2018 Latin American Business Conference

Latin America: From Opportunity to Action

 

Friday, March 2, 2018
UCLA Anderson School of Management

With the commodity supercycle in the past and political uncertainty currently surrounding many Latin American countries, opportunities for progress and economic development have emerged from new and untapped sources. Advancements in technology, consumer empowerment and a general awakening to the threats of populism have fostered an ideal environment for disruption in both business and government. Moreover, industries with historically separate markets in the U.S. and Latin America,  are seeing increased collaboration and new opportunities for commercial linkages and economic activity. By capitalizing on these transformations, countries in the region have the opportunity to break the cycle of incremental measures towards prosperity, and disprove the belief that reducing income inequality and fostering growth represent a zero-sum game.

The 2018 Latin American Business Conference will gather prominent and influential leaders from both the private and public sector to address the opportunities and concerns of the region and suggest calls to action from its business and political decision-makers. They will share their experiences, insights and forecasts on what is to come economically, politically and socially, and will provide ideas on what is needed to move from opportunity to action as Latin America considers its future and rethinks traditional industries and systems. They will also address the business and investment opportunities for the region and the industries and sectors that are ripe for change, innovation and positive disruption and discuss how Latin America is well positioned to foster stronger and more sustainable economic growth, stimulate innovation and technology advancement, leverage trade opportunities with the United States and carefully and strategically plan for a brighter future.

What to expect:
  • Distinguished and influential leaders from business and government who do business in and with Latin America.
  • Discussions on the region’s economic, trade, political and social prospects with panels focused on innovation and technology for financial transformation, clean energy as a path towards sustainable and inclusive growth, and Mexico's view on the current NAFTA renegotiations.
  • Catered networking reception.

Conference Information

 

2018 Latin American Business Conference Schedule

11:30 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

REGISTRATION AND CHECK-IN | Korn Convocation Hall Foyer, Entrepreneurs Hall

1:00 - 1:10 p.m.        

WELCOME REMARKS Korn Convocation Hall, Entrepreneurs Hall

Sebastian Edwards| Henry Ford II Chair in International Management, UCLA Anderson

1:10 - 1:45 p.m.

LATIN AMERICA: A MACROECONOMIC OVERVIEW 

Sebastian Edwards| Henry Ford II Chair in International Management, UCLA Anderson

1:45 - 2:45 p.m.                              

PANEL DISCUSSION I
LATIN AMERICA: BANKING ON INNOVATION AND TECHNOLOGY FOR FINANCIAL TRANSFORMATION

Cate Ambrose| President and Executive Director, Latin American Private Equity & Venture Capital Association (LAVCA)

Walter Bayly| Chief Executive Officer, Banco de Credito del Peru (BCP); Chief Operating Officer, Credicorp

Eduardo Urdapilleta (’94, MA ’93)| Executive Vice President, Chief Marketing Officer and Chief Deposit Officer, BofI Federal Bank

MODERATOR: Bhagwan Chowdhry | Professor of Finance, UCLA Anderson

Description: Latin America’s financial landscape is on the brink of significant transformation. With technology firms deploying ever more innovative platforms, venture capital flowing to FinTech startups, and governments placing increasing importance on financial inclusion, the stage is set for disruptive business models to transform Latin America’s traditional banking sector into something beyond our imagination. Industry players must act now to strike the balance between competition and collaboration that will govern the relationship between disruptors and incumbents, and will define the future of Latin American banking. What actions should large commercial and investment banks take to adapt to this new era in financial services sector? What role should governments play in ensuring healthy coopetition between startups and traditional financial institutions? What strategies and tactics should U.S. technology innovators employ in Latin America to solidify their positions as enablers of the region’s FinTech revolution? Panelists will share their ideas on how to respond to this call for action from various perspectives including traditional banking, venture capital, and technology. They will also provide a framework to answer the most complex questions regarding the next steps in the transformation of the Latin American banking industry and the imminent rise of Fintech.

2:45 - 3:15 p.m.

BREAK AND REFRESHMENTS | C-Atrium, Entrepreneurs Hall

3:15 - 4:15 p.m.

PANEL DISCUSSION II
LATIN AMERICA: CLEAN ENERGY AS A PATH TOWARDS SUSTAINABLE AND INCLUSIVE GROWTH

Lee Bailey| Chairman of the Board, SolarReserve; Managing Director, Ascent Holdings, LLC

Carlos Barrera| Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Renewable Energy; Former Managing Director for Latin America, SunEdison

Bryan Early | Special Advisor to Commissioner McAllister and Lead Advisor to Chair Weisenmiller on Mexico, California Energy Commission

MODERATOR: Nurit Katz (’08, MPP ’08)| Chief Sustainability Officer, Executive Officer, Facilities Management, UCLA

Description: The renewable energy sector already generates billions of dollars in economic activity and is expected to continue its growth in the coming years. With such growth, comes tremendous opportunities for countries that invent, manufacture and export clean energy technologies. Latin America, the source of many of the world's biggest oil producers and leaders in the clean energy and bio fuel space, is exploring opportunities in this sector through a growing number of innovative technologies and public-private sector partnerships. Investments in clean energy are also climbing. Between 2013 and 2016, the region witnessed over 150% increase in energy deals. To leverage the disruptive potential of the clean energy sector, Latin America will need the technological and financial support and cooperation from other nations, including the United States. Is the Latin America region ready for a technological transformation in the energy sector? What technologies can be traded between the United States and Latin America and what new opportunities will arise? Will Latin America be a leader or a follower in the renewable energy industry? How does a relationship in the energy space between the U.S. and Latin America impact the export markets and the jobs that are created locally? Who are the biggest investors in the sectors and what role do governments play in stimulating the sector? Panelists will address these questions and more and share their predictions on the current and future state of the clean energy industry in Latin America and its importance to the region’s path towards sustainable growth.

4:15 - 5:15 p.m.

PANEL DISCUSSION III
LATIN AMERICA: MEXICO’S PERSPECTIVE ON THE CURRENT NAFTA RENEGOTIATIONS AND POSSIBLE IMPLICATIONS FOR THE REGION

Richard Brent| Chief Executive Officer, Louroe Electronics

Carlos Cesarman Kolteniuk| Chief Financial Officer and Director of Investor Relations, Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura S.A.B. de C.V. (PINFRA)

Veronica Elizondo| Global Head of Strategic Planning, Sigma Alimentos (Grupo Alfa)

Marcelo Sada | Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Source Logistics

MODERATOR: Carlos J. Valderrama | President, Center for Global Trade and Foreign Investment, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

Description: NAFTA, the North American Free Trade Agreement between Canada, Mexico and the United States was established as trilateral trade bloc in North America. Soon after President Trump’s election, he announced that the U.S. would begin renegotiating the terms of the agreement to resolve some of the trade issues that he had campaigned for. The outcome of the current renegotiations could result in a U.S. withdrawal. Such an outcome would have serious implications not only for trade and the economic stability of Mexico and Canada but also for immigration, border security and counterterrorism. Labor intensive industries, such as the automotive, textile manufacturing and agricultural sectors that rely heavily on trade among the three countries are urging the government not to withdraw, job losses would be dramatic and damaging to their economies and the ripple effects on other industries such as trucking, shipping and warehouses could be disastrous. A U.S. withdrawal would also have negative ramifications for the U.S., including reduced access to its biggest export markets, a reduction in economic growth and increased prices for consumers for gasoline, cars as well as agricultural products such as fruits and vegetables. What outcomes should we expect for Mexico if the U.S. withdraws from NAFTA? What would the ripple effects be on other economies in Latin America? Is the Trump administration’s desire to return relations with Mexico to the pre-NAFTA era misguided? What is the risk that Mexico will turn to left-wing populists as several of its neighbors in the region have done? What measures are these industries taking in an effort to continue operations as usual? What will be the ramifications on the supply chain management of these sectors? Will the United States continue as the principal trading partner with Mexico or will other partners, such as China step in? Panelists will share their thoughts on how Mexico should respond to a possible U.S. withdrawal and what actions must be taken to sustain a potential downturn in its economy. If NAFTA is terminated and these impacted industries are forced to change the way they do business, what does this mean for these sectors, their supply chains and for the consumers in each country?

5:30 - 7:00 p.m.

NETWORKING RECEPTION | C-Atrium, Entrepreneurs Hall
Cate Ambrose
President and Executive Director, Latin American Private Equity and Venture Capital Association (LAVCA)
Lee Bailey
Chairman of the Board, SolarReserve; Managing Director, Ascent Holdings, LLC
Carlos “Ucho” Barrera
Chief Executive Officer, Atlas Renewable Energy; Former Managing Director for Latin America, SunEdison
Walter Bayly
Chief Executive Officer, Banco de Credito del Peru (BCP); Chief Operating Officer, Credicorp
Richard Brent
Chief Executive Officer, Louroe Electronics
Carlos Cesarman Kolteniuk
Chief Financial Officer and Director of Investor Relations, Promotora y Operadora de Infraestructura S.A.B. de C.V. (PINFRA)
Bhagwan Chowdhry
Professor of Finance, UCLA Anderson
Bryan Early
Special Advisor to Commissioner McAllister and Lead Advisor to Chair Weisenmiller on Mexico, California Energy Commission
Sebastian Edwards
Henry Ford II Chair in International Management, UCLA Anderson
Veronica Elizondo
Global Head of Strategic Planning, Sigma Alimentos (Grupo Alfa)

Nurit Katz (’08, MPP ’08)
Chief Sustainability Officer; Executive Officer, Facilities Management, UCLA

Marcelo Sada
Chief Executive Officer and Co-Founder, Source Logistics
Eduardo Urdapilleta (’94, MA ’93)
Executive Vice President, Chief Deposit Officer and Chief Marketing Officer, BofI Federal Bank
Carlos J. Valderrama
President, Center for Global Trade and Foreign Investment, Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce

2017 Conference Highlights

 

2017 Latin America Business Conference Highlights

Keynote Address with President Álvaro Uribe Vélez, Former President of Colombia

Latin America: A Macroeconomic Overview with Sebastian Edwards, Henry Ford II Chair in International Management, UCLA Anderson

Panel Discussion I - Latin America: A Rising Star On The Global Media And Entertainment Stage

Panel Discussion II - Latin America: Innovative Strategies to Reignite the Region’s Growth

Panel Discussion III - Latin America: The Region’s Economic Landscape And Importance Of Sustainable And Inclusive Growth

Organizers

 

In Partnership With

 

Bronze Sponsors

 
        

Supporting Organization

 

Past Conferences

 
Date Name Location
Friday | March 3, 2017 Latin America: From Uncertainty to Opportunity
Conference website
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Friday | March 4, 2016 Latin America: Surging As The Next Business Frontier
Conference website
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Friday | March 6, 2015 Latin America: Leadership, Society and Globalization
Conference website
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Friday | February 28, 2014 Latin America: Land of Opportunities?
Conference website
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Friday | April 26, 2013 Economic Trends and Capital Markets in Latin America
Conference website
UCLA Anderson School of Management
Monday | May 14, 2012 Market Insights and Political Perspectives of Latin American Leaders
Conference website
UCLA Anderson School of Management