America at 250
Marking the nation’s 250th birthday, Ralph de la Vega argues that America’s greatest resource has never been its land or its economy, but its ideals...
Read more →Insights on leadership, innovation, and technology from Ralph de la Vega, drawn from a career built on turning obstacles into opportunities.
Marking the nation’s 250th birthday, Ralph de la Vega argues that America’s greatest resource has never been its land or its economy, but its ideals...
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In his September/October 2025 column for Latino Leaders, Ralph de la Vega argues that trust has become the true currency of leadership in the age of AI...
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During a visit to Madrid, Spain, several years ago, I had the opportunity to visit the Museum Reina Sofia and see one of Pablo Picasso’s most famous works...
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Wisdom is essential in business and life. It is acquired by learning from the experiences that life presents us. This experiential knowledge allows leaders to make...
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After more than a year of dealing with unprecedented challenges around the world, CEOs ranked “innovative thinking” as the most important skill to lead change in...
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Young entrepreneurs are making the world a better place. I am constantly reminded of this fact through my work* with Junior Achievement Worldwide (JA Worldwide). JA...
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I know first-hand the value of education. It changed the trajectory of my life. Access to high-quality, affordable education was the game changer for me. I was...
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It’s encouraging to see that progress is being made in increasing diversity on corporate boards, especially when it comes to women directors. According to a recent...
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Good news, at last! Covid-19 vaccines are being approved around the world, and distribution has started in some places. This, together with the proven success of...
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In the past decade neuroscientists have produced significant proof of why leaders should not only learn to use both sides of the brain but also be able to switch...
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The hot topic among Chief Human Resources Officers (CHROs) of large organizations these days is the upskilling and reskilling of the workforce. By upskilling I mean...
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These days it seems you can’t buy a cup of coffee without being asked to fill out a customer satisfaction survey. But, despite companies’ well-intentioned efforts...
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A few years ago two young entrepreneurs created a startup with a mission to save lives. Working quietly, without fanfare, they developed a technical solution that...
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How the Industry of Automotive is Changing In the early 20th century the automobile industry changed the American landscape and way of life.
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In 1776 the Declaration of Independence proclaimed that “all men are created equal”. Although progress has been made since then, the promise of those words is yet...
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Part of the difficulty in dealing with the COVID-19 crisis is that nearly six months into it we have almost as many unknowns as we did in the beginning. Vaccine, As...
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I can’t think of a more difficult situation for a leader than having to deal with the unthinkable: A pandemic. A devastating hurricane. An unprecedented economic or...
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During my business career I have led through many crises and learned important lessons. From experiences I developed a framework for leaders encountering turbulent...
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There is a lot of talk about innovation in business these days; about creativity, not so much. And yet, the two go hand in hand. Creativity in a business...
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Which is most important for organizations trying to come up with the next breakthrough: having a culture of innovation or establishing a separate structure devoted...
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I can’t think of a more potentially disruptive innovation to today’s businesses than the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI). It’s bound to be a...
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When you have several forces of innovation pointing to the same area, there is a good likelihood that disruption will occur. I learned that lesson during the...
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What if I said I could help you achieve audacious new goals with your organization without turning it upside down? That is, with the existing employees, structure...
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We are a nation of innovators. Give us a challenge and we’ll send a man to the Moon. And, by the way, we’ll also bring him, or her, back safely. Which proves we’re...
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In an earlier post (" Winners do their Homework "), I talked about the importance of decision-making based on facts. I stand by what I said at the time, but I’d...
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I’ve always believed in collaboration, but a recent experience convinced me even more that great things happen when people and institutions work together to deliver...
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Earlier this month I had the opportunity to watch 39 student teams from all over Europe compete in Lille, France, for the prestigious “ Junior Achievement (JA)...
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Feeling anxious about your career in light of all the news coverage about Artificial Intelligence (AI)? Don’t be. Yes, AI is going to change everything. Some jobs...
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I know what goes through your mind when I say you must learn at the speed of change for the rest of your career. You are thinking: “When am I going to find the time...
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The US wireless industry received a major shot in the arm last week when the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) announced* it would make additional spectrum...
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Thinking big led me to success in business and life. It helped me see opportunity where others saw obstacles. As a leader, it helped me articulate ambitious goals...
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As I travel to Barcelona once again to attend Mobile World Congress (MWC), the industry’s annual top event, I reflect on my role reversal from corporate executive...
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At a time when news headlines make you wonder what ever happened to our values; when we see leaders refuse to listen to the other’s side, much less negotiate on...
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Technological change is making us rethink what we thought was indispensable. Take the college degree, for example. It used to be the standard requirement for most...
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Undoubtedly, one of the most important jobs of the leader is goal setting. Goals work like magic when properly set and communicated. They help the team focus on the...
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Today we honor those men and women who have served in our armed forces to preserve our values and way of life. On this date we also thank the families who support...
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They say you can’t go home again. By the time you visit again, the place is completely different from the one stored in your mind. Sometimes that’s a good thing, as...
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Great leadership is about inspiring, motivating, and guiding people toward a common goal. But what happens when the people you need to lead are strongly entrenched...
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In my opinion, one of the defining characteristics of great leaders is that they make decisions based on facts. I have always advocated that individuals and...
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In my opinion, one of the defining characteristics of great leaders is that they make decisions based on solid data. I have always advocated that individuals and...
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These days it’s getting increasingly more difficult to tell true facts from fiction or hearsay. There is a lot of news and information being published to trust just...
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“Children are the living messages we send to a time we will not see.” It’s one of my favorite quotes* because it reminds me of our role as parents, educators, and...
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View and download infographics about the Economy, Education, and Entrepreneurship. Entrepreneurship Economy Education
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Innovation and entrepreneurship are key components for people and organizations to grow and prosper in today’s highly competitive environment. In step with...
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Upon reflection of Memorial Day, the song that always comes mind is Lee Grenwood’s God Bless America. As a naturalized citizen it has a special meaning for me as I...
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There’s nothing more gratifying to me as a leader than helping unlock people’s potential so they can achieve more than they thought possible. That’s why I’m...
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Serving on a public board requires a lot of broad leadership experience, but you don’t have to wait until you become a senior executive to prepare for it. In fact...
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When an organization’s business purpose aligns with the expectations of its customers, the needs of the community it serves, and hearts of its employees, magic...
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After years of focusing on the quarterly results, investors are beginning to ask for additional information such as: What are your long-term plans? And what is your...
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When you look at all that’s happening with artificial intelligence, blockchain, big data, the Internet of Things (IoT), connected cars, robots, drones, quantum...
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We knew millennials entered the workforce equipped with great ideas, a pride in work-life balance and a social conscience. But make no mistake. They also want to...
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No one values freedom more than one who has lost it. No one appreciates freedom more than one who gets it back through the generosity and sacrifice of others. I’m...
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I’m concerned that we are becoming more and more polarized when it comes to some issues. You turn on the TV or check your social media feeds and what do you see?...
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Let’s not kid ourselves; we are living in turbulent times. Sure, today’s business environment is more exciting than ever. Never has the world been so connected...
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When I first set foot in this great country of ours I was a scared, 10-year-old, pennyless Cuban exile. I arrived in this country without my family and without...
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Retiring from a fast-paced, successful career is like coming home from an adventure of a lifetime. The whirling stops and you find yourself awed by all that you’ve...
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If I had to use a single word to describe what characterizes a U.S. serviceman or servicewoman it would probably be honor . To me, honor stands for integrity...
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What makes a team pull ahead of others? What’s the secret to success? These are questions I’m often asked. The secret is not as easy as just doing this or that...
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I was not born in Miami, but I always think of it as my hometown. Miami embraced me when I arrived as a 10-year-old Cuban refugee, alone and penniless. Miami is...
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I don’t know about you but there aren’t many tasks of much consequence that I can accomplish in less than 2 seconds. Yet, somehow, the Red Bull Racing team can...
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Little did I know when I was living in Chicago in the 1980s and working on an MBA at night to advance my telecommunications career, that across town engineers were...
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As many immigrants know, starting out in a new country can be a humbling experience. I started working in a factory while still in high school to help my family...
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We’re on the cusp of a new Industrial Revolution. Every day, ordinary objects are becoming extraordinary. Things like lampposts, tractors, and medical devices are...
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If you find yourself shopping for a new car in 2016, don’t be surprised when the salesperson spends more time touting in-car connectivity than horsepower. He or she...
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I talk to a lot of Chief Technology Officers and Chief Information Officers and all of them have one main concern, security. They tell me cybersecurity is...
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If you think there is no room in large corporations for entrepreneurs, just ask Jennifer Van Buskirk . While working as my chief strategist at AT&T Mobility a few...
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Your front line team. It’s where the rubber meets the road, where your C-Suite strategies are executed, and where your brand becomes a face to your customer...
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Some of the most important qualifications I look for in new hires are not listed in candidates’ resumes. And yet, these qualifications can make the difference...
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Don’t wait until the six-month appraisal to give feedback. One of the most gratifying things for me as a leader is to see people achieve what they never thought...
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Over the past 20 years I've had the privilege of taking part in of some of the most significant changes in the telecommunications industry: the emergence of...
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This morning I had the opportunity to welcome 160 new US citizens to their new country: the United States of America. It’s the second time I’ve had such honor, and...
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If a picture is worth a thousand words, showing the real thing must be worth millions. Which is why when I need to make a point with an audience, I like to show...
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Since their origins, universities have contributed to economic development. As fountains of knowledge, universities create an environment where innovation can take...
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If you are like me, you probably owe your success to your education. The scary thought for me is how dangerously close I came to missing out on getting an...
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I’m convinced that turbulent times provide us with the best opportunities to grow and develop as leaders. Just like turbulent waters, turbulent times stir things...
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Last week, I had the opportunity to be the keynote speaker at Kennesaw State University's (KSU) 2015 International Achievement Awards event. It’s exciting to see...
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I’m a firm believer that opportunities are often disguised as obstacles. What may look like an obstacle or a challenge often contains hidden opportunities. That’s...
Read article →"Mobility is changing everything. It's changing how we live, how we work and how we do business." That was one of the messages of Atlanta-based AT&T Inc. executive...
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Wireless CEO de la Vega Subsidizes Cost Of Gadget, Aiming for a Long-Term Profit
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