In many ways, Latin America is the region of the future. Thanks to an abundance of natural resources, the region’s young population, and its cultural strengths, Latin America has great potential. Yet its challenges are substantial: populism, economic stagnation, weak institutions, organized crime, and extra-regional powers seeking influence. Geopolitical competition and recent changes in the United States’ policy approach to the region are creating a dynamic scenario that calls out for an analysis of future impacts.

Panelists

Daniel P. Erikson

Dan Erikson is a senior expert in U.S. foreign policy, formerly Special Assistant to the President and Senior Director for Western Hemisphere Affairs at the National Security Council. He previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary of Defense for the region, overseeing U.S. security policy for 34 nations. Erikson also advised two U.S. Vice Presidents on foreign policy and held senior roles at the State Department. A recipient of the State Department’s Superior Honor Award, he holds degrees from Harvard Kennedy School and Brown University and is a Fulbright Scholar and Council on Foreign Relations member.

Juan Cruz

Juan Cruz is a senior advisor at Dinámica Américas and a non-resident senior advisor at CSIS, specializing in national security and hemispheric geopolitics. He previously served as Senior Special Assistant to the U.S. President for Hemispheric Affairs (2017–2019), leading regional strategy and policy on Venezuela and Cuba. With over 30 years in government, he held senior intelligence and diplomatic roles across Latin America, combating transnational threats. Fluent in Spanish and Portuguese, he holds degrees from Georgetown and Johns Hopkins and an executive certification from Northwestern.

Olivia White

Olivia is a senior partner at McKinsey & Company and a director of the McKinsey Global Institute. She advises leading financial institutions on strategy, risk, and resilience while also supporting global economic development initiatives. Her research focuses on resilience, financial markets, technology, and inclusive growth. Before McKinsey, Olivia was a Pappalardo Fellow at MIT, conducting research in physics and neuroscience. She holds a PhD in physics from Harvard University, an MSc in mathematics from Oxford as a Rhodes Scholar, and bachelor's degrees in physics and mathematics from Stanford University.

Moderator - Juan Carlos Pinzón

Juan Carlos Pinzón is a former Minister of Defense of Colombia and two time Ambassador of Colombia to the United States. He is currently a visiting professor at Princeton University School of Public and International Affairs. Pinzón is also a Fellow of the Americas Program at CSIS, a member of the Interamerican Dialogue, and a member of the Global Futures Council on Geopolitics at the WEF.

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