Area of Expertise: Leadership

Álvaro Fernández, named as Young Global Leader by the World Economic Forum, is a recognized Brain Health pioneer, keynote speaker and author. For more than 15 years he has led SharpBrains, an independent research firm tracking applied neuroscience and gathering hundreds of scientists, experts, technologists, and practitioners. He has also been quoted by The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, CNN, Reuters, and Associated Press, among others.

Álvaro is the Editor-in-chief of seminal market reports on Brain Health and Innovation and co-authored the influential discussion paper Empowering 8 Billion Minds: Enabling Better Mental Health for All via the Ethical Adoption of Technologies published in the National Academy of Medicine. To help engage a variety of audiences he co-authored the acclaimed books The SharpBrains Guide to Brain Fitness and Cómo Invertir en su Cerebro, translated into multiple languages.

Prior to his work at the frontier of applied neuroscience and mental wellness, Álvaro worked at consulting firm McKinsey & Company, helped Bertelsmann launch one of the first online bookstores in Europe. Additionally, he launched a learning platform at Ashoka: Innovators for the Public, and participated in the turnaround of corporate e-learning company Docent/ SumTotal Systems.

Furthermore, Álvaro has enjoyed serving in several Global Future Councils by the World Economic Forum, in the Global Teacher Prize Academy run by the Varkey Foundation, and in the Global Advisory Board of SEK Education Group, among others.

Besides that background, he holds an MBA and MA in Education from Stanford University and a BA in Economics from Universidad de Deusto.

He is native from Spain, and is an avid skier (alpine and cross-country), tennis player, non-fiction readers, and traveler. Having lived 24 years in the US between the Bay Area, Washington, DC and Boca Raton he and his family recently moved to Madrid, Spain. Born in Bilbao, in the Basque Country, Álvaro is a dual citizen of Spain and the US, and fluent in Spanish and English.

Empowering Minds: Leveraging Brain Science to Unlock Potential in the AI/ Cognitive Era

How can we enhance our core mental capacities to innovate and to thrive in today’s complex and rapidly-changing society and workplace? What can we do to invest in our most precious resource –our human brain– and boost individual and collective resilience? Discover the practical applications of emerging research on brain functioning and neuroplasticity, and learn how everyone can become a lifelong “mental athlete” ready to face professional and personal challenges in the AI/ Cognitive Age.

 Brain Health in 2030: Navigating Neuroplasticity and the Digital Health Market

Brain Health and Mental Health are rapidly-evolving marketplaces, and executives and pioneers should be aware of the far-reaching impact this transformation will have in the near future. Alvaro Fernandez, the CEO of the leading independent market research firm SharpBrains — tracking health and wellness applications of brain science — will discuss the latest market data and forecasts on how digital platforms will revolutionize brain health by 2030. Participants will discover and brainstorm how the growing mainstream demand for “brain fitness” is creating a significant demand and opportunity for web-based, mobile and biometrics-based technology to assess, monitor and enhance cognition and brain functioning.

Borja is a successful entrepreneur and intrapreneur, and is a recognized expert in the field of innovation. Starting as an entrepreneur very early in his career, he then created and grew new successful businesses while working in companies such as DHL, Altran, Capgemini or frog design​.

He has also helped blue-chip companies in creating new products, services, solutions, and businesses, as well as becoming more innovative organizations, implementing all innovation processes and methodologies. He’s been Vice President of Capgemini Invent and frog design, the iconic brand noted for disrupting so many markets.

He was also the founder and leader of the Altran Innovation World Class Center, and ACIE, the official certification agency for innovation in Spain. He is now involved in launching new ventures merging Innovation and social and environmental Impact.

Borja is an awarded innovation professor at IE Business School, and has written seminal books in his field, including the first-ever Innovation dictionary published in any language.

Borja holds an Executive Certificate in Strategy and Innovation from MIT-Sloan, an Executive MBA from IE Business School, an Honors Degree in Business Administration from Humberside University and ESIC, and has pursued studies in Civil Engineering and Political Science at UNED.

In his spare time, you can find him piloting light experimental aircraft around Madrid, Spain, where he resides with his family.

Rogelio Salcedo is a distinguished consultant and Human Resources expert who currently serves as Partner at Axialent Mexico. His extensive experience includes leadership roles in notable consultancies such as OLIVIA, Mercer, Training Lab, The RBL Group, and Alto Partners in Mexico.

Before stepping into the consulting world, Rogelio had a successful career as a Global Human Resources Executive. During this time, he held crucial roles in global leading companies such as PepsiCo, L’Oreal, Santander, CEMEX, Coca-Cola FEMSA, and Mead Johnson Nutrition. Moreover, he held the position of Global CHRO in Grupo AJE, managing 15,000 employees across 24 countries.

Rogelio has dedicated much of his career to the advancement of the Human Resources profession. He stood out as the President of ERIAC Capital Humano A.C. in Monterrey and as a founding member and first President of the Federación Mexicana de Asociaciones de Recursos Humanos (FEMARH). His commitment led to recognition from GoIntegro, which included him in their ranking of the Top Ten Human Resources Influencers in Mexico.

His impressive academic profile includes a Bachelor’s degree in Clinical Psychology from Universidad Iberoamericana, Diplomas in Administration and Finance, and Personnel Management, a Master’s degree in Organizational Management and Human Resources Development from Manhattanville College, and an MBA from Adolfo Ibañez Business School and ESADE. Rogelio also holds a Certificate in Creative Leadership and Facilitation for Innovation from the University at Buffalo State, NY, and is currently pursuing a Doctorate in Administration at Humboldt International University.

Rogelio has also made his mark in the academic world as a professor of Organizational Behavior in the MBA program at UDLAP Jenkins Graduate School and in the Human Resources Diploma course at Universidad Iberoamericana. He is also a certified Executive Coach by the ICC and the ICF.

A native of Mexico, Rogelio currently resides in Mexico City, contributing to the local industry with his profound experience and dedication.

Teryluz has more than 20 years’ experience helping some of the world’s largest companies improve organizational effectiveness and realize the potential of their people through leadership development, culture transformation, talent, engagement and change management strategies.

Tery has held senior executive positions and global leadership roles at several of the world’s premier Human Resources and Talent strategy consulting firms, including Kincentric (a company part of Spencer Stuart), Aon, Hewitt Associates and Willis Towers Watson. She’s a leading expert in the areas of culture, engagement, change management and talent strategy, and has been a trusted advisor to top Fortune 500 companies and some of Latin America’s premier employers.

Tery is a frequent speaker at professional and industry conferences and has published over 40 articles and white papers. She has a Master’s degree in Communication and Human Resources from Cornell University and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Puerto Rico.  She is certified in change management by PROSCI® and on several leadership and organizational assessment tools, including Barrett Cultural Values Assessment, Hogan Personality Inventory Assessment, and Facet5™ leadership assessments.

Tery is an avid traveller and likes exploring new destinations and cultures.  She lives in South Florida, USA, with her husband and enjoys going to the beach, spending time outdoors and tending her kitchen garden.

Sergio has marketing, communication and management background. He has more than 15 years of corporate experience mainly in the financial industry, where he worked in the sales and product areas at Citibank and Banco Galicia.

Upon his certification as an organizational coach, he began a new professional stage providing services to companies and individuals, focused on achieving two main goals: effectiveness and well-being. He has taught training programs in several Latin American countries, with the attendance of leaders of companies listed in Global Fortune 500 such as Shell, Exxon, General Motors, L’Oréal, Zurich, Deustche Bank, Accenture and MetLife, as well as leaders of other well-known international and Latin American companies such as Alcatel-Lucent, Price Waterhouse, Techint, Farmacity, Roggio, Telecom, Genesys, Telefé, Bagó, Total, Bunge, Walmart, McDonald’s, Tarjeta Naranja, Gasnor, Banco Supervielle, Banco Galicia, Banco Santander, Día, Mercado Libre, OSDE, Metrovías and Essen, among other companies.

Sergio gives lectures on his areas of expertise for different Latin American audiences. He is currently launching his first book “Somos lo que Conversamos” in different cities.