Today we’d like to introduce you to Walter Boza

Hi Walter, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?

I landed my first job as a junior in college back in Venezuela. My major was in Advertising and Public Relations, but my first job had little to do with that.

A fellow student was working at one of the leading marketing research companies in Venezuela, and they needed a bilingual computer programmer. My classmate recommended me for the position. Aside from playing with my Commodore 64 in the 80s, I had zero experience writing code. However, I was bilingual and eager to gain work experience before graduating, so I applied and got the job. The learning curve was steep, but within a few short weeks, I was succeeding as a programmer, solving problems that more experienced programmers couldn’t. This early experience instilled in me a curiosity, a drive to learn, and a willingness to push myself out of my comfort zone—qualities I’ve carried throughout my career.

Within a year, I transferred to the management team and began designing and managing research projects for clients across Latin America. During this time, I also had my first experience leading a team. This period of my career honed my ability to make sense of data, observe without bias (or at least minimize it), and sparked my passion for leadership.

After earning my Master’s degree in Communication Management from the University of Southern California, I spent a year working in the research department of a tech company, marking my first professional experience in the United States.

Due to visa limitations, I had to return to Venezuela, where I became the VP of Strategy for the local office of Foote, Cone & Belding (FCB). While I had extensive experience distilling and understanding data, I had no experience using data to design communication strategies or write inspiring creative briefs. It was another steep learning curve, but one that propelled me into a successful career in advertising.

I was with FCB for 17 years, serving in multiple roles across different markets. I started and led the Strategy practice for FCB Puerto Rico, where I also held a dual role as head of Account Services. Later, I became the CEO-General Manager of FCB Venezuela, leading the agency through consecutive years of revenue and reputation growth. Leading and managing in such a convoluted context taught me about resilience and humble leadership.

In 2014, my wife and I realized that our home country was no longer a viable option to raise a family. I was transferred by FCB to the Chicago office, where I was the lead strategist for the State Farm business, as well as for all Multicultural Initiatives. I also served as the SVP Account Manager for the Clorox account in international markets. While I came to the United States with a job, it felt like starting over. My family and I had to adapt to a different culture and learn what it means to be a minority.
Since then, Chicago has been our home. And while Chicago has its issues and challenges, we’ve discovered that it’s the best city in the country. We love the city!

In 2017, after 17 years at FCB, I decided to explore a new path working for smaller companies. I helped a colleague launch a multicultural boutique shop, completed some projects as an independent contractor, served as Chief Marketing and Communications Officer for an association of realtors, and from 2019 to 2023, I was the President and General Manager of Captura Group, a Hispanic and digital-first full-service agency.

My four years leading Captura Group were filled with satisfaction and success. We experienced four years of financial success, nurtured an amazing team, put the agency on the industry’s radar: collaborated on our first-ever Super Bowl ad for Pringles, won multiple multicultural strategy awards, and were mentioned in AdAge!

Due to a combination of circumstances, some of which were out of my control, I decided to take a short break and hit the pause button to reassess my next project. I took the time to expand my network, engage in conversations, and read more.

During this time, there was yet another shakedown in the advertising industry: AI was becoming the norm (and to some, an existential threat), clients were adjusting budgets, more in-house agencies were being created, major agencies were laying off employees, and there was a boom of highly experienced independent talent and smaller agencies eager to do great work.

All this input sparked an idea: What if I created a platform where independent professionals and highly specialized smaller agencies could collaborate on projects? And so, The Collab Hub was born.

The Collab Hub’s mission is to be a catalyst for a more flexible, efficient, and modern approach to offering marketing services by creating a network of independent agencies and professionals who collaborate in designing and implementing effective solutions to clients’ marketing challenges.

We can be an extension of teams (agencies or clients), assemble teams to solve specific problems, or help clients find the right solution for their marketing challenges. We can consult and/or execute. Someone described what we do as having a huge box of Lego pieces that you can use to customize the most efficient and effective solution for your needs.

One of the most amazing things that happen when you bring together independent, highly skilled, and experienced talent, who also have an entrepreneurial spirit, is that we can look at big problems and come up with innovative solutions. That happened recently when we decided to launch the Hispanic Healthcare Connector. There’s a big health literacy gap in the Hispanic community, which leads to an inefficient use of the healthcare system. The result: poorer healthcare outcomes for Hispanic patients and incremental costs for healthcare organizations. The Hispanic Healthcare Connector is designed to help bridge that gap.

This is just one example of what we can do at The Collab Hub, and that’s why I’m so excited about what’s ahead.

Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?

I see obstacles and challenges as opportunities in disguise. All you have to do is find a way to overcome the challenge and then incorporate the learnings into your toolbox. Here are some of the challenges I’ve faced and how I’ve overcome them:

Steep Learning Curves
I’ve taken on roles without prior experience in fields such as programming, strategy, and general management.
I enjoy learning something new, especially navigating steep learning curves and stepping outside my comfort zone. I apply curiosity and transfer my experience from other fields to tackle problems. This has often led to creative, new ways of approaching my responsibilities.

Transitioning to Leadership
I moved into leadership positions at a young age without prior experience managing teams or projects.
I developed leadership skills through hands-on experience, focusing on problem-solving, data-driven decision-making, and, most importantly, listening and connecting with people.

Adapting to New Environments
I’ve relocated or transitioned into new cultural and professional environments, including moving to the U.S. and starting over in a different market.
Being curious, open-minded, humble, and culturally sensitive has helped me build relationships and find success in unfamiliar territories.

Overcoming Uncertainty and Industry Disruption
Whether managing agencies in complex environments—FCB Venezuela during economic, social, and political turmoil, or Captura Group during COVID—or launching The Collab Hub amidst an advertising industry shakedown, I’ve had to maintain steady leadership, stay focused, and keep moving forward.
Resilience, a proactive mindset, flexibility, and capitalizing on shifts to innovate and create new opportunities have been key to my success.

Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about The Collab Hub?

A more flexible, efficient and effective source of first-class marketing services.

The Collab Hub is a network of independent advertising and marketing professionals ready to connect, collaborate, unlock, and flawlessly execute solutions for our clients’ marketing challenges.

Our Mission
To be a catalyst for a more flexible, efficient and modern approach to offering marketing services by creating a network of independent agencies and professionals who collaborate in designing and implementing effective solutions to clients’ marketing challenges.

Our network of Collaborators consists of highly specialized, successful and independent marketing agencies and professionals. None of us aims to “’do it all”. Instead, we prioritize focusing on what we excel at when it matters. This ensures you have access to a full range of top-notch marketing services in a more flexible and efficient manner.

Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?

There’s a direct correlation between the challenges I’ve faced and the risks I’ve taken. In many instances, the risks I’ve taken have been a direct response to the challenges I’ve encountered. In those cases, it’s more than just correlation—it’s causation.

Taking on Roles Without Prior Experience
Risk: I’ve taken on roles like programming, strategy, and general management without any prior experience in those areas.
Outcome: Instead of backing away from the challenge, I embraced the steep learning curves, tapped into my curiosity, and applied skills from other fields. This approach allowed me to solve problems in new and creative ways, often exceeding expectations.

Taking Leadership at a Young Age
I’ve never shied away from leadership roles. I took on leadership roles early in my career, managing teams and projects before I had formal experience.
Outcome: It was a big risk, but I developed leadership skills by being hands-on, learning from mistakes, and focusing on listening and connecting with people. That experience shaped the leader I am today.

Relocating and Starting Over
Risk: Moving to the U.S. meant starting over in a new market and culture. It was a major personal and professional risk to leave what I knew behind. Specially with an entire family counting on me!
Outcome: By being open-minded, humble, and culturally sensitive, I was able to build new relationships and succeed in a highly competitive environment. Chicago became my home, and I’ve thrived here ever since.

Leaving FCB After 17 Years
Risk: After 17 years with FCB, I decided to leave to explore new opportunities with smaller companies. It was a leap into the unknown after years of stability.
Outcome: This decision opened up diverse experiences, from helping launch a multicultural boutique agency to eventually becoming President and General Manager of Captura Group. It was a risk that ultimately propelled my career forward.

Launching The Collab Hub
Risk: I founded The Collab Hub in the midst of massive changes in the advertising industry.
Outcome: By taking this leap, I built something flexible and modern that’s well positioned for today’s industry. The Collab Hub is a solution for clients seeking innovative, adaptable marketing approaches.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://thecollabhub.net/

Image Credits

Walter Boza