This spring, the San Diego Diplomacy Council (SDDC) had the pleasure of hosting twelve emerging entrepreneurs and business leaders from across the Western Hemisphere as part of the 2026 Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative (YLAI).
YLAI is a U.S. Department of State program, sponsored by the Office of International Visitors within the Department’s Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs and administered nationally by the International Research & Exchanges Board (IREX). Each year, YLAI connects rising entrepreneurs and civil society leaders from throughout the Americas with U.S. communities for a month of mentorship, hands-on fieldwork, and cultural exchange — and SDDC is proud to serve as the local host organization here in San Diego.
From April 23 to May 24, 2026, this year’s twelve fellows split their time between weekday placements at local host organizations and Friday programming dedicated to professional development and cultural exploration with SDDC.
“San Diego was an incredible experience, both professionally and personally,” said fellow Natalia Beatriz Bejar Acaro, who worked with the San Diego River Park Foundation. “Professionally, I had the opportunity to work closely with the San Diego River Park Foundation, learn from their volunteer engagement model, participate in field activities, and develop deliverables directly connected to my work in Peru. Personally, I felt very supported by the San Diego Diplomacy Council, IREX, my host organization, and the other fellows. The experience helped me grow, reflect, and build meaningful connections.”
Hands-On Experience with Local Hosts
Monday through Thursday, fellows worked directly inside San Diego businesses and nonprofits, learning by doing alongside local mentors. This year’s host organizations included:
- San Diego River Park Foundation
- Bilingual Kids San Diego
- Hera Hub
- Connect English
- Marnova
- Sinai Seafood Corp
- La Jolla Country Day School
- La Boocha Kombucha
- Hope View LLC
Fellows credited their hosts with going above and beyond to make them feel like part of the team. “They were very open, generous, and willing to involve me in different areas of the organization,” Bejar Acaro said of her time with the San Diego River Park Foundation. “I also really valued the friendships and professional connections I built during the program.”
Professional Development Fridays
Every Friday, fellows came together for SDDC-led professional development designed to sharpen their entrepreneurial skills and prepare them to present their Solution Pitches with confidence. Highlights included:
- A session on networking in the United States, plus a breakdown of American business and corporate culture led by Valerie Alexandra, PhD of the Fowler College of Business at the Wendy Gillespie Center for Advancing Global Business at San Diego State University.
- A pair of Pitch Practice Workshops, where local entrepreneurial mentors helped fellows refine their 90-second pitches and learn how to capture the attention of judges, investors, and partners.
- A Leadership Development Workshop led by Chelsea Lombrozo, Assistant Director of the Glazer Center for Leadership & Service at San Diego State University, focused on capacity building and business management.
- A “Designing and Sustaining” coaching session with Alex Waters, Executive Director of The Program Labs, who guided fellows through the process of designing and sustaining their own entrepreneurship programs.
Along the way, fellows also met with local investors, founders, and small business advocates, learning firsthand how ideas become impact within San Diego’s entrepreneurial ecosystem.
Exploring America’s Finest City
Beyond the boardroom, fellows got to know San Diego through a series of cultural experiences, a tour of the Maritime Museum of San Diego, and a downtown scavenger hunt to explore the city’s most iconic landmarks. One of the most memorable evenings came through SDDC’s home hospitality dinners, where local volunteers welcomed fellows into their homes for a shared meal and genuine San Diego hospitality.
For fellow Julieta Acevedo, who worked with Bilingual Kids San Diego, it was this blend of professional growth and everyday connection that defined her month in San Diego. “Being in San Diego gave me a different perspective on the U.S.,” she said. “It felt much more relaxed and showed me a lifestyle that values both personal well-being and professional growth. I truly loved the city, its sunsets by the ocean, and especially the people I had the chance to meet and spend time with.”
She added: “I would absolutely recommend this program to as many people as possible. I believe it offers a truly unique and unforgettable opportunity to experience business and professional life in the United States while building meaningful connections.”
As the 2026 fellows returned home to put their new skills — and new pitches — into practice, they joined a growing global community of YLAI alumni working to strengthen entrepreneurship and civic leadership across the Americas.
One of our fellows is already putting these new skills to work. Angel Jefferson Avilez Rodriguez was selected as a top 10 solution finalist in the YLAI 2026 Pitch Competition. There are 250 total fellows throughout the country, so to place in the top ten is an incredible achievement. We’re proud of Jefferson, and know that his academy back home in Ecuador will continue to grow under his leadership.
We’re deeply grateful to our host organizations, mentors, volunteers, and home hospitality families who made this exchange possible. When global leaders and local communities learn from one another, everyone grows, and San Diego is proud to keep showing up.
Interested in getting involved with a future cohort as a host organization, mentor, or volunteer? Reach out to the San Diego Diplomacy Council at sandiegodiplomacy.org.
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