Finker-Frenkel World Leadership Forum Hosts Felipe de Jesús Calderón, Former President of Mexico, at the University of Miami

Published by Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation on

From left: President Felipe Calderon, Eugene Frenkel and Lazar Finker at the 2019 Finker-Frenkel World Leadership Forum.

From left: President Calderón, Eugene Frenkel and Lazar Finker chat prior to the president’s sold-out speech on trade, immigration and climate change.

MIAMI, Fla., September 16, 2019 — The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation, a family-run charitable organization dedicated to creating a generational legacy of giving, hosted a presentation from Former President of Mexico Felipe Calderón Hinojosa on September 11 at the University of Miami Business School. As a part of the Finker-Frenkel World Leadership Forum, President Calderón’s hour-long speech centered around the symbiotic relationship between the United States and Mexico. 

Held at the University of Miami Business School’s Storer Auditorium, the Forum included a VIP meet-and-greet, a presentation from President Calderón and an audience Q&A session. More than 800 people – including students, faculty, alumni and community leaders – RSVP’d to attend the educational discussion, and there was not an empty seat in the house as the President took the stage to speak on trade, immigration and climate change.

The World Leadership Forum is an expression of a common goal shared by the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation and the University of Miami Business School: to engage world leaders and spark conversation, collaboration and understanding on complex international topics. Past speakers have included former Israeli Prime Minister Ehud Barak, who discussed technology, commerce and global security at the Forum’s last event in December 2018.

As one of Latin America’s most distinguished leaders, Felipe Calderón strengthened the rule of law in Mexico during his presidency from 2006 to 2012 and bolstered the country’s economy, making Mexico one of the world’s biggest exporters. In recent years, President Calderón has been named “Statesman of the Year” by the World Economic Forum and was included in TIME’s annual ranking of the 100 most influential people.

“We were truly honored to partner with President Calderón as a part of our World Leadership Forum, which brings former heads of state to the Miami Business School and facilitates dialogue on key issues affecting our global society,” said Eugene Frenkel, executive director of the Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation. “This platform is designed to promote understanding and academic engagement across international borders, and President Calderón’s speech gave us a fascinating look into the evolving relationship between our two great countries.”

The Finker-Frenkel Family Foundation funds educational programs and scholarships to foster entrepreneurship at the University of Miami Business School.

President Calderon’s full speech is available to stream here.