Raul Alvarado on Billion-Dollar Deals & The Power of Listening

In this episode of Ojai Talk of the Town, we sit down with Raúl Alvarado, a 33-year Accenture veteran and former COO who helped shape — and save — some of the world’s most influential companies. Born in Panama, educated at the Colorado School of Mines, and seasoned by decades of global leadership in Europe and beyond, Raul brings an engineer’s precision and a humanist’s touch to the art of transformation.Raúl shares stories from the frontlines of billion-dollar turnarounds, explains why active listening is his most powerful business tool, and reflects on how implementation — not just ideas — is what truly moves the needle. Now a philanthropist and Ojai local, Raúl is as passionate about community building as he is about corporate strategy.He now runs Alvarado Advisory Group, LLC, coaching executives, and running the nonprofit, A Thousand Joys, working with trauma victims. Whether you’re a business leader, aspiring entrepreneur, or curious listener, this conversation offers timeless insights on leadership, communication, and the importance of staying grounded — even when you’re operating at the highest levels.We did not talk about low-tech drone defenses, currency conversions or new archaeological discoveries in the Yucatan.Check out more about Raúl at his website, https://alvaradoadvisorygroup.com/