--- title: Figure Eight – Author Marcelo De Santis description: During this episode of the VentureFuel Visionaries, Figure Eight, we speak with author and C-Suite leader, Marcelo De Santis. image: https://blog.venturefuel.net/hubfs/VFI_Blog_Figure-Eight%20Large.jpeg --- ![](https://blog.venturefuel.net/hubfs/VFI_Blog_Figure-Eight%20Large.jpeg) # Figure Eight – Author Marcelo De Santis Published by [Vanessa Rosado](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/author/vanessa-rosado) on Aug 28, 2024 11:44:24 AM ![Figure Eight – Author Marcelo DeSantis](https://blog.venturefuel.net/hs-fs/hubfs/Thumbnail%20(Podcast)%20-%20VFI%20Visionaries_Figure%20Eight.jpeg?width=760&height=428&name=Thumbnail%20(Podcast)%20-%20VFI%20Visionaries_Figure%20Eight.jpeg) This week's VentureFuel Visionary is Marcelo De Santis, an author, and a seasoned C-Suite leader. He is the founder and CEO of The Ascent, a firm unleashing the potential of leaders to drive impactful transformation in their businesses.  He also serves as a board member for HITEC and NextData and co-founded Angeles Investors, a VC firm supporting minority-owned businesses. Beyond that, he is a former executive at Thoughtworks, Pirelli, and Mondelēz International. In this episode, we discuss leadership in fast times, accelerating time to market, executive mountaineering through humility and empathy, and having more questions than answers. We also discuss how far from the core he had explored and the mental barriers he had overcome to drive transformation.     VentureFuel builds and accelerates innovation programs for industry leaders by helping them unlock the power of External Innovation via startup collaborations.  [ CONTACT US ](https://www.venturefuel.net/contactus) Tags: [Innovation](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/innovation), [podcasts](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/podcasts), [Startup](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/startup), [Startups](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/startups), [Funding](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/funding), [Founders](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/founders), [Startup Founders](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/startup-founders), [Fundraising](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/fundraising), [Emerging Tech](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/emerging-tech), [latino](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/latino), [latina](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/latina), [underrepresented](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/underrepresented), [bpoc](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/bpoc), [tech startups](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/tag/tech-startups) [Back to Blog](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov) ## Related Articles ## [From Pilots to Portfolios: Comcast’s Integrated Corporate Growth Startup Strategy](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/from-pilots-to-portfolios-comcast-integrated-growth-strategy) Corporate innovation is at its strongest when startup pilots and venture investments align. How... [Read More ](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/from-pilots-to-portfolios-comcast-integrated-growth-strategy) ## [Empowering Growth: Latino Entrepreneurs — Marlene Orozco](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/empowering-growth-marlene-orozco-on-latino-entrepreneurship-and-access-to-capital) This week's VentureFuel Visionary is Marlene Orozco, lead research analyst at the Stanford... [Read More ](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/empowering-growth-marlene-orozco-on-latino-entrepreneurship-and-access-to-capital) ## [Testing The Edges With Mars’ Rainer Struck](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/testing-the-edges-with-mars-rainer-struck) The future belongs to those who can see around corners and test the edges of possibility. How do... [Read More ](https://blog.venturefuel.net/pov/testing-the-edges-with-mars-rainer-struck)