The messenger in the mountains

Adolfo Gómez Sánchez speaks calmly but urgently — like someone accustomed to solving puzzles others dismiss as impossible. As CEO of Chazki, a logistics company named after the legendary Incan messengers who once traversed the Andes by foot, Gómez Sánchez knows firsthand that moving goods in Latin America involves more than delivery schedules or algorithms. It’s about navigating a region where the modern and the traditional coexist uneasily.

Sitting down recently to discuss the peculiarities of Latin America’s market, Gómez Sánchez highlighted a truth often overlooked by global executives: this is not simply one vast marketplace but a mosaic of dozens of cultures, each with their own commerce rhythms and logistical idiosyncrasies. “People think Latin America is homogeneous, but it’s fragmented,” he notes. He describes each market — Peru, Argentina, Mexico, Brazil — as if mapping out separate continents, each demanding its own careful strategy.

Gómez Sánchez, who previously honed his analytical rigor at Procter & Gamble, conveys a clear-eyed realism. He speaks less about revolutionizing logistics than about gently coaxing an established order into embracing digital efficiency. “Trust,” he insists, “remains the core issue.” People across Latin America are accustomed to seeing and feeling the goods they buy — relying heavily on neighborhood shops and personal relationships. “E-commerce here isn’t just about convenience,” he says. “It’s about transforming habits that stretch back generations.”

His observations illuminate Chazki's challenge: building trust through dependability in regions where infrastructure and cultural preferences create friction for streamlined solutions. The pandemic offered a glimpse into an alternate future, accelerating the adoption of online shopping, yet Gómez Sánchez remains wary of assuming this shift is permanent. “People adapted quickly out of necessity,” he acknowledges, “but maintaining that momentum is our real challenge.”

In describing Chazki’s approach, Gómez Sánchez emphasizes adaptation above all else. “You can’t replicate solutions from the U.S. or Europe here,” he stresses. His company’s success hinges on careful local understanding rather than sweeping disruption. He is less interested in flashy transformations than quiet, consistent improvements—an alchemist patiently reshaping everyday life.

Ultimately, Gómez Sánchez sees himself and his company as messengers of a quiet evolution. Just as the ancient chaskis once connected distant communities through sheer determination, Chazki seeks to bridge a complex region through technology and patience. “We’re still running,” Gómez Sánchez concludes, “but now we’re delivering more than goods — we’re delivering change.”