{{Firstname|Good morning}}, this week we look at three defining snapshots of leadership across the Americas: a political shift in Bolivia after two decades of one-party rule, a U.S. government shutdown testing democracy’s resilience, and a Mexico City basketball game reminding us how sports can unite nations faster than politics can. From the Andes to Washington to the arena, power is being redefined by how leaders act, adapt, and connect.

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After nearly twenty years of uninterrupted rule by the far-left Movimiento al Socialismo (MAS), Bolivia has turned a page. The newly elected president, Rodrigo Paz Pereira, a centrist from the Christian Democratic Party, promises moderation after decades of state-led populism and tight control over natural resources.

Since Evo Morales’s rise in 2006, Bolivia’s economic strategy hinged on nationalizing energy and mining sectors, funding vast social programs through gas exports, and maintaining close ties with Cuba, Venezuela, and China. That model delivered early growth but left structural inefficiencies, high public debt, and persistent inequality.

Paz’s victory signals a recalibration, not an overnight revolution, but a return to institutional balance and engagement with international investors. For partners in the Americas, including the U.S. and Mexico, Bolivia’s pivot could reshape trade and investment flows in energy, lithium, and manufacturing.

The question now: can Bolivia modernize without reopening old wounds? The early appointment of a reform-minded finance minister suggests a pragmatic start. For those of us working to connect cross-border capital with sustainable growth, Bolivia’s transition offers a reminder that markets reward countries that open, not isolate.

The United States has entered the longest government shutdown in its history, now stretching past a month. Millions of federal employees and contractors are furloughed or working without pay. Families living paycheck-to-paycheck are skipping rent, missing loan payments, and dipping into savings.

This isn’t just a domestic standoff, it’s a global credibility crisis. Allies are questioning reliability. Financial markets are showing nerves. And adversaries are exploiting America’s paralysis as proof that democracy can’t deliver.

The impact ripples far beyond Washington. Border operations are slowing. Customs inspections are delayed. Small businesses and communities across Arizona and the Southwest feel the strain. In an interconnected world, when the United States stops functioning, the world’s confidence stalls too.

America’s greatest strength has always been its stability — the belief that government works. Every day this shutdown drags on, that belief erodes a little more. The real power move now is to restore that stability and remind the world that democracy’s greatest promise lies in its ability to solve problems, not prolong them.

Last week, Mexico City hosted another milestone in international sports diplomacy: the Dallas Mavericks faced off against the Detroit Pistons in the NBA’s 34th game held in Mexico, more than any other country outside the U.S. and Canada.

Having met with Jason Kidd, the Mavericks’ head coach, I was reminded of how powerful sports can be as a bridge. We spoke about leadership, opportunity, and how shared passion builds trust between nations faster than most policies can.

That idea is at the heart of the North American Business and Sports Forum, which I’m helping to build with partners across the U.S., Mexico, and Canada. The goal: unite investors, leagues, and local communities to use sports as a platform for diplomacy and development.

From Mexican-American athletes who’ve become cultural ambassadors to corporate sponsors expanding across borders, sports is more than entertainment, it’s an ecosystem of commerce and collaboration. Every jump shot, goal, or lap can tell a bigger story about who we are and how we work together.

Stay tuned, more to come! Soon.

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