Juan Verde is an international strategist, investor and sustainability advocate who currently serves as President of the Advanced Leadership Foundation, Global Adviser on Sustainable Development and Public–Private Partnerships, and, since 2024, Vice Chairman at Volcan Compañia Minera. He is widely hired as a motivational keynote speaker because he brings together real-world leadership experience from international business, government service and environmental strategy, inspiring audiences with practical lessons about innovation, global thinking and ethical leadership that drive both economic growth and positive social impact.
Juan Verde’s early education and career laid the foundations for his motivational message. He earned a BA in Political Science and International Relations from Boston University in 1993, later becoming a 1995 Congressional Hispanic Caucus Fellow and working as an International Trade Analyst at the US Department of Commerce, Office of Latin America. In 1998, he completed an MA in Public Policy at Harvard Kennedy School while also working with the Minority Business Development Agency at the Department of Commerce. These formative experiences in public service, trade and policy showed him how perseverance, education and international cooperation can transform careers, principles he now shares to motivate others to pursue ambitious goals with purpose and resilience.
Since then, Juan Verde has built a distinguished global career. In 2004, he founded Alamo Solutions, an international strategic consultancy advising companies on market expansion, sustainability and global partnerships. He later served as Deputy Assistant Secretary for Europe and Eurasia at the US Department of Commerce in 2012, and that same year was elected to the Alumni Board of Directors at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In 2013, he founded the Advanced Leadership Foundation to promote education, leadership development and sustainability worldwide. His contributions to climate advocacy were recognised in 2020 when Sachamama named him one of the “100 Most Influential Latinos Committed to Climate Action,” highlighting his leadership in green growth and environmental responsibility.
Juan Verde is a globally respected strategist, entrepreneur and sustainability advocate whose career spans education, public service, international business and environmental leadership. He is hired as a motivational keynote speaker because he combines this breadth of experience with an inspiring message about leadership, innovation and sustainability, encouraging audiences to think internationally, act responsibly and create meaningful change in their own careers and communities.
