation: Managed and oversaw contracts with external service providers, including negotiating agreements to ensure vendors delivered high-quality, compliant services.

→Start-Up and Agile Operations: Led operations from the ground up for a clinical/MedTech start-up during the COVID-19 quarantine, demonstrating agility and rapid problem-solving to deliver in-home medical services.

→Process Improvement & Compliance: Focused on investigating system bottlenecks and applying personalized systems and solutions, ensuring compliance with safety regulations, and conducting regular safety inspections.

Screening Interview - Key Observations

→Zero-to-One Problem Solving: Her core philosophy for building new systems is rooted in deep investigation and team collaboration. She prioritizes listening to the existing team to identify critical bottlenecks before designing and implementing a "personalized system" for the specific issue.

→Real Estate Domain Expertise: Possesses relevant commercial real estate experience from her tenure at CBRE, including high-stakes procurement management, office acquisition, price negotiation, and managing key clients like Siemens. She also has recent consulting experience with the US market, focusing on process optimization.

→Leadership and Team Scaling: Has managed large operational teams (up to 25–30 people at CBRE, utilizing sub-teams and assistants) and currently leads a smaller, cross-functional team in a remote startup. Her leadership style emphasizes consistent communication (weekly/monthly meetings) and fostering commitment by investing in team value through delegation and focused groups.

→Operational Performance Metrics: Demonstrated proficiency in using concrete KPIs to measure team success, including Time Value (performance per hour/week), Percentage of Commitment (goal attainment), and Saving (efficiency achieved through personnel or cost reduction).

→Logistical Clarity: Proactively inquired about the company’s policies regarding the day-to-day workflow, specifically asking about the presence of hour management or tracking systems, suggesting a desire for clarity on remote oversight expectations.