Martha Razo: from numbers to business success

Born in Michoacán, Mexico, but a resident of Chicago since she was one year old, Razo holds a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the Illinois Institute of Technology.

By Migdalis Pérez

The numbers don’t lie. Martha Razo, CEO of Gueros Pallet, the family business founded in 2006, and founder of the Xcelerator Business Summit, an annual event that brings together entrepreneurs and speakers from the United States and beyond in Naperville, Illinois (IL), knows this very well.

Born in Michoacán, Mexico, but a resident of Chicago since she was one year old, Razo holds a Master’s degree in Applied Mathematics from the Illinois Institute of Technology, and as a true expert in her field, she has been able to apply her knowledge to the business world to maximize its potential.

One of her most remarkable achievements occurred during the COVID-19 pandemic. When many businesses closed, Gueros Pallet not only survived but grew, primarily because she made the most informed decisions based on the data she had already collected (inventory, production, expenses, manufacturing, packaging, etc.).

He then investigated why so many businesses closed while they were growing (they have over 300 clients across the US), and concluded the following: “We all worked hard, but that was the difference; the difference of making the right decisions when they needed to be made, based on the available data.”

Razo says he felt “sad and with a responsibility to do something.” That’s why he decided to explain what he had done and give them his tools. His idea took shape in 2023, when he created the Xcelerator Business Summit, an event that empowers entrepreneurs to grow their businesses, and whose second edition will take place on October 3 and 4 of this year.

“For the next edition,” he points out, “I hope to have new speakers and a thousand business owners in Naperville. This is a great place for anyone who has a business and wants to take it to the next level; for those who want to connect with other entrepreneurs and create a community.”

With that goal in mind, and with the aim of “growing her company tenfold in the next three years,” this mathematician is proud of the family business, which she runs with her parents and three siblings.

“We don’t just manufacture pallets; we also recycle and distribute them in Illinois, Wisconsin, Indiana, Florida, California, New York, and New Jersey. We’ve truly been very successful in what we do,” she concludes. “My goal is to provide the resources and connections so that others can also succeed in their businesses; that’s why I organize the Xcelerator Business Summit.”

For more details about the Xcelerator Business Summit, visit www.martharazo.com.

Read article in Spanish / Leer artículo en español: https://negociosnow.com/martha-razo-de-los-numeros-al-exito-empresarial/