Friday, November 6, 2026
9:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. EST
Registration is now open for the 20 Years of LALP Impact Events, a milestone celebration of Georgetown University’s Latin America Leadership Program (LALP).
As part of the anniversary celebrations, LALP will host a one-day forum, “Ahead of the Curve: Building Regional Advantage in a Shifting Global Landscape,” on Friday, Nov. 6, at the Lohrfink Auditorium in the McDonough School of Business.
Open to the entire Georgetown University community, LALP alumni from the Global Competitiveness Leadership (GCL), Innovation and Leadership in Government (ILG), and Global Business Executive Leadership (GBEL) programs, and external guests, the Forum will bring together leaders, scholars, and organizational partners to exchange knowledge, reflect on shared regional challenges, and explore new opportunities for collaboration across the Americas.
Held at a pivotal moment for both the region and the university, the Forum celebrates LALP’s legacy while highlighting ongoing engagement and new opportunities to strengthen connections with alumni and regional partners across Latin America and the Caribbean for years to come.
Forum participants are invited to learn and engage in meaningful dialogue focused on geopolitics, innovation, entrepreneurship, and leadership, while continuing to strengthen LALP alumni networks that have shaped two decades of regional impact.
Register now to attend the Forum and be part of this special anniversary celebration.
Note: LALP alumni should register via the Alumni Registration Page to attend this and all on-campus reunion events taking place Nov. 5–9, 2026.
The forum agenda is listed below. Questions: lalp@georgetown.edu
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Ahead of the Curve: Building Regional Advantage in a Shifting Global Landscape
Nov. 6, 2026 @Lohrfink Auditorium, Rafik B. Hariri Building, 2nd floor.
9 a.m.
Doors Open and Registration
9:30 – 10:30 a.m.
Opening Session: "Origins, Legacy, and Horizons: Shaping the Next Chapter of Georgetown University "
Opening Session: "Origins, Legacy, and Horizons: Shaping the Next Chapter of Georgetown University "
Guest Speakers
Thomas Banchoff, Vice President for Global Engagement, Georgetown University
Paul Almeida, Dean and William R. Berkley Chair, McDonough School of Business
Ricardo Ernst, Baratta Chair in Global Business Education and Executive Director of the Latin America Leadership Program, McDonough School of Business
10:30 – 11:30 a.m.
Panel #1 "Geopolitical Analysis: The Reorganization of the Americas in a Changing Global Order"
Panel #1 "Geopolitical Analysis: The Reorganization of the Americas in a Changing Global Order"
Panelists
Alejandro Werner, Founding Director, Georgetown Americas Institute
Michael Shifter, Senior Fellow, Inter-American Dialogue and Adjunct Professor, Center for the Latin American Studies, Georgetown
University
Moderator
Ricardo Ernst, Baratta Chair in Global Business Education and Executive Director of the Latin America Leadership Program, McDonough School of Business
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Panel #2 "Social Entrepreneurship: Driving Impact Through Innovation"
11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.
Panel #2 "Social Entrepreneurship: Driving Impact Through Innovation"
Panelists
Kerrie Carfagno, Associate Teaching Professor and Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management Program Director, McDonough School of Business
Pilar O'Leary, Executive Director, Apen Conexión - Aspen Institute
Mario Romero (GCL 2007 Alumnus), Managing Director, Impact Hub in Mexico City
Moderator
Jeff Reid, Professor of the Practice and Founding Director, Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative, McDonough School of Business
12:30 – 1:45 p.m.
Break
2 – 3 p.m.
Panel #3 "Navigating the Business Landscape in the Age of Artificial Intelligence"
2 – 3 p.m.
Panel #3 "Navigating the Business Landscape in the Age of Artificial Intelligence"
Panelists
Hillary Foster, Executive Advisory, World-Wide Public Sector, Amazon Web Services
Jordan Jasuta Fischer, Lead AI Developer and Solutions Architect, IBM
Ana Maria Ordonez, Principal Technologist - Global Alliances, Equinix
Moderator
Alberto G. Rossi, Director of the AI, Analytics and Future of Work Initiative, McDonough School of Business
3 – 3:30 p.m.
LALP Impact Awards Ceremony
Honoring:
Pedro Urruchurtu, Venezuela, GCL Impact Award 2026
Ledenika Mendez, Mexico, ILG Impact Award 2026
Juan Fernandez, Venezuela, ILG Impact Award 2021
Transformation as a Journey
Alvaro Gonzalez Alorda, co-founder and managing partner of emergap, author of "Head, Heart, and Hands"
4:30 – 5 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Ricardo Ernst, Baratta Chair in Global Business Education and Executive Director of the Latin America Leadership Program, McDonough School of Business
Alvaro Gonzalez Alorda, co-founder and managing partner of emergap, author of "Head, Heart, and Hands"
4:30 – 5 p.m.
Closing Remarks
Ricardo Ernst, Baratta Chair in Global Business Education and Executive Director of the Latin America Leadership Program, McDonough School of Business
Acknowledgments:
Visual identity created by Lula Capriel (GCL 2023, Guatemala), from Estudio89
We are grateful to Lula Capriel (GCL 2023, Guatemala), a dynamic member of the LALP alumni community, and her team at Estudio 89 for their partnership in shaping the visual strategy and direction for the celebration of 20 years of LALP’s impact through its programs.
Participants
Thomas Banchoff, Vice President for Global Engagement, Georgetown University
Thomas Banchoff is Vice President for Global Engagement at Georgetown University, where he also serves as Professor in the Department of Government and the School of Foreign Service. He is the founding Director of Georgetown’s Berkley Center for Religion, Peace, and World Affairs. A distinguished scholar of religion, ethics, and world politics, Banchoff’s work explores religious pluralism, global affairs, and the role of faith and values in contemporary society.
Paul Almeida, Dean and William R. Berkley Chair, McDonough School of Business
Paul Almeida is Dean and William R. Berkley Chair at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business. A longtime Georgetown professor and scholar of strategy and international business, he is a leading voice on innovation, knowledge management, and global collaboration. As Dean, Almeida champions values-based business education and has advanced initiatives spanning AI, sustainability, health, and the future of work, preparing the next generation of leaders to drive meaningful impact globally.
Ricardo Ernst, Baratta Chair in Global Business Education and Executive Director of the Latin America Leadership Program, McDonough School of Business
Ricardo Ernst is the Baratta Chair in Global Business and Professor at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business, where he also directs the Baratta Center for Global Business and the Latin American Leadership Program. A leading scholar of global supply chains and operations, he holds a Ph.D. from the Wharton School. He has authored five books, published 40+ academic articles, advised global organizations, and received multiple teaching awards.
Alejandro Werner, Founding Director, Georgetown Americas Institute
Alejandro Werner is Founding Director of the Georgetown Americas Institute. He previously served as Director of the IMF’s Western Hemisphere Department and as Undersecretary of Finance and Public Credit in Mexico. A leading expert on Latin American economies, emerging markets, monetary policy, and financial crises, Werner regularly provides analysis on the region’s economic outlook and policy challenges.
Michael Shifter, Senior Fellow, Inter-American Dialogue and Adjunct Professor, Center for the Latin American Studies, Georgetown University
Michael Shifter is a Senior Fellow at the Inter-American Dialogue and former President of the organization. He is an expert on U.S.-Latin American relations and hemispheric affairs, with nearly three decades of experience at the Dialogue. Shifter is also an Adjunct Professor at Georgetown University’s School of Foreign Service, where he teaches Latin American politics, and is a frequent commentator on regional political and policy issues.
Kerrie Carfagno, Associate Teaching Professor and Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management Program Director, McDonough School of Business
Kerrie Carfagno is a professor at the McDonough School of Business and Director of Georgetown’s Master of Science in Environment and Sustainability Management (MS-ESM). She has also been a professor at the University of Virginia and John Carroll University, Boler School of Business, among others. She has a Ph.D. from Benedictine University, a Master of Business Administration (M.B.A), Technology Management from New Jersey Institute of Technology and a Bachelor’s Degree from Penn State University.
Pilar O'Leary, Executive Director, Apen Conexión - Aspen Institute
Pilar Frank O’Leary is Executive Director of Aspen Conexión at the Aspen Institute, which explores the economic and social ties between U.S. Latino communities and Latin America and Spain. She brings more than 20 years of experience across the private, nonprofit, and public sectors, advising leading organizations on social impact and development strategies. Pilar is a Senior Adviser at CSIS and serves on several international boards and advisory councils.
Mario Romero (GCL 2007 Alumnus), Managing Director, Impact Hub in Mexico City
Mario Romero is Managing Director of Impact Hub Mexico City, where he leads initiatives focused on entrepreneurship, innovation, and social impact. With 18 years of experience, he advises corporations, startups, and NGOs on business development, corporate innovation, strategic partnerships, and entrepreneurial strategies. Romero also works to strengthen connections across the global entrepreneurial ecosystem, developing programs that create opportunities for startups and entrepreneurs while advancing inclusive and sustainable growth.
Jeff Reid, Professor of the Practice and Founding Director, Georgetown Entrepreneurship Initiative, McDonough School of Business
Jeff Reid is a leading voice in entrepreneurship education and the founding director of Georgetown University’s Entrepreneurship Initiative, launched in 2009 to foster entrepreneurial thinking across the university and Washington, DC. Previously, he founded and led the Center for Entrepreneurship at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, which achieved a No. 1 national ranking. Reid has received national recognition for his innovative approach to entrepreneurship education and pedagogy.
Hillary Foster, Executive Advisory, World-Wide Public Sector, Amazon Web Services
Hilary Jones Foster is a senior technology and business leader at Amazon Web Services (AWS), working at the intersection of cloud computing, artificial intelligence, digital transformation, and mission-driven organizations. With international experience across the United States, Latin America, Africa, and Europe, she advises governments, educational institutions, nonprofits, and financial institutions on leveraging technology to expand their impact. Her current focus includes generative and agentic AI, cloud-native technology, and scientific research.
Jordan Jasuta Fischer, Lead AI Developer and Solutions Architect, IBM
Jordan Jasuta Fischer is a Lead AI Developer and Solutions Architect in IBM’s public service division, specializing in designing and developing AI and cognitive analytics systems. Her expertise includes unstructured data, MLOps, adversarial AI, geospatial systems, civic tech, and full-stack development. Her public-sector experience in technology, data management, and advanced analytics spans urban development, climate resiliency, public administration, public health, and human rights.
Ana Maria Ordonez, Principal Technologist - Global Alliances, Equinix
Ana Maria Ordonez is a Senior Global Solutions Architect at Equinix with more than 25 years of experience in technology strategy and solution design. He works with global customers and partners to develop secure, scalable architectures leveraging data centers, cloud, cybersecurity, edge computing, and hybrid cloud technologies. Holding certifications including CISSP, CDCDP, and GCP, he specializes in enabling digital transformation and business growth through innovative technology solutions.
Alberto G. Rossi, Director of the AI, Analytics and Future of Work Initiative, McDonough School of Business
Alberto Rossi is the Hachigian Family Professor of Finance at Georgetown University’s McDonough School of Business and Director of Georgetown’s AI, Analytics, and Future of Work Initiative. He is also a Visiting Fellow at Brookings and serves on FINRA’s Economic Advisory Committee. His research focuses on FinTech, household finance, machine learning, and asset pricing, with work published in leading academic journals and collaborations spanning financial institutions and technology firms.
Alvaro Gonzalez Alorda, co-founder and managing partner of emergap, author of "Head, Heart, and Hands"
Alvaro Gonzalez Alorda is the managing partner at emergap, a consulting firm specializing in organizational transformation. He has collaborated with over 100 companies across 40 countries. He is part-time lecturer in IESE and various other business schools throughout Spain, the United Kingdom, Chile, Argentina, Uruguay, Peru, Colombia, and Mexico. He studied at the University of Navarra and IESE Business School and completed a period of research at Harvard Business School. He has authored four management books: Lox proximos 30 anios, The Talking Manager, Head Heart & Hands, and El viaje, as well as two novels: Riverview and Volver asi.