
BRAVO Main Stage


BRAVO Main Stage
As Latin America is experiencing transformative political changes, with recent elections reshaping leadership and global ties, the region finds itself at a pivotal moment. Its unique geopolitical position has attracted new international investment, contributing to moderate economic growth. Additionally, as home to 40% of the critical minerals for renewable energy, the region plays a crucial role in the global climate agenda. Hosting events like COP16, the G20, and APEC underscores Latin America’s rising influence on both environmental and political fronts, and an increasing need for dialogue and collaboration to navigate these shifts.
Providing an unparalleled space for dialogue and collaboration, the 2024 Council of the Americas Symposium on October 30th gathered over 500 top executives and leaders from both the public and private sectors. Together, they engaged in highimpact conversations addressing Latin America’s
global potential, the clean energy transition, and the transformative role of technology and innovation. With discussions featuring distinguished voices, including an engaging conversation with the Vice President of the Dominican Republic on sustainable investments, the Symposium offered essential insights for navigating the region’s evolving economic and political landscape. This dialogue aimed to equip leaders with insights to drive sustainable progress across industries, aligning their strategies with trends that foster growth for both Latin America and the world.
Webcast live on AS/COA’s digital platforms, including Twitter, YouTube and www.as-coa.org
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Latin America’s growth potential is being shaped by technological innovations, infrastructure development, and its rich natural resources. In a dynamic session, leaders from consumer, technology, and finance industries discussed how innovation, responsible technology use, education, infrastructure investment, and strategic partnerships contribute to productivity, growth, and long-term prosperity across the region.
We all know that Latin America is rich in minerals that are key for the green transition, and that will be a very good opportunity for the U.S. to counter China’s presence, if that’s what it wants.
Ariane Ortiz-Bollin Moody’s Ratings
The potential of the region is amazing. We have 650 million people living in Latin America—that’s twice the population of the U.S.—and the human resources are endless.
Roberto Alvo LATAM Airlines
There are endless opportunities we can bring, but two things we should always pay attention to in this [technology] field are education... and the ethical part of AI.
Cristina Palmaka SAP Latin America & Caribbean
Latin America’s clean energy transition is urgent, driven by rising demand from social mobility, industry electrification, and data centers. A group of high-level executives from the energy, technology, and multilateral development sectors discussed the challenges of meeting growing demand, while stressing the need for longterm infrastructure strategies, capital optimization, private sector partnerships, and leveraging natural resources to accelerate the region’s clean energy transition.
“Reduce risk so that private investment feels comfortable of coming into the region and bringing new projects and investments.
Elizabeth Robberechts IDB Invest
Latin America is the most sustainable region in the world when it comes to energy. We generate roughly 65% of our energy from renewable sources.
Juan Ignacio Rubiolo The AES Corporation
Bank of America’s top-ranked global strategist explored how generative AI and quantum computing are set to revolutionize industries across the globe. These technologies are rapidly advancing, enabling breakthroughs in areas such as healthcare and energy, with transformative potential for drug development, battery innovation, and much more. Haim
“The things that are happening this year are about to change the world forever.
Israel Bank of America
Given the expanded access to internet and connectivity across Latin America, regional leaders from the manufacturing, fintech, consulting, and technology sectors delved into the strategic potential of technology and financial inclusion to empower smaller enterprises and foster broader economic impact in the region.
Business is, in fact, the greatest platform for change, and we need to work together toward giving a solution to the digital divide that this technology brings.
Alejandro Anderlic Salesforce
We have real examples across the region where technology is established, and public and private sectors are working together; this creates more opportunity.
Paula Bellizia Amazon Web Services
One of the most important things is that we put social progress and prosperity at the center of these advancements.
As Latin America’s investment landscape evolves, Francisco Alvarez-Demalde, Co-Founder and Managing Partner at Riverwood Capital, shared insights on how economic transitions and tech advancements are creating promising growth opportunities. He was later joined by leaders from successful Latin American tech unicorns, who emphasized the value of forging long-term investor partnerships, nurturing a vision beyond financial metrics, and building customer-centric business models to drive sustainable growth and enhance the region’s global tech presence.
As an innovator in the professional services industry, Globant has become a strong competitor alongside some of the world’s established tech giants. In an insightful conversation, Martin Migoya, Globant’s Co-founder and CEO, shared the company’s journey with Jorge Becerra, Emeritus Senior Partner and Senior Advisor at BCG, covering the key factors behind its success and the unique company culture shaped by a passion for technology and an entrepreneurial spirit.
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I think that for Latin America, as long as we facilitate free markets and private enterprise, we will continue to see more company creation and more activity driven by technology.
Francisco Alvarez-Demalde Riverwood Capital
There’s just a beauty of being a founder, where you’re so optimistic and completely disregard how hard it’s going to be...You have to have that naiveté; otherwise, you wouldn’t just go and build the company.
Sebastian Mejia Rappi
One of the things we are totally obsessed with is following the next generation of technologies.
Martin Migoya Globant
Solidifying its position as Latin America’s fastest-growing economy, the Dominican Republic’s Vice President, H.E. Raquel Peña, shared her vision on the country’s commitment to establishing itself as a strategic and reliable investment destination.
She later joined Adriana Cisneros, CEO of Grupo Cisneros, to discuss the efforts to drive sustainable economic growth through investmentfriendly policies, infrastructure development, and initiatives that promote equity and innovation.
The goal is to keep encouraging these investments so we can maintain this steady economic growth, but it’s important that this growth translates into real development, ultimately raising the quality of life for all Dominicans.
H.E. Raquel Peña Vice President of the Dominican Republic
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Following the Symposium, a private luncheon brought together a select group of senior business leaders in the wealth management space in Miami and Latin America.
The luncheon featured a conversation with Aitor Jauregui, Head of Latin America for BlackRock, and Ronnie Hawkins, Partner and Head of Latin America for Global Infrastructure Partners (a part of BlackRock), who discussed how private markets are being incorporated into Latin America’s wealth management industry, with a deep dive on the evolving role and opportunities in infrastructure.
The Symposium activities concluded with an afternoon roundtable session where influential leaders from multinationals and multilatinas operating in Central America discussed the current infrastructure challenges, opportunities for growth, and the collaborative efforts needed to support a thriving investment environment in the region.
The BRAVO C-Suite Communities (Chief Executive Officers, Chief Sustainability Officers, and Chief People Officers) provide high-level executives with a private space to share best practices, network, and learn alongside their peers. This year, the BRAVO C-Suite convened over 100 C-level executives from top multilatinas and multinational corporations to foster meaningful dialogue on Latin America’s
most pressing issues, including technological transformations, talent strategies, and climate initiatives. From discussions on global business trends shaping industries to investments in sustainable solutions and the transformative role of generative AI in talent development, these forums addressed emerging challenges and innovations impacting the corporate agenda.
The annual BRAVO Chief Executive Officers Roundtable, “Future Trends Driving Business Transformation,” featured a keynote presentation by Haim Israel, Global Strategist and Head of Global Thematic Research at Bank of America. The top-ranked global strategist, addressed a group of over 60 Latin America CEOs and corporate presidents of multinational corporations and multilatinas, to discuss the future megatrends driving transformation in the global business landscape.
Haim’s compelling presentation offered CEOs a private, offthe-record space to reflect and exchange insights on how these technological advancements are shaping their companies and sectors.
Generative AI is the biggest technological revolution we’ve ever seen.
For the third consecutive year, the CSO Roundtable gathered a select group of sustainability leaders from major multinational corporations and multilatinas, to engage in a series of discussions shaping Latin America’s corporate sustainability roadmap ahead of COP30.
The session was chaired by Pedro Pereira, Regional Vice President and Chief Sustainability Officer at
SAP Latin America & Caribbean, alongside keynote speaker, Gerardo Herrera Perdomo, Managing Director of Marsh Advisory for Latin America & Caribbean at Marsh McLennan. Together, they exchanged insights on fostering sustainable investments in solutions, and how corporations can take action to adjust to global risks and climate adaptability.
We believe that full climate resilience and adaptation involves not just thinking about your own physical assets, but a much wider system of considerations such as the communities you employ from, the infrastructure you rely upon, and the resources and ecosystem services on which your business depends.
Gerardo Herrera Perdomo Marsh McLennan
The year’s Chief People Officers (CPO) Roundtable brought together high-level leaders and human resources experts for a presentation on how generative AI has significantly accelerated capability development. Horace Porrás, Director and Associate Principal at RBL Group, alongside Cristián Carafí, Managing Director and Partner at BCG, led the third annual roundtable and explored how CPOs can drive this transformation within their organizations, considering the critical implications for talent attraction and development.
The human alone has not been intrinsically reskilled, because ‘doing’ with GenAI does not immediately mean ‘learning’
Cristián Carafí
BCG
Multilatinas
VC, Media, NGO, Academia, and Government
On October 30, Council of the Americas hosted the 29th BRAVO Business Awards at the Loews Coral Gables Hotel in Miami. For nearly 30 years, the awards have recognized excellence and leadership in business and policy in the Western Hemisphere. This year’s honorees represented a select group of visionaries who continuously shape Latin America’s business agenda through their leadership and commitment to propel the region forward at a global scale.
Honored for his visionary leadership in transforming Inter&Co into a comprehensive digital banking platform, driving financial inclusion and innovation in Brazil and beyond.
Known as the father of digital banking, Menin led the bank’s digitalization, positioning it as an all-encompassing “super app” that goes beyond traditional banking, making it the first 100% digital bank in Brazil and the only one to offer completely free checking accounts. More recently, Menin’s leadership led to the company’s 2022 Nasdaq listing and a strategic expansion to the U.S. market, now offering a complete suite of financial and nonfinancial solutions to over 30 million clients.
Recognized for its remarkable growth and transformative efforts to reinvent the professional services industry, Globant has emerged as a major player in the landscape of IT services, driving a new era of innovation and business transformation.
Through innovative technology solutions, Globant has helped leading organizations to reinvent themselves through technology and agility to create a way forward and unleash their potential. Beyond its industry impact, the company’s dedication to advancing IT education has become a source of entrepreneurship and positive community impact in the region.
At the end of the day, with all of the innovation that we can bring to Latin America, we can help millions of people have a better life.
Ten years ago, when we did our IPO, it was like a dream—a small company from Argentina on the New York Stock Exchange, selling software solutions to some of the largest companies in the world. And this is what is happening today.
Honored for his influential role in technology investing and his commitment to fostering the entrepreneurial ecosystem in Latin America.
Francisco’s involvement in scaling Riverwood Capital’s portfolio companies—such as Globant, VTEX, Dock, Technisys, and Omie— spans operational growth, talent development, acquisitions, multi-billion-dollar exits, and IPOs, contributing to the company’s global success. To further showcase Latin America’s potential and build trust within the region’s investment and entrepreneurial communities, he founded the Latam Tech Forum (LTF), a prestigious private community of CEOs and founders of some of the largest and leading tech companies in the region.
Honored for her exceptional leadership at the forefront of PepsiCo’s food and beverage business in Latin America, where she has pioneered initiatives that support sustainability, job creation, and female leadership.
As a passionate advocate for diversity and inclusion, Santilli is dedicated to driving inclusive growth across the region and enhancing the well-being of the communities where PepsiCo operates. Beyond her professional achievements, she has co-authored three books on women’s empowerment and the importance of closing the gender gap in leadership.
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Latin America has an incredible talent and opportunity ahead; we just need to make sure it has the opportunity to achieve that.
With every wise business decision that the men and women in this room take, there is magic happening, it’s the magic of technology, banking, or connections… with that magic we have the privilege of better livelihood for so many people in Latin America.
“I want to congratulate our four honorees again. They are so exceptional, frankly inspirational, and they represent Latin America today as well as the future of the continent.
Susan Segal
CEO & President AS/COA
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Receiving a BRAVO Award has become the gold standard for recognizing excellence within Latin America’s private sector. The BRAVO legacy carefully seeks to highlight inspiring stories of truly extraordinary individuals who have used vision, resilience, and courage to transform our region.
Maria Lourdes Teran
Vice President & Head of Miami Office AS/COA
“Today, we want to honor all of you with a special proclamation declaring today ‘BRAVO Day’ in recognition of the 2024 Council of the Americas Symposium and the 29th BRAVO Business Awards Ceremony.
Daniella Levine Cava
Mayor of the Miami-Dade County
To kick off the 2024 Council of the Americas Symposium and BRAVO activities, a special reception and dinner was held to welcome the 2024 BRAVO Business Awards honorees, along with our partners and distinguished guests. General Laura J. Richardson, Commander of the U.S. Southern Command, delivered a memorable farewell speech in honor of her retirement, while also welcoming her successor, Admiral Alvin Holsey.
Align your brand with influential business and government leaders, industry pioneers, and visionaries with your sponsorship. Invest in brand exposure for the next year, where your company’s logo/brand will appear on high-impact promotional campaigns in various platforms throughout the year.
Sponsors will have premier access to the upcoming 2025 BRAVO Leadership Series, celebrating our 30th anniversary, featuring public and private forums (including COA Symposium & BRAVO Business Awards). They will gain global insights from top international speaker on challenge and opportunities facing Latin America’s business landscape, as well as have the opportunity to engage with top regional and global leaders.
A special thank you to our 2024 Sponsors & Partners:
For more information:
Maria Lourdes Teran VP & Head of Miami Office AS/COA Miami
mteran@as-coa.org +1 305-793-6537
Luciana Sabillon Senior Manager AS/COA Miami
lsabillion@as-coa.org +1 786-493-7776
Cyndi Balladeres Senior Manager AS/COA Miami
cballaderes@as-coa.org +1 786-302-8508