In today’s rapidly evolving world, leadership is often misunderstood and idealized. In his new book, Marcos Peña, former chief of cabinet during Mauricio Macri’s presidency in Argentina, invites a deeper exploration of leadership, focusing on personal connection and mental health. Peña’s book The Art of Going Up and Down the Mountain (El arte de subir [y bajar] la montaña, 2024) highlights the importance of mental health in leadership, to prepare them to exercise a more connected leadership so that leaders can promote healthy decision making processes. Healthy nutrition, breathing exercises, and connection with the natural world are some of the practices he brings forth in his book, as well as promoting connection with others. Leaders thrive when they foster empathy, presence, and emotional expression, cultivating deeper relationships. Through his book, Peña aims to humanize leadership by emphasizing connection to oneself, others, and nature for healthier, more effective leadership in today's frenetic world. The Georgetown Americas Institute was pleased to host a conversation with Peña on the themes addressed in his book and his views on leadership.
This event was livestreamed to the GAI YouTube channel.
Featuring
Marcos Peña is an Argentine politician, political scientist, and author. He served as chief of the Cabinet of Ministers during Mauricio Macri's presidency from 2015 to 2019 and played a key role in Macri's presidential campaigns in 2015 and 2019. Peña began his political career in Buenos Aires, where he was elected a city legislator and later appointed general secretary. A founding member of the Republican Proposal (PRO) party, he is considered one of Macri's closest advisors. Peña studied political science at Torcuato di Tella University and has authored a book titled We Are: An Open Invitation (2013).
Alejandro Werner is the founding director of the Georgetown Americas Institute and a non-resident senior fellow at the Peterson Institute. He recently completed almost nine years as director of the Western Hemisphere Department at the International Monetary Fund. Prior to that appointment, he was undersecretary of finance and public credit in Mexico’s Finance Ministry and held several positions in that ministry and the Central Bank. He also taught at leading universities in Mexico, Spain, and the United States. He holds a Ph.D. in economics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology and a B.A. in economics from ITAM.