A new podcast episode explores how Latin America is emerging as a powerful environment for innovation, entrepreneurship, and adaptive thinking – offering valuable lessons for Europe.
Featuring Mariano Doncel, entrepreneur, innovation strategist, and executive education leader, the episode dives into how businesses and institutions across the LATAM region approach innovation in contexts shaped by uncertainty, limited resources, and fast-changing markets.
Through practical examples – including a case from a coffee-producing company – the conversation highlights how strong community ties, experimentation, and local insights drive impactful innovation.
The episode also examines:
- The distinctive innovation mindset in Latin America
- Why Colombian business schools successfully develop entrepreneurial leaders
- What European institutions can learn from practice-driven education models
- The realities of intrapreneurship within large organizations
One of the key takeaways is a mindset often underestimated in Europe: the ability to act, adapt, and innovate under uncertainty.
This episode is especially relevant for professionals in innovation, strategy, education, and organizational development.
About the Guest — Mariano Doncel
Mariano Doncel is a Latin American tech entrepreneur, innovation strategist, and executive education leader. He is the CEO & Founder of Savatii, an EdTech company that provides executive education programs for the Hispanic American market, helping organizations build innovation capabilities and adopt the strategic
tools used by global industry leaders.
Mariano is an Executive Programs Professor in Digital Business & Innovation Ecosystems at Universidad de La Sabana, one of Latin America’s most innovationdriven business schools, and an MBA Professor in Business Models & Innovation at Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, a top Colombian university. He designs programs rooted in learningbydoing and strategy execution that reflect the realities of emerging markets.
Previously, Mariano served as Senior Advisor at the Colombian Ministry of Science, Technology, and Innovation, where he led a national program to strengthen innovation capabilities in over 900 companies across the country. He has also worked as an Innovation Consultant for the United Nations’ eGovernment Innovation Center, helping bring digital transformation into the public sector.
In addition, he has collaborated with global organizations such as CocaCola and served as a mentor for earlystage founders at the Founder Institute. Across these roles, Mariano has built a reputation for connecting business leaders with practical, highimpact innovation strategies tailored to rapidly changing markets.
