Central America Leadership Initiative

The Central America Leadership Initiative (CALI) is a network that aims to strengthen the leadership skills of its Fellows in the face of the social challenges of the Central American region.

It was founded in 2005 by the Aspen Institute, Incae Business School, Fundemas and TechnoServe, with the purpose of improving the economic situation of our communities.

Our Fellows, by also being part of the Global Network of The Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), are integrated into a community of more than 3,200 leaders, businessmen, and entrepreneurs, present in some 50 countries through 14 geographic or thematic initiatives of which CALI is part of.

CALI provides Fellows with a space to identify and question the scope of their actions or undertakings and how they affect the community. During the program, the participants experience an important and lasting transformative process in the way of directing and channeling their goals. One of CALI's principles is to move these leaders under the motto 'From success to significance', encouraging them to take action on some of the most important challenges in the world or in their communities.

Mission

Develop leaders with solid values committed to proactively face social challenges, individually and collectively, to create a more just and equitable Central America.

Vision

Create a community with more than 400 leaders committed to the region by the year 2025.

Values

Confidentiality.
Tolerance and respect.
Service.
Compassion.
Transparency.
Intentionality.
Diversity.
Honesty. 

Ana María Vallarino
Executive Director
Fundación CALI
Fellow Clase 10

OUR TEAM

Became executive director of the CALI Foundation in 2022 and has been part of its network of Fellows since 2014. Her trajectory in Panamanian real estate and hotel development goes hand in hand with efforts in favor of a gender equitable society and a socially responsible business practice.

She chairs the VerdeAzul Foundation, thus generating employment in the interior of Panama and educational projects for children and youth in vulnerable communities. She studied Arts with a major in Sociology at the University of Virginia, and recently became a certified Health Coach and yoga teacher. With her children, Ana Gabriela, Diego Andres, and Sofia Alexandra, she shares her passion for sports, the arts, travel, wellness, and the love of nature.

Board of Directors

FELLOWS

Our model inspires change that starts with the personal transformation of Fellows, their professional and social purpose. Since our inception in 2005, we have trained more than 350 Fellows in the region, people who are stepping forward to get involved in solving relevant problems in their societies. Upon joining the program, Fellows become part of the Aspen Global Leadership Network (AGLN), a worldwide community of more than 3,200 leaders from different sectors in more than 50 countries.

The CALI moderators

The moderators are essential to facilitate dialogue, discussion and reflection based on the texts selected by the AGLN. They stimulate diverse, fluid, and meaningful conversation among Fellows about heterogeneous points of view from their experiences, practices and knowledge.

Part of the work of the moderators is to ensure the plurality of voices that leads to reflection, consider new approaches and evaluate challenges and circumstances from a global perspective. Moderators must ensure a fair and participatory debate.

Moderator training lasts two years; in that period, they develop their own style, they learn to interpret selected readings, and how to connect them to real circumstances.

Our active community of moderators is engaged and growing. Their key performance will allow the growth of the Fellows and the construction of transformative leadership.