Latin American Business Conference at UCLA Anderson Examined Latin America’s Future

Latin American Business Conference at UCLA Anderson Examined Latin America’s Future

LOS ANGELES (March 4, 2019) The 2019 Latin American Business Conference gathered influential leaders from both the private and public sectors to address the opportunities in and concerns of the region. In addition to sharing their experiences, insights and forecasts on the economic, political and social prospects for the region, they discussed the business and investment opportunities for Latin America and the region’s important role in the global economy. The conference centered on actions necessary to develop and benefit from the opportunities that allow the region to flourish and become a relevant and influential player on the world’s stage.

The annual event was held on March 1, 2019, at UCLA Anderson School of Management. It focused on efforts underway to encourage new developments and advancements as Latin America prepares for a brighter future. Discussions examined the region’s economic, trade, political and social prospects, with panels discussing how the region must leverage its position in the world to foster sustainable growth and become a welcoming place for trade and investment, as well as an environment that encourages good governance and workforce development and education.

Panelists included: Philip Behn, senior vice president of e-commerce, Walmart de México y Centroamérica; Carlos Bremer, chairman and CEO of Value Grupo Financiero; João Campos, CEO of PepsiCo Foods Brazil; Agustín Caso Raphael, Mexico’s deputy general auditor and professor of economics at ITAM; Eduardo Elejalde, founding partner of Latin America Enterprise Fund Managers (LAEFM) LLC and president of LAEFM Colombia Ltda.; Gerardo Grajales, executive vice president of Avianca Holdings S.A.; Juan M. Procaccini (’01), managing partner and former CEO of Argentina Investment and Trade Promotion Agency; Joana Monteiro, research coordinator in Rio de Janeiro’s prosecutor’s office and former head of Rio de Janeiro’s Institute of Public Security; Kevin Terraciano, professor of history and director of the UCLA Latin American Institute.

Discussions were moderated by: Sebastian Edwards, UCLA Anderson Henry Ford II Chair in International Management and faculty director of the Center for Global Management, an organizer and sponsor of the conference; Gonzalo Freixes, adjunct professor of accounting, business law, taxation and international business and associate dean of UCLA Anderson’s Fully Employed and Executive MBA programs; Felipe Cusnir (’13), CEO of Swell Capital Inc. and former director of international trade and investment in the Los Angeles Mayor’s office; and Alfred E. Osborne, Jr., interim dean, professor and faculty director of UCLA Anderson’s Price Center for Entrepreneurship & Innovation.

The event was organized by UCLA Anderson’s Center for Global Management, UCLA Anderson’s Latin American Business Association and UCLA’s Latino Business Student Association, in collaboration with the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce. Conference sponsors included City National Bank and the UCLA Latin American Institute.

About UCLA Anderson Center for Global Management
The Center for Global Management prepares UCLA Anderson students to understand, shape and succeed in the complex world of global business. Through a variety of academic, immersion and experiential programming, the center provides conceptual frameworks through which to view various regions and economies, and instills in students the necessary global, social, intellectual and psychological competencies to become well-rounded global citizens.

About UCLA Anderson Latin American Business Association
The Latin American Business Association (LABA) provides a forum for UCLA Anderson students, faculty, alumni and corporations with an interest in Latin America to connect to each other. Through a broad offering of professional and social events, LABA aims to showcase the region’s diverse cultures and business opportunities for the mutual benefit of its members and the broader UCLA Anderson community.

About Latino Business Student Association
Since its inception in 1994, the Latino Business Student Association (LBSA) at UCLA has experienced dramatic growth. As a student organization now serving more than 100 students, the LBSA has several goals: educate LBSA members on the numerous career opportunities within the business world; develop in its members the proper knowledge base and skill set needed to be successful in the on-campus recruiting process and the professional environment; create a network and maintain a continuous relationship among business professionals, the business community and its members; and develop a strong community presence that creates an inroad for qualified students in the business world.

About the Los Angeles Area Chamber of Commerce, Center for Global Trade & Foreign Investment
The Los Angeles Area Chamber’s Center for Global Trade & Foreign Investment team is widely recognized for their practical experience in developing, managing and implementing global trade and investment programs and strategies. These initiatives are designed to advance global trade in the region, with a strong focus on export promotion, foreign direct investment and assistance to local businesses in expanding their global reach. The Greater Los Angeles region, including the counties of L.A., Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura, is one of the most vibrant economies in the world. The region’s exemplary educational institutions, diversified economy and industrial base continue to be a powerful magnet for global traders and investors. It is the trade hub between the Pacific Rim and Latin America. This fact is supported by the more than 14 free trade agreements and commercial treaties negotiated by the U.S. government in the Pacific Rim and the region’s world-class logistical comparative advantage.

About UCLA Anderson School of Management
UCLA Anderson School of Management is among the leading business schools in the world, with faculty members globally renowned for their teaching excellence and research in advancing management thinking. Located in Los Angeles, gateway to the growing economies of Latin America and Asia and a city that personifies innovation in a diverse range of endeavors, UCLA Anderson’s MBA, Fully Employed MBA, Executive MBA, UCLA-NUS Executive MBA, Master of Financial Engineering, Master of Science in Business Analytics, doctoral and executive education programs embody the school’s Think in the Next ethos. Annually, some 1,800 students are trained to be global leaders seeking the business models and community solutions of tomorrow.

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Contact Information UCLA Anderson Office of Media Relations, (310) 206-7537, Media.relations@anderson.ucla.edu