Latin America Leadership Program

Georgetown’s Latin America Leadership Program (LALP) partnered with Brazil’s Instituto de Relações Governamentais (IRELGOV) to offer corporate government relations professionals from Brazil a unique educational experience. The Corporate Government Relations Leadership Program is designed to address some of the most urgent global issues while equipping participants with the tools to analyze, engage in meaningful dialogue, and collaborate on innovative solutions. The program took place at Georgetown University from September 30 to October 3, 2024.

IRELGOV, founded in 2014, is Brazil's first government relations institute, dedicated to enhancing the professionalism, competence, and ethical standards of those working in this field. Positioned as a think tank, IRELGOV focuses on generating and disseminating knowledge about government relations and public policies. Its mission is to promote professionalization, improve public-private interactions, and foster good regulatory practices, all while upholding principles such as transparency and legitimacy. IRELGOV plays a crucial role in elevating the value of professionals and encouraging dialogue to strengthen democracy.

The Corporate Government Relations Leadership Program challenged participants to explore how companies are adapting to global trends by developing sustainability practices that create both economic and societal value. Participants analyzed global business issues through socio-political, ethical, and sustainability lenses, applying this knowledge to address key business challenges. Additionally, they learned to identify stakeholders and forge partnerships across the business, government, and non-profit sectors, while fostering personal and professional growth through leadership development workshops.

For this edition of the program, the 4-day agenda featured best-in-class Georgetown University faculty that, through interactive sessions, focused on developing essential skills for effective corporate government relations and addressing today’s global challenges.

The academic director of the program, Professor Ricardo Ernst’s session, “Beyond Linear: Navigating the Exponential Shift,” emphasized the need for businesses to anticipate technological disruption, foster innovation, and adopt forward-looking strategies to remain relevant in the digital age. Dr. Kerrie Aman Carfagno’s “Business and the Environment” focused on sustainability strategies, exploring how companies can adapt to ESG risks and global climate challenges, particularly in Latin America and Brazil. Professor Michael Ryan’s “Corporate Government Affairs” assessed business-government relations in Brazil and the U.S., using case studies from Medtronic and Tesla to illustrate corporate strategies for navigating different political systems. In “Strategic Negotiations,” Professor Silverio Zebral Filho introduced the PON Harvard approach, highlighting how culture, personality, and gender influence negotiation outcomes and strategic decision-making. Finally, Evelyn Williams’ session, “Team Decision Making & Critical Conversations,” equipped participants with tools to improve team collaboration, decision-making, and critical conversations through empathy, active listening, and constructive dialogue. Together, these sessions provided participants with essential skills to lead effectively in addressing today’s global challenges.

The lectures and collaboration with LALP were just one component of a more extensive program that IRELGOV organized for participants throughout the week, aimed at fostering exchanges between Brazil and the United States. In the afternoons, participants visited local institutions and took part in other activities directly organized by IRELGOV. These additional experiences offered participants the opportunity to deepen their understanding of international government relations while engaging with local leaders and expanding their professional networks.

LALP is pleased to present collaborative initiatives with organizations in the region aimed at strengthening the skills of future leaders in the private and public sectors. If you're interested in partnering with LALP to create a customized program, feel free to reach out to us.