TEDx Salon Celebrates Leadership, Innovation and Positive Impact in Guatemala
TEDx Salon and Merco bring together Guatemala’s leading voices to explore leadership, innovation, transparency and positive impact.
TEDx Salon brought together prominent Guatemalan leaders and business executives to explore what it takes to build leadership that goes beyond a position or title. In partnership with Merco, the event focused on “Leadership That Transcends”, drawing on personal experiences and lessons from leaders recognized for their reputation in Guatemala.
Leadership Built Through Experience and Shared Knowledge
The latest TEDx Salon edition created a space for conversations around the challenges, responsibilities, and lessons that come with leading organizations. The event was held in partnership with Merco and highlighted the results of its recent ranking of companies and leaders with the best reputation in Guatemala.
The speakers included:
Throughout the event, the speakers shared different perspectives on leadership, emphasizing the importance of exchanging experiences and listening to people with greater knowledge in order to learn from both their successes and their mistakes.
Another recurring theme was the value that each generation brings to organizations. The speakers also discussed how innovative ideas can evolve over time while maintaining the essence of the original concept. One example explored was the idea of creating an exclusive snack for children and gradually transforming it over the years without losing the spirit behind the original idea.
The Role of Teams in Successful Leadership
The conversations also placed emphasis on the relationship between leadership and the people behind an organization.
Having satisfied and motivated teams can have a direct impact on results, since the achievements of a leader are also connected to the efforts of the people working alongside them.
Each speaker approached leadership from a different perspective, sharing the challenges they encountered when taking on positions of greater responsibility. Their experiences addressed not only the responsibility of growing business operations, but also the importance of creating a positive impact on society.
For José Raúl González, executive president of Progreso, TEDx Salon provided an opportunity to discuss issues that extend beyond the corporate environment.
“It is a spectacular space that allows for important conversations. This time, we made a call to form more alliances to change the reality of children in our country.”
Guatemala’s 20 Most Reputable Leaders Recognized
The event also recognized the leaders included in Merco’s “Leaders with the Best Reputation in Guatemala 2026” ranking.
Among those recognized was María José Paiz, from Banco Industrial, who used the occasion to encourage more women to take risks and pursue leadership positions.
“Dare to dream, communicate, and be transparent in your actions so that results can be achieved.” Paiz is the Institutional Relations Manager at Banco Industrial.
Eric Campos, CEO of BAC Guatemala, was also recognized for his leadership. In his remarks, Campos highlighted the contribution of his team and the collective effort behind the financial group’s objectives.
“This is not recognition for one person. It is for the human team behind it, with a dream and purpose to reimagine banking in Guatemala.”
Communication, Transparency and Ethics Define Leadership
The discussions at TEDx Salon also connected leadership with the expectations employees have of those who guide organizations.
According to Merco’s study, communication, consistency, transparency, and ethics are among the key elements that teams expect from their leaders.
These qualities were reflected throughout the event’s conversations, where leadership was presented not simply as the responsibility of directing an organization, but as an opportunity to learn from others, build stronger teams, develop ideas, and generate a positive impact on society.
By bringing together leaders with different experiences and perspectives, TEDx Salon and Merco used the event to highlight a broader view of leadership: one that is shaped by experience, strengthened through collaboration, and measured not only by business results but also by its impact on people and society.
