Community

The Forum of Young Global Leaders is a community of innovators from diverse backgrounds and experiences. Search current members and alumni by year awarded, sector or region.

Julio Estrada

Director, Desarrollos Palo Blanco, Guatemala

BA in Economics; MBA, INSEAD, France. Formerly in risk management, Citibank; Strategy Consultant, AT Kearney; Associate Director, Latin America, World Economic Forum; Head, PRONACOM, national competitiveness promotion agency. Founded ANADIE, the national agency for public-private partnerships in Guatemala, Served as Minister of Finance from Jan 2016 to Sep 2018. Presidential Candidate in 2019 Elections in Guatemala. Member of Parliament in Guatemala 2024-2028.

Daniel Feldman

Founder and Architect, Zona Industrial Taller de Arquitectura, Colombia

Daniel Feldman Founder and Chief Executive of ZITA (Zona Industrial Taller de Arquitectura), a mission-based architecture and urban design and development firm whose processes are rooted in community participatory design, environmental innovation, and historic preservation centered urban development. Since age 26, he has been a university educator leading architecture studios and seminars where he challenges his students to immerse themselves in complex social realities as a way of practice. He designed and developed multiple kindergartens in underserved rural communities as the Lead Architect in the office of the First Lady of Colombia, and was Head of Architecture at the Colombian office of the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) where he led the infrastructure investments that support the extreme poverty reduction programme in war-stricken areas. The public buildings he has designed and developed within secluded and overlooked communities in Colombia, Brazil, Kenya and the US have been internationally awarded and published in multiple occasions including the ward for the Best Young Latin American Architect in the Venice Architecture Biennial, 2018. Feldman holds an MA in Urban Design from Harvard University as a Fulbright Scholar, and a BA in Architecture from Universidad de Los Andes.

Kerstin Forsberg

Founder and Director, Planeta Océano, Peru

Founder and Director of Planeta Océano, an organization empowering coastal communities in marine conservation. As a social entrepreneur and biologist with 10 years in conservation, has designed and developed dozens of environmental initiatives across Peru, including research, education and sustainable development efforts. These include building participatory platforms such as the Marine Educator’s Network of Peru, fostering community-based eco-tourism, researching shark and ray fisheries, and promoting policies for threatened species. Has served as a consultant for the intergovernmental, governmental, and private sectors, including UNESCO and the Intergovernmental Oceanographic Commission. As a public speaker, has presented in over 16 countries, including venues such as the Royal Geographical Society, World Economic Forum and in the context of the Ibero-American Summit. Key Partner Network member of UNESCO’s Global Action Programme on Education for Sustainable Development. Has been recognized as one of the “50 World's Greatest Leaders” by Fortune and a “Next Generation Leader” by TIME, a top “30 under 30 Social Entrepreneur” by Forbes and one of the “10 leading social entrepreneurs in Latin America” by Univisión. Rolex Award for Enterprise Laureate, an Ashoka Fellow, Kinship Fellow and a NEAq Marine Conservation Action Fund Fellow.

Anielle Franco

Minister of Racial Equality of Brazil, Ministry of Racial Equality of Brazil, Brazil

Anielle Franco is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. She was born and raised in Favela da Maré.

She has a bachelor's degree in Journalism and English from North Carolina Central University and a bachelor's and a license degree in English literature from the State University of Rio de Janeiro. She has a master's degree in Journalism, English, and Ethnic-Racial Relations from Florida A&M University and CEFET-RJ, and she is currently a Ph.D. student at the Federal University in Rio de Janeiro Applied Linguistics.

Anielle has published two books about her sister, "Letter to Marielle" and "My sister and I," and has participated in many other books, including the Brazilian edition of Angela Davis' autobiography. She is the Minister of Racial Equality in Brazil and the former Executive Director of the Marielle Franco Institute.

On the frontline of the fight for justice and a legacy for her sister Marielle Franco, Anielle uses her voice to inspire other women, girls, and poor black people in Brazil and around the world to keep moving society's structures.

Andy Freire

Director, Trocafone, Argentina

Andy Freire is an entrepreneur both in the social and business sectors. He is Director of Trocafone a company that recycles used phones in Brazil and resells it to the uprising middle-low class. He served as elected congressman of Buenos Aires and Minister of Modernisation, Innovation and Technology and President of the Tourism Agency of Buenos Aires and as Managing Partner and Director of South Cone of Softbank Group International.

As an entrepreneur Andy co-founded and led Officenet (acquired by Staples in 2004), a company that revolutionized the industry of distribution (retail) of office supplies in Latin America and Restorando (acquired by Trip Advisor in 2018), the leading restaurant online booking platform in Latin America, Sirena (acquired by Zeenvia) and most recently Trocafone, the leading used cell phone reselling platform in Brazil.

Recognized as "Global Leader for Tomorrow" in 2002 by the World Economic Forum World, and "Latin American Entrepreneur of the Year" in 2001 by the Endeavor Foundation, Andy was also awarded as one of the two finalists in the “World Young Business Achiever Award" held in the Philippines in 2002. He was also distinguished in 2008 as "Young Global Leader" by the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland.

Andy holds a degree in Economics from the University of San Andrés and has a OPM from Harvard Business School.

He is the author of the books “Pasión por emprender” (Aguilar, 2004), “50 claves para emprendedores” (Aguilar, 2006), “5%” (Aguilar, 2013), “Libre, la filosofía de vida emprendedora” (Aguilar 2014) and “Argentina Emprendedora” (Aguilar, 2015).

Facundo Garreton

Chief Executive Officer, Terraflos Inc., Uruguay

Passionate about the confluence of technology and biology, I'm the Founder of Terraflos, a venture dedicated to enhancing people's health and wellbeing through innovative products rooted in natural substances, science, and technology, all while prioritizing environmental sustainability.
With a track record of entrepreneurship and investment across various sectors, I have contributed to the success of numerous companies in the region. As a Board Member of organizations such as Caliz.bio, Pachama.com, Nutripharma, Blueberries Medical, INI, Spinoza.co, etc. I advocate for solutions that marry progress with ecological responsibility.
My commitment extends beyond business, as evidenced by my involvement in socially impactful initiatives. From founding companies like InvertirOnline.com or founding ASEA, to serving as Director of Sistema B and playing pivotal roles in organizations like SociaLab.com and Endeavor NOA, I strive to drive positive change in both business and society.
Having served as a Member of Congress, I'm dedicated to creating an environment conducive to innovation and sustainability.
Recognized globally for my leadership, I have been honored as a Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, and selected as a Yale World Fellow. Moreover, my contributions have been acknowledged by institutions like the United Nations.
Complementing my entrepreneurial journey, I have pursued education and personal development rigorously. From earning a postgraduate degree in Business Administration at UC Berkeley to completing programs at Harvard, Stanford, and Oxford universities, I continuously seek to broaden my horizons and deepen my impact.
As a former selector for the MIT Technology Review and a member of the Political Action Network (RAP), I am deeply engaged in shaping the future of technology and policy. Moreover, my involvement in initiatives like ASEA and EO Argentina highlights my commitment to fostering entrepreneurial ecosystems.
With a foundation in Systems Analysis from the University of Tucumán and specialized training in Investment Management, I bring a multidisciplinary approach to my endeavors. My journey has been enriched by experiences at institutions like Singularity University and Chicago Booth, where I honed my leadership skills and strategic vision.
In essence, my mission is to leverage technology, entrepreneurship, and policy to create a sustainable and equitable future for all. Whether through business ventures, legislative advocacy, or social initiatives, I am dedicated to making a meaningful difference in the world.

Barbara Garza

Operations & Product Strategist, Mexico

Barbara is a dynamic and visionary leader who has spearheaded impactful projects that prioritize inclusivity and innovation. Her extensive experience in multicultural settings has enabled her to gain valuable insights into diverse realities and needs, equipping her to tackle challenges with creativity and ingenuity. 

Throughout her career, Barbara has been passionate about driving change, promoting equality, and fostering innovation in a range of industries, including healthcare, ridesharing, food delivery, and crypto. She has held key roles in global startups, where she has made significant contributions to operations, strategy, and product development. 

Barbara earned a degree in Industrial and Systems Engineering from ITESM and a Certificate in Global Management from Grenoble Ecole de Management. She has been recognized as one of the 500 Latin Americans in 2022 by Bloomberg Línea, a prestigious honor awarded to only 54 Mexicans who are making significant contributions to business development and the economic landscape. In addition, she has been named one of the 50 Women of Impact in Latin America by Bloomberg Línea and has been included in Expansión's 30 promesas in Mexico, a list that recognizes young professionals under 40 who are making a meaningful impact in the business world.

Simón Gaviria Muñoz

Senior Fellow, New York University, Colombia

Economist from Pennsylvania University, emphasis in Mathematics, Econometrics and Political Sciences, with award-winning thesis about pension’s reform. He served as a Director of the Colombian Liberal Party. He was elected as member of the Chamber of Representatives of Colombia during two consecutive terms. In his early career, he worked as a financial analyst at JP MORGAN CHASE CORPORATE FINANCE in New York. Since August 2014, he is the General Director of the National Planning Department (DNP) of Colombia.

Ciro Guerra

Film Director, Ciudad Lunar, Colombia

Ciro Guerra is a Colombian filmmaker and screenwriter. His most recent film "Embrace of the Serpent" (El Abrazo de la Serpiente, 2015) was nominated for the Academy Award for Best Foreign Language Film, becoming the first film from Colombia to ever be nominated. His previous films, "Los Viajes del Viento" (The Wind Journeys, 2009) and "La Sombra del Caminante" (The Wandering Shadows, 2004) are considered amongst the most important in Colombian cinema history, receiving awards at festivals such as Cannes, San Sebastian, Rotterdam, Mar del Plata, Havana and Toulouse, among many others.

David Hertz

Founder and President, Gastromotiva, Brazil

Chef and social entrepreneur, loves to connect people and build bridges that can transform society to be more equitable. Founder of Gastromotiva, and co-founder of Refettorio Gastromotiva and Social Gastronomy Movement. At the same time, he encourages and engages everyone that is in the food chain such as the hospitality market, governments and industry to become more inclusive and socially responsible to assure the sustainability of our food and health system. Named the 2019 recipient of The Charles Bronfman Prize, given to a humanitarian whose innovative work, informed by Jewish values, has significantly improved the world.

Rodrigo Hübner Mendes

Founder and Chief Executive Officer, Instituto Rodrigo Mendes, Brazil

Rodrigo Hübner Mendes is the Founder and the CEO of the Rodrigo Mendes Institute, a non-profit organization whose mission is to guarantee that every child with disability has access to quality education. The institute develops research and teacher training programs in several countries aiming to transform the public education systems into environments that respect and value human diversity. Hübner Mendes began his career in 1998 as a business consultant at Accenture. In 2004, he decided to dedicate his efforts for the social sector, assuming the management of the Rodrigo Mendes Institute. He holds a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration and a Master's degree in Human Diversity Management from the Getulio Vargas Foundation. Hübner Mendes is a Young Global Leader (World Economic Forum) and a fellow of Ashoka. He has received numerous awards and serves on the board of several Brazilian organizations. Since 2015, Rodrigo has been working as a consultant for UNESCO and for The Government of Angola.

Roberto Ibarra

Chief Technology Officer, Expediente Azul, Mexico

WEF - Young Global Leader

Tech. passionate and entrepreneur. Interviewer of successful entrepreneurs for podcast. Sold two previous companies. Two apps nominated world's best. IPADE MBA.

Currently working on Expediente Azul, a platform to simplify how businesses and people send documents to financial institutions for a loan, lease or mortgages with customers in Mexico, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Puerto Rico and the Caribbean.