ALEADERSHIP FOUNDATION - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- President and Co - Founder, Oceans 2050
Job Titles:
- Business Development Director in Spain and Portugal
Esther Diz is an international teacher and doctoral candidate in educational innovation and international trade. She has fifteen years of experience in business internationalization between Spain and the United States.
She is recognized for her work as a networker and business references between Spain and the United States. Diz is a sworn translator of English, French and Spanish by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In recent years, she has been interested in the leadership and equality of women in Spain and the employability of young Spaniards abroad.
Job Titles:
- Business Development Director of Regional Projects for Spain and Responsible for the Leadership Talent Program of Regional Autonomous Governments of the Spanish Kingdom
Job Titles:
- ALF 's Vice President
- Vice President Advanced Leadership Foundation
Jorge Brown is ALF's Vice President. In this role, he sets strategic priorities, monitors results, and facilitates relationships with key partners. Dr. Brown is also a partner at the US consultancy firm, MAPA Group, an international business development consulting firm headquartered in Washington D.C. He is also a partner in several start-up companies that range from new technologies to fashion retail.
Dr. Brown has more than 20 years of experience in corporate internationalization and political consultancy at both a national and international level. He has developed most of his career as an advisor to numerous business and political leaders in Europe and Latin America, specializing in growth strategies, business development, human resources and corporate strategies. He served as Senior Advisor to the Mexican Ambassador in Belgium and held numerous posts in the Mexican government including the 2000 Mexican presidential transition team. He was also a development coordinator for The Climate Reality Spain, the Spanish branch of former U.S. Vice President Al Gore's climate change nonprofit project.
Juan Santamariña is responsible for the finances of our Foundation. He helps to establish and direct ALF's financial goals, objectives and budget.
He is primarily responsible for generating, monitoring and ensuring internal controls, recommending strategies that strengthen finances, generating financial reports that enable the team to make appropriate strategic decisions, and ensuring compliance with accounting and financial standards and applicable regulations in each of the countries in which the foundation is based.
Juan has worked in the development and startup of companies throughout his experience. Graduated as an Industrial Engineer from Universidad Católica Argentina, he has a career focused on management and business. His previous projects cover different areas such as sports, audiovisual, retail, foreign trade, fuel and consulting.
Job Titles:
- President Advanced Leadership Foundation
- Strategist
Juan Verde is an internationally renowned strategist for both the public and private sectors, with particular focus on sustainable economic development. His specialty is designing innovative strategies to attract investment, accelerate economic development, and support strategic alliances.
In the public sector, Mr. Verde served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the United States Department of Commerce under President Barack Obama. In this capacity, Mr. Verde led the Department's efforts to solve trade policy and market-access issues faced by U.S. firms seeking to grow their business operations in Europe and Eurasia. Additionally, he was responsible for developing and recommending policies and programs to support U.S. economic and commercial relations with 52 countries in the region. Mr. Verde previously served in the Department of Commerce during the Clinton Administration as an international trade analyst, coordinator, and consultant, working first in the Office of Latin America and later in the Minority Business Development Agency.
Within the political arena, Mr. Verde has worked to support democratic political candidates and issues for several decades. More recently, he worked on behalf of the Biden-Harris presidential campaign as a policy advisor, fundraiser, and organizer. He also served as Chair of Americans Abroad for Biden. Mr. Verde has also worked with some of today's most relevant political figures, including former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, former Vice President Al Gore, the late Senator Ted Kennedy, and former Secretary of State John Kerry. Mr. Verde was also a Congressional Hispanic Caucus Institute Fellow during his early career.
Mr. Verde's policy and private sector experiences have dovetailed in his efforts to promote sustainable global business practices and leadership development. He was a key advocate of Vice President Gore's "The Climate Reality Project" and helped create its Spain and Argentina branches. Among other recognitions, he has been named for two consecutive years as one of the 100 Most Influential Hispanic Leaders in the Fight Against Climate Change, as well as one of the TOP100 Disruptive Managers and Leaders of 2021. He was also invited to participate in the UN Climate Conferences, COP25 and COP26.
Mr. Verde is a doctoral candidate in Economics at the Universidad Camilo José Cela in Madrid, Spain, where he is investigating green economy strategies for small island nations. He holds a master's degree in Public Policy from Harvard University and a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science and International Relations from Boston University, and was elected to the Alumni Board of Directors at Harvard University's Kennedy School of Government. In addition, Mr. Verde has been decorated as a knight by the Sovereign Order of the Ecumenical Knights of Rhodes and Malta, and his work has been recognized by Pope Francis.
Mr. Verde travels widely in support of multiple endeavors. In his free time, Mr. Verde enjoys horseback riding, hiking and is also an avid marathon runner.
Job Titles:
- INSTITUTIONAL AFFAIRS DIRECTOR
Lilly is responsible for our strategic institutional development, strengthening relations with allies and other organizations. Working together with the ALF team, she manages ALF's external relations and stewards our efforts in consolidating ALF's positioning as an organization committed to its mission and dedicated to fostering leadership and contribute to transformations towards sustainable development.
Lilly specializes in strategic communications, risk and crisis management, sustainable strategic management and paradigmatic change. She has worked both the private and social sectors, in environments characterized by diversity and multiculturalism, building bridges and intersectoral alliances. She started her professional carrer as journalist in several magazines and journals before focusing in strategic communications. Lilly worked as a consultant for Edelman PR Argentina, Salem Viale & Asociados, and Sphere Consulting. In the social sector, she was Director of Institutional Relations for Junior Achievement Argentina; Strategic Communications Manager for AVINA Foundation Latin America, Director of Institutional Development of Fundación Crear Vale la Pena and Executive Director of Fundación Argentina Ciudadana. For six years she was part of the Selection Committee of 1,618 Sustainable Luxury Fair; consultant in sustainable strategic management for Co-nekt Agitateurs des Symboles. She has collaborated with Sosteniblepedia and the Center of Studies for Sustainability Communication.
Job Titles:
- President & Gral. Director, Banco De Inversión Torino Capital