Zapopan, Jalisco, June 24, 2025.— More than 500 leaders, entrepreneurs, and officials from Mexico, the United States, and Latin America gathered at the Universidad Panamericana Guadalajara campus to celebrate the 10th anniversary of the YLAI Summit Mexico 2025, one of the most important forums for youth leadership and social entrepreneurship on the continent.
YLAI: A Space for Purpose-Driven Leadership
The opening ceremony was attended by the U.S. Consul General in Guadalajara, Amy Scanlon, who emphasized the importance of social entrepreneurship as a tool for building resilient and prosperous communities. In her remarks, she called on young people to become agents of economic changeby driving innovation with social impact.
On behalf of the Universidad Panamericana, Leoncio Monjaraz, director of IInternational Affairs, delivered the official welcome on behalf of Dr. Abraham Mendoza, rector of the Guadalajara campus. In his remarks, he emphasized: “The spirit of YLAI is deeply aligned with the values of the Universidad Panamericana: entrepreneurship with a human touch, positive impact, and global cooperation.”
Young Leadership with the UP Stamp
The organization of the event was led by the alumnus José Luis Reyes, CEO of Kingala and the only Latin American to have received the YLAI continental award. A graduate of the Business Administration and Marketing at Panamericana University, Reyes returned to his alma mater to coordinate this year’s summit, reaffirming the university’s role in training global leaders committed to social transformation.
“This event is not only a source of inspiration, but also a demonstration of the real impact that a university education can have on entrepreneurship with an international outlook,”, Reyes said.
He also acknowledged the key role of the business incubation program SparkUP, run by the Center for Entrepreneurship and Innovation at the Universidad Panamericana, as a partner in the logistics and strategic networking for the event.
A Multisectoral Partnership for Innovation
The event was made possible thanks to collaboration among educational institutions, government authorities, and private companies. Among the partners are the Government of Zapopan, the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, and organizations such as Quibernos and Improving.
Daniela Gómez Montemayor, head of Zapopan’s Entrepreneurship Division, acknowledged the origin of the summit in an informal conversation and praised the support of the Universidad Panamericana for bringing to fruition an initiative with international impact.
Entrepreneurship, AI, and Leadership: The Summit's Key Themes
Over the course of three days, the YLAI Summit featured keynote speeches, workshops, networking activities, and mentoring sessions. Topics covered included artificial intelligence, social entrepreneurship, technology with a purpose, and inner leadership. There were also moving moments, such as the testimonies of indigenous women leaders and entrepreneurs who shared their stories of overcoming adversity and transforming their communities.
The official closing ceremony of the YLAI Summit will take place at the U.S. Consulate General in Guadalajara, with a reception for the alumni of the program and representatives from partner institutions.
UP Guadalajara: A Well-Rounded Education with a Human Touch
The participation of the Universidad Panamericana Guadalajara as the host city for the YLAI Summit Mexico 2025 reinforces its commitment to internationalization, the development of leaders with strong values, and sustainable development. Initiatives like this solidify the Universidad Panamericana ’s position as an academic institution where entrepreneurship, ethics, and international collaboration are fundamental pillars of its educational model.
Learn more about Universidad Panamericana at: https://www.up.edu.mx/sobre-la-universidad-fundamentos-y-valores/
