The Global Leadership Network’s team in Latin America has been hosting The Global Leadership Summit (GLS) in Santa Cruz, Bolivia, since 2016. During the global pandemic, training provided by the GLS over the years became part of the fundamental leadership fuel that more than 200 nurses needed to fight the virus on the front lines.

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In 2015, health care professional, Carmen Villarroel, was invited to help organize The Global Leadership Summit in Bolivia. “Without hesitation, I accepted the challenge because I knew it was part of my training as a leader, and through it, I could bless my colleagues with my leadership."

It was very important to work on empowering nurses—to help them make timely and important decisions to improve the health services’ quality of care...

She invited her colleagues to join her at the first GLS in 2016, because she saw a need in the healthcare industry for building up leaders and giving them leadership tools to care for their patients well. “It was very important to work on empowering nurses—to help them make timely and important decisions to improve the health services’ quality of care, and to form leaders with principles and values,” said Carmen. “Several speakers strengthened my leadership in nursing, but the most prevalent one in my work and leadership was Patrick Lencioni. He talks about the different types of leadership, humility and emotional intelligence. It is very important to know those surrounding us to delegate certain tasks."

Empowered to Fight Against COVID-19

For the healthcare leaders in Bolivia, attending the GLS provided a place for them to be empowered and encouraged in their fight against COVID-19. “My colleagues had leadership tools already to work as a team, make decisions, and organize the health services,” said Carmen. “After all, for the health sector, this pandemic was very painful. These were sad times—times of great anguish and despair.”

More than 200 nurses attend the GLS in Santa Cruz, Bolivia each year.

“We thank God for all the training received in previous years. He gave us leadership tools. Many of the health professionals that were part of the GLS were leaders during this pandemic. I am grateful to God for what he is doing in my colleagues lives and my life.”

If you have ever donated above and beyond the registration cost to attend The Global Leadership Summit, you too are part of these stories of empowering leaders to lead transformation and fight important battles against a global pandemic. In fact, every year, more than 200 nurses attend the GLS in Santa Cruz, Bolivia each year, thanks to the support of our generous donors who make the event possible around the world.

Learn more about how you can get involved with expanding the GLS around the world at GlobalLeadership.org/Give.