Coming back from a weekend with my Fundación Marcelino Botín scholars.   They are part of a Program which aims at promoting Latin America´s development through strengthening its institutions, and specifically through creating a network of future leaders and change-makers who are highly qualified and truly committed to public service understood in a broad sense.  Since the Program began, every year about 30-40 young leaders “pass through my hands” -and especially through my

Feeling proud of myself this week… Somehow, I have “fabricated” the time to escape the tyranny of action and engage on activities and conversations which I know will be very significant for me long term.  Getting ready for a new level of influence.  Among the “accomplishments” (these days less is more:), I would highlight attending a powerful presentation about the rise of neofascisms.  Truth be told, the presentation accelerated my brain particles -that was the goal, as with

Just back… (why does it feel like a long time already) from my first Women in the World Conference in NYC at the beginning of the month.  Still on my first stage of digestion.  Two and a half days of intellectual stimulation, powerful testimonies from all over the world and many bodies of knowledge, enlightening debates… and profound questions for which I -we- don´t have an answer and with which we might have to live for a very long time. Feeling strongly that dreaming of a b

When I look among the "usual suspects", I often find it difficult to find role-models.  Am I the only one who feels this way or is this a trend worth analyzing? Part of this feeling probably comes from the fact that many times, too many lately, the "microphone" seems to be in the hands of people who hardly deserve to be considered as a reference by anyone. On the other hand, these “messy” times force us to find different ways to manage our organizations, our economies and our

Now you know what I was doing in Dominican Republic for 10 days... changing the world through some great leaders who are contributing to redefining Education in Latin America and in Spain. It was incredibly powerful... and I am proud of them and grateful for the opportunity to be surrounded by people who actually gave me hope. Also grateful to Fundación SM for trusting me to design and direct the Program. These guys were so worth all the time and effort put towards it... It w

Vuelvo de pasar una semana con un equipo de directivos de la ONU, un grupo de personas con una marcada vocación… de aquellos que quieren “cambiar el mundo”.  Y sin embargo ha sido una semana compleja y por momentos he tenido la sensación de que algunos tenían tanta necesidad de reconocimiento que se les había olvidado por qué estaban ahí. Entiendo, es la naturaleza humana, que la vocación de tener un impacto vaya unida a la esperanza –no siempre confesada pero no por ello men

Resulta inquietante que haya tenido que ir hasta Boston para recordar que “el éxito de una intervención depende de la condición interna del que la realiza”. Hacer unos meses pasé una semana con 60 personas de diversos sectores, responsabilidades y continentes trabajando con Otto Scharmer y su equipo.  Según a quién de los asistentes le hubierais preguntado, creo que habríais obtenido versiones muy distintas sobre cuáles eran los temas del taller y de las sesiones de trabajo. 

In this nomadic life of mine, sometimes I feel really privileged.   A recent example of this amazing “mood” is the work I have done with a group of leaders from the UNECA (United Nations Economic Commission for Africa), which has taken me to Ethiopia twice this year.  The feeling of been privileged came together with a strong gratitude towards the individuals in the group and towards the guardian angel who decided that I deserved to be a part of it. This project has brought m

I was talking recently to one of my coachees, Manager at a UN Agency, about crisis. I was surprised by his calmness,the perspective with which he spoke of the very delicate work he carries out in complex situations and countries. To my question about what he does to manage conflict and uncertainty wisely, his answer was: "When I get stressed out, I meditate." Knowing that he is of Lebanese descent, I asked him if he had suffered the war, and as I had imagined, he lived it ful