David Smolansky, Winner of 2018 GCL Impact Award
by Cristina Ruiz (EML'21)
The GCL Impact Award was created by Georgetown University’s Latin America Leadership Program and the GCL Advisory Committee to recognize a GCL alumnus who has demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting the multiplier effect in the Latin American region. Today we are very proud to announce that David Smolansky, GCL 2010, was awarded the 2018 GCL Impact Award.
David’s impact has been exponential and worth noting. In 2014 Smolansky became the youngest mayor in Venezuela when he was elected mayor of El Hatillo, one of the largest counties within the metropolitan area of Caracas. During his tenure as mayor, David tirelessly worked to ensure the safety of his fellow citizens, introduced new environmental inspections and accountability systems, as well as tackled some of the municipality’s biggest education system flaws. He co-founded “Comparte por una vida,” a program that provides over 200 kids with lunch in El Hatillo on a daily basis. For many of these kids, this is their only meal of the day.
In October 2015, David Smolansky received the Heinz Sonntag Youth Prize 2015-2017 awarded by the Hannah Arendt Observatory in recognition of his career and perseverance in the defense of democratic values and peace. In November of that same year, he won the 2015 JCI Ten Outstanding Young Persons of the World award, presented in the city of Kazanawa in Japan for his performance in local management and for defending Venezuelan freedom.
David’s efforts for the defense of democracy and human rights have inspired many in Venezuela and around the world. They are a clear example of the mission of the GCL program, which aims to generate positive change in Latin American countries and activate a multiplier effect with exponential impact throughout the region.
We are very proud of what David has achieved, and we are honored to grant him the 2018 GCL Impact Award.
Congratulations!
The presentation of the 2018 GCL Impact Award took place during the 2018 GCL Pitch Showcase, on March 28 at 2:00 p.m. at the Lohrfink Auditorium, Georgetown University McDonough School of Business.
Learn more about our past Impact Award winners.