About IVLP
The IVLP: also a bridge to Space
© by Ricardo Vanella, Strategic Positioning and International Marketing specialist
Alumnus IVLP
In February-March 2010 I participated, as a member of a group of nine colleagues from Latin American countries, to the IVLP on Globalization and US Int’l Trade Policy.
Just three weeks, four cities (Washington, DC; San Francisco; Cleveland, OH; and Miami) and several meetings were enough to provide us an important familiarity and understanding about the US and, by doing that, we also improved the knowledge of our own countries and the entire World.
We had the opportunity to «touch with our own fingers» and confirm the very basic values – the pillars – of the American society: freedom of speech, freedom of initiative, freedom of trying hard, freedom of atteining the goals, freedom of enjoying the fruits of the effort.
Many reflections arose about globalization and we deepened our conciousness of being global. There is no doubt that we must work together to complete a process that has just begun. New elements are required for the new paradigm: the need for real cooperation between human beings, beginning to share the goodwill and mutual respect enriched with fraternal awareness.
Senator Fulbright was right: if we know each other better, we can build a world of good understanding. That’s another reason why exchange programs are essential.
The IVLP provides all that and it really improves our leadership capacities. But not only; it is a great device for creating value to 360 degrees, indeed: a unique opportunity to get both the «know how» and the «know who», at the price of one.
Later, an additional gift was granted to me, fulfilling the dream of coming into contact with NASA, while personally meeting a great example of successful tenacity and effort: the Astronaut Jose Hernandez, a major icon of nowadays American Dream.
I wish to share with all of you such a gift. It is an epic story of a Latino who was a fruit picking child and later on, being adult and after trying very hard, achieved to be a NASA astronaut and travel to the space as a member of the STS-128 Discovery Mission to the International Space Station.
How could he do it? Well, that’s America’s magic.
I kindly invite you to watch the true story of the astronaut Jose Hernandez, told by himself on the lecture given at NASA Headquarters in Washington, DC.
I was there; and I can tell you that this story is really inspiring for any Leader. Enjoy it!
«Special and Spatial»:
http://www.claseejecutiva.tv/tv/post/201-especial-y-espacial-fruto-del-cielo
(in English, subtitles in Spanish)
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