Inside the Corner Office | #17 Marcelo Claure - CEO of Claure Group, Partner & Co-Chair of Brightstar Capital Partners

In this episode, Thomas Buberl welcomes Marcelo Claure, a global investor, entrepreneur, and operator whose career spans telecommunications, technology, and private equity. From his early days building Brightstar into the world’s leading wireless distribution company to leading the turnaround of Sprint and orchestrating its landmark merger with T‑Mobile, Marcelo shares a journey defined by bold decisions, relentless ambition, and an ability to seize unexpected opportunities.

Marcelo reflects on the importance of dreaming big and embracing uncertainty, from a chance encounter that led him into football leadership in Bolivia, to scaling businesses globally and stepping into high‑stakes corporate turnarounds. He shares how he transformed Sprint by radically cutting costs, simplifying offerings, and ultimately driving one of the most unlikely mergers in telecom history, reshaping the competitive landscape and creating one of the world’s most valuable telecom companies.

The conversation explores leadership across cultures, the transition from entrepreneur to operator to investor, and the importance of building high‑performance teams by surrounding yourself with people who are better than you. Marcelo also dives into the growing impact of artificial intelligence, arguing that AI is not a technology challenge but a leadership one, and explaining how companies can move beyond experimentation to real, measurable transformation.

Finally, Marcelo opens up about personal lessons learned along the way, including the cost of ambition, the balance between professional success and family life, and the realities of being a CEO. He closes with candid advice for aspiring leaders on resilience, risk‑taking, and the true demands of leading at the highest level.

Inside the Corner Office is a podcast designed for anyone with a passion for leadership and a curiosity about the minds behind today’s successful businesses.Whether you're just starting your career or already on your path, this podcast offers a unique opportunity to learn from top CEOs who are shaping the future of industries across the globe.

Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.