Latin America Leadership Program

How do governments decide which technologies power their national networks? In an era where digital infrastructure shapes economic growth, security, and global influence, technology decisions are increasingly geopolitical decisions.

Join the Latin America Leadership Program (LALP), Georgetown Americas Institute, and the Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (INDOTEL) for a timely conversation exploring how countries evaluate strategic technology choices—from telecommunications infrastructure to emerging AI systems—and the policy, security, and economic considerations behind these decisions.

This discussion will bring together leaders from academia, government, and industry to examine how nations navigate competing global technologies while safeguarding innovation, sovereignty, and connectivity.

Moderator

Ricardo Ernst
Executive Director of the Latin America Leadership Program and Professor at the Georgetown University McDonough School of Business. Ricardo Ernst is an expert in global supply chains, technology strategy, and economic development in emerging markets. He has advised governments and multinational firms across Latin America on strategic competitiveness and digital transformation.

Panelists

Guido Gómez Mazara
President of Instituto Dominicano de las Telecomunicaciones (INDOTEL), the Dominican Republic’s telecommunications regulator. Dr. Gómez Mazara brings extensive experience in public policy and telecommunications governance, leading national efforts to expand connectivity, strengthen digital infrastructure, and modernize regulatory frameworks.

Michael Armao
Michael Armao is the founder and CEO of Verstand AI and brings over 20 years of IT and data architecture experience to the firm. Having spent over a decade working in Homeland Security and the Intelligence Community, Michael now dedicates himself to building and executing the commercial decision science and product engineering vision of the company.