Navigating Change into Opportunities and Personal Growth with Mauricio Chaparro
Apple Podcasts | Spotify | YouTube
Are you navigating challenges of expat life or relocation? In today’s episode, I am joined by Mauricio Chaparro, a consultant, mentor, and coach specializing in guiding family enterprises, business owners, entrepreneurs, executive leaders, and parents. Through his "Empower to Transform" methodology, Mauricio supports clients in developing their personal and professional competencies to become more comprehensive and potentialize their results.
Listen in as Mauricio shares his transition from Venezuela to Switzerland, exploring expats' unique challenges and how these can lead to personal growth. He also opens up about his shift from a business leader to a dedicated parent, including the cultural adjustments and identity shifts he experienced. Tune in for valuable insights on overcoming these transitions and turning challenges into opportunities.
Mauricio's Journey from Venezuela to Switzerland
For Mauricio, home is wherever he feels good, with his family and himself. Right now, that home is in the outskirts of Milan, Italy, where they’ve been living for the past two years. But looking back, July 2024 marks 10 years since their first move out of Venezuela—a life-changing decision that set them on a path they hadn’t anticipated.
Back in Venezuela, life was good. Mauricio was the general manager of his family’s security services business, with operations in Venezuela, Panama, and Miami. His wife worked for Nestlé, and they enjoyed a close-knit family life, regularly having meals with their parents and watching their two daughters, then aged four and two, grow up.
However, Venezuela was going through a difficult time. While they were successful in their careers, the country’s instability led them to question the future they wanted to provide for their children. Friends and family were leaving, seeking opportunities abroad, but Mauricio and his wife felt comfortable—until an election result made them realize it was time for change.
They began exploring opportunities to leave the country, wanting to give their kids a future with more freedom and possibilities. Though initially considering staying and pursuing their master's degrees in Venezuela, fate had other plans. Mauricio’s wife was offered a new opportunity at Nestlé, one not previously available to women, and they knew this was their moment.
They embraced the challenge, seizing the best opportunity for their family and careers, which led them to Switzerland. Nestlé’s headquarters in Vevey, in the French part of Switzerland, became their new home, marking the beginning of an unexpected adventure.
The Challenges of Relocation
Relocating to Switzerland came with its fair share of challenges. Mauricio and his family had to adapt to a new life in a country where they didn’t speak the language—French became an important skill to master.
Back home in Venezuela, their lives were supported by their network both friends, family, and work. Mauricio was a general manager with a team and personal assistant, and they enjoyed a comfortable life with three cars and a good economic position.
However, in Switzerland, it was more horizontal. Transitioning from a business leader to a stay-at-home dad, Mauricio had to adapt to managing household tasks—cooking, cleaning, and doing laundry—that were new to him and he had not previously handled.
Despite the challenges, Mauricio embraced this shift with gratitude. The experience, though daunting, provided him with a sense of accomplishment and anchored him in the present moment. It was a significant growth opportunity, transforming his perspective on work and life.
Navigating Identity Shifts
Mauricio’s move from Venezuela to Switzerland was an identity shift. In Venezuela, there was more of a scarcity mindset, leading him to focus on accumulating resources.
Arriving in Switzerland, it was different so he had to adjust to new roles, including the new responsibility at home. Also, previously he was a prominent business leader, deeply involved in professional networks and holding influential positions. Now in Switzerland, he had to navigate life as an ordinary person, adapting to a different social and professional environment. This included learning French, finding new ways to connect with people, and redefining his sense of self.
Initially, Mauricio struggled with feelings of guilt and inadequacy, as he had been raised in a family of workaholics and was used to viewing life through the lens of work. He didn't feel deserving to enjoy life. The shift to a more flexible schedule and managing household duties was challenging. However, he eventually recognized the value in this period of personal growth, which allowed him to connect more deeply with his children and rethink his approach to productivity and self-worth.
The experience revealed to him the differences between the job markets in Europe and South America, highlighting the specialized nature of roles in Europe compared to the broader scope of positions in South America. It also forced him to confront and reassess his biases because he valued the work in an office or the work outside of the home rather than the stay-at-home position.
Over time, he learned that being a supportive partner and parent meant also prioritizing his own well-being. This realization was important for his personal growth and effectiveness in his new roles.
The Balance Between Work and Life
How did Mauricio transition from a workaholic mindset to a healthier balance?
He discovered that taking time away from work actually boosted his productivity. Initially, it felt counterintuitive—Mauricio thought he needed to dedicate every hour to work. However, he learned that engaging in activities like golf, tennis, and paddle sports not only pushed him out of his comfort zone but also helped his focus and efficiency in his professional life.
Embracing hobbies and spending time in nature allowed him to gain perspective and appreciate the importance of balance. It gave him oxygen to do his work best. Mauricio realized that life isn't solely about work, which was a big shift from his previous scarcity mindset. This new approach helped him to prioritize what truly mattered.
For example, when his daughter was hospitalized, Mauricio chose to prioritize her needs over work commitments. This experience taught him to manage his time better.
After moving to Brazil, Mauricio initially felt anxious about launching his career as a family business consultant. However, he learned to embrace the process and let go of his previous expectations. This included adjusting to new roles within his family dynamic, where he had to balance his responsibilities with those of his wife.
Mauricio's journey involved not only professional adjustments but also personal growth, including embracing both masculine and feminine aspects of his identity. This ongoing evolution has been a key part of his journey, leading him to deeper self-awareness and a more balanced life.
Personal Growth Through Professional Change
While in Brazil, Mauricio pursued coaching certifications, which contributed to his personal growth. Working closely with families deepened his understanding of both himself and others.
This phase of his life allowed him to become a more insightful consultant, coach, and mentor, leading to quicker and more impactful results for his clients. His approach, "Empower to Transform," reflects his journey of self-discovery and empowerment.
Mauricio applied this methodology not just in his business but also in his personal development. He evolved from being highly analytical—relying on theory and cognitive processes—to adopting a more hands-on, action-oriented mindset. This shift from perfectionism to taking "massive, messy action" bolstered his confidence and effectiveness, proving that real progress often comes from practical experience and asking for help.
He learned the value of balancing self-reliance with seeking help. In Venezuela, he was used to working through others; in Switzerland, he did everything himself. By the time he arrived in Brazil, he was accustomed to solo work, but he realized that asking for help and combining it with practical experience was essential for growth. This combination had been huge in helping him advance.
The Person Mauricio Is Today
Did Mauricio ever envision becoming the person he is today a decade ago?
Definitely not.
Over the past few years, he has grown more humble and appreciative of what he has. This shift in mindset has helped his approach to finances. Previously, he was so focused on pursuing new opportunities and increasing his income that he took his existing resources for granted and struggled with disorganization.
But Mauricio's experience as a business leader taught him valuable lessons about financial management. In Panama, his business initially thrived, but he was overly fixated on top-line growth. This growth mindset, rooted in an inflationary environment where higher revenue and accelerated investments were important, was challenged when he moved to Switzerland. There, he had to adapt to managing cash flow in a more stable economy, where spending wisely and making strategic financial decisions became critical.
A key learning moment for Mauricio came when he discovered issues with his operations in Panama. He had been too trusting of his team and not paying enough attention to the numbers. It wasn't until he personally inspected the situation that he realized the need for tighter financial oversight. He had overlooked warning signs and let a costly contract continue, which was labor-intensive and unprofitable.
Now, Mauricio ensures he stays on top of his finances by dating his finances, both personal and business accounts weekly. This hands-on approach has helped him better manage his resources and make more informed decisions.
Lessons from Business Failures
There’s a saying he resonates with: "Revenue is vanity, profit is sanity, and cash flow is reality."
He faced a harsh lesson in cash flow management. He was deeply attached to the business and failed to recognize just how much money they were losing. Despite hiring an auditor, who was a friend of their finance person, their trust proved misplaced, and they made mistakes due to his naivety.
The business had long been established as a security guard service, so they should have been vigilant about the leaks. They were continually investing more without understanding where the money was going. Additionally, their large operational structure made it challenging to adjust quickly when they lost clients. In this type of business, where scaling up is straightforward, scaling down efficiently is important. He was so focused on growth that he now needed to learn to shrink, which was a painful but necessary lesson.
These experiences taught him to balance growth with operational flexibility. While the process was humbling and painful, it equipped him with valuable tools. He now has a deeper understanding of managing business dynamics, which allows him to assist his clients more effectively and to approach his own business with a new perspective.
Transitioning to Coaching and Consulting
Who is Mauricio today as an entrepreneur, and what does he love to do with his clients?
He’s passionate about sharing his life experiences because they’ve shaped him profoundly, both personally and professionally. The lessons learned—especially from situations like in Panama, where his attachment to the business led to significant losses—have been humbling. He now uses these lessons to help his clients accelerate their growth, guiding them not only through his experiences but also by allowing them to feel and understand those experiences for themselves.
He works extensively on the unconscious level, drawing from his coaching certifications and hypnotherapy training. These approaches offer shortcuts to transformation. While cognitive learning has its place, tapping into the unconscious can be quicker.
He believes transformation can happen in an instant, but to make those shifts, one must first see the patterns clearly—and that’s where he comes in. He broadens his clients' perspectives, helping them see what they may not have recognized before. His international experience also gives him a unique lens to identify and understand universal human challenges, often tied to cultural things.
Mauricio emphasizes that personal growth and business growth are interconnected. By helping his clients understand themselves better, he helps them understand and improve their businesses. "Every business is a reflection of its owner," he says.
His approach offers a comprehensive spectrum that goes beyond typical business advice. Unlike a digital marketing expert or operations advisor, Mauricio sees both the technical aspects of a business and the human being behind it, allowing him to address root causes that affect both life and work.
He empowers his clients to transform by helping them recognize their own potential. “Every entrepreneur, every family business leader, is the most important resource in their business, family, and life,” he says. By working on personal development, he creates a compound effect that impacts their family systems and businesses. It’s leverage and it's very powerful.
Adapting to New Cultures
Now, Mauricio knows that it's not the system that needs to adapt to him—it's he who must adapt to the system. As an expat, he believes it’s essential to be humble enough to integrate into the culture.
He compares it to parenting: when children arrive, they enter an existing family system. While parents prepare for their arrival, the children are the ones adapting to the family structure. If parents constantly adjust to the child’s needs without maintaining stability, it creates uncertainty.
Similarly, systems don’t disrupt easily, but when they do, it's often for the better. Mauricio highlights that while crises can be uncomfortable, they are important for growth.
He’s experienced multiple identity crises—first in Switzerland, then in Brazil, and now, in Italy. Each country has challenged him to evolve and adapt, but he views these crises as natural, like the changing of seasons. Mauricio believes that as long as you continue working on yourself, keeping your goals clear, you will progress and eventually reach where you want to go. This is a core principle of one of his ventures, Metastream, which focuses on maintaining awareness while navigating life's changes.
He sees expatriation as a teacher, one that shows how to embrace change, be flexible, and remain humble. Living abroad makes you aware of your status as a foreigner, and even when you return home, you may feel foreign there too. Mauricio experienced this during a visit to Venezuela, realizing that both he and the country had changed. This phenomenon, known as reverse culture shock, is another part of the readaptation process.
Through these experiences, Mauricio has learned to appreciate both the advantages and disadvantages of each place he’s lived. He advises against comparing the strengths of one country with the weaknesses of another. Instead, you must assess the full balance sheet—understanding both the assets and liabilities of each place—and only then can you make informed comparisons.
Ultimately, it's not about which place is better or worse. It's about understanding that they are simply different.
Thank you, Mauricio, for sharing how you navigate change into opportunities and personal growth. To listen to our full conversation, tune in on your favorite podcast platform.
Connect with Mauricio:
LinkTree: @maurochaparro
Website: https://www.mauriciochaparro.com/
Instagram: @maurochaparro
Facebook: Mauricio Chaparro Vegas
LinkedIn: Mauricio Chaparro
YouTube Channel: Mauricio Chaparro Vegas
Connect with Me:
Check out mine and Shannon’s upcoming Abundance in Love Retreat and Program: REGISTRATION For Retreat
Date Your Finances website: Lucie HAUTREUX
On Instagram:
Instagram (@lucielifeexperiences)Watch on YouTube:
Lucie Hautreux • Business Growth StrategistSign up for my weekly newsletter, Love Letters: Subscribe now to Lucie's Love Letters
