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How Mercado Libre built Latin America's most valuable company: 18k engineers, 30k deploys a day, and their own fleet of planes | Sebastian Barrios

Sebastian Barrios, a seasoned engineering leader with extensive experience at Mercado Libre and now Roblox, shares insights on managing large-scale operations and fostering innovation. Known for his unique management style that blends engineering and product roles, Sebastian has overseen teams of over 18,000 engineers across Latin America. His journey includes early entrepreneurial ventures and a memorable call from Steve Jobs.
Sebastian discusses how Mercado Libre operates with fewer PMs by integrating engineering and product roles, emphasizing user satisfaction over immediate revenue. AI plays a pivotal role in enhancing development processes, enabling rapid deployments and personalized features. He advocates for empowering teams to embrace failure while maintaining alignment through design reviews and feedback. Radical candor is crucial in Latin American cultures, promoting direct communication without personal attachment. Weekly update emails streamline communication and improve productivity. Sebastian also highlights the importance of critically assessing tech hype cycles like crypto and AI, focusing on practical applications. Reflecting on his career, he recounts lessons learned from building successful apps and competing with Uber. Additionally, Sebastian shares unique personal habits such as avoiding alcohol and media, favoring purposeful information intake. He concludes with parenting philosophies encouraging independence and curiosity, alongside favorite books and movies that inspire his leadership approach.
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Received a call from Steve Jobs at 17 about his app.
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Mercado Libre operates with a bias towards engineering in hiring and role assignments.
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AI can combine existing code and APIs to create new features without writing new code
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Building a strong company culture outside the U.S. depends on leadership actions and clear communication of values.
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A company should not be compared to a family but to a high-performance sports team.
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It's a great tool, and I got something from your post.
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Deep research and understanding fundamentals help avoid hype cycles.
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Sebastian made an app for learning phone sensors which led to a call from Steve Jobs
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Built a taxi-ordering app in Mexico City achieving network effects
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Success is about following curiosity rather than sticking to a routine.
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Tobi Lütke's mother used unconventional methods like survival camping and solo international trips to teach independence.
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The world is malleable and one can change it