In the next People First Talk, we’ll hear from Diego Ontaneda Benavides, Co-Founder and President of the Latin American Leadership Academy (LALA) - a social enterprise dedicated to empowering a new generation of purpose-driven leaders across Latin America. Since its founding in 2018, LALA has cultivated more than 3,000 young leaders from 20 countries, most from historically underrepresented backgrounds, who have already launched 500+ ventures, advanced social impact in their communities, and earned places at top universities worldwide.
Diego will share practical lessons from cultivating changemakers who remain rooted in their communities and drive systemic change where they live. He will reflect on what becomes possible when we invest in leaders at a formative age and play the long game, and on unconventional approaches to developing talent, such as enabling young people to grow by going through the interview process multiple times as part of their journey. His perspective is grounded in lived experience, from co-founding LALA with David Baptista to receiving recognition as an Echoing Green Fellow and 2025 World Economic Forum Young Global Leader.
In this talk you’ll learn:
- Building systemic leadership: How investing in young people creates ripple effects across communities and institutions.
- Scaling with integrity: Lessons from growing a regional movement while staying true to mission and values.
- Sustaining change: What it takes for leadership development to translate into durable institutions and long-term impact.
This call will take place on be held in English, with the option for attendees to request translation and/or interpretation in additional languages.
Register here.
In the next People First Talk, we’ll hear from Diego Ontaneda Benavides, Co-Founder and President of the Latin American Leadership Academy (LALA) - a social enterprise dedicated to empowering a new generation of purpose-driven leaders across Latin America…