Latin America Leadership Program

Georgetown University’s Innovation and Leadership in Government (ILG) is an annual professional development (non-degree) executive education program organized by Georgetown University's Latin America Leadership Program to promote responsible public leadership and innovation across Latin America and the Caribbean.

Program Objectives

Content

The ILG program goes beyond a traditional academic program, as it provides an innovative model to promote experiential learning. The curriculum is reviewed every year to respond to the current times and combines academic courses that offer theoretical frameworks and knowledge along with practical applications, mentoring sessions, visits, team-building activities, and sessions with experts and practitioners to analyze real-world experiences and applied cases.

Methodology

As a program that serves mid-career public leaders, there is a strong emphasis on engaging and learning from peers by sharing work experiences, lessons learned, and best practices. The program is carried out in Spanish and may, at times, be taught in English with simultaneous translation from English to Spanish.

The ILG program is a hybrid program spanning six weeks and consists of the following educational components:

• Academic Courses: Classes are taught by Georgetown University faculty as well as visiting professors from other Iberoamerican countries and institutions. Courses are multidisciplinary with a focus on political affairs, personal and professional leadership, and public innovation. 
• Leadership Development: Modules are designed to address topics of personal and professional leadership, which provide participants with tangible tools to implement in their daily lives.
• Team-Building Exercises: Throughout the program, participants take part in team-building activities that are both fun and educational to promote a greater understanding of the individual and others to create lasting bonds among the group.
• Applied Project: Participants are to develop a high-impact project related to the objectives of the course, which is to be implemented in their country. These projects should be executable and viable projects that produce a multiplier effect that benefits the political, economic, or social development of the participant's country or of the region at large. These projects will be presented during the culmination of the program.
• Case Studies: Case studies are used to illustrate and identify best practices and strategies that could be applied in other contexts to solve critical issues.
• Visits: Participants visit important multilateral organizations and institutions with a focus on Latin American affairs. Students have the opportunity to discuss important issues with leading experts in Washington, DC.
• Conversations with Experts: Special guests are invited to speak about their areas of expertise concerning the topics on the academic calendar, allowing the participants to exchange ideas and create links with important leaders from diverse sectors.
• Mentorship Program: Each participant receives individualized support from a mentor throughout the six weeks of the program.

Sample Courses

Below is a sample list of courses that have been offered in recent years of the ILG Program. Please note that some classes may not be offered in a given year due to the availability of professors and guest speakers. 

Latin American in the Global Agenda

• ​Globalization, Competitiveness, and Governability
• Economic and Social Panorama of Latin America
• The Rule of Law in Latin America
• Shared Value
• Educational Systems Transformation in Latin America
• Human Rights in Latin America

Innovation in Public Policy

• ​Big Data in the Public Sector
• User-Centered Design
• Circular Economy
• Open Innovation
• Public-Private Partnerships
• Gender in Public Administration

Leadership Development

• ​Adaptive Leadership
• Change Management
• Growth Mindset
• Ethical Leadership
• Communications in Times of Crisis