Conversation with Dr. Ignacio Bonasa, President of the Latin American Leaders Parliament
Introduction
Latin America is a continent of paradoxes — a land where joy and creativity coexist with inequality and frustration, where immense cultural richness contrasts with institutional fragility. Yet, amidst this complexity, a new kind of voice is emerging: one that believes leadership must serve society, not power.
That voice belongs to Dr. Ignacio Bonasa Alzuria, transformational leader, Doctor in Leadership and Organizational Transformation, and President of the Latin American Leaders Parliament. Founder of Liderarte in Madrid —an organization that uses art as a vehicle for leadership and social wellbeing— Dr. Bonasa has dedicated his career to merging values, vision, and action.
His message is clear and bold:
“We are not here to occupy seats, but to transform realities. The Parliament is not political power — it is social power.”
Under his leadership, the Parliament is becoming a moral compass for the region — a space where purpose replaces ego, dialogue replaces ideology, and compassion becomes policy.
Block 1. Social Roots of the Parliament
Q1. Dr. Bonasa, why do you emphasize the social dimension of the Parliament?
A1. Because real change doesn’t start in parliaments — it starts in people’s lives. Traditional politics often speaks of laws and structures, but forgets about emotions, dignity, and daily struggles. Our Parliament was born from the street, from the heartbeat of entrepreneurs, educators, artists, scientists, and young leaders who want to build something greater than themselves.
We exist to give them a voice, to convert their causes into concrete regional initiatives. The social dimension is not an accessory — it’s our essence. We are a Parliament of people who act, not of politicians who promise.
Q2. How do you define the Parliament in one sentence?
A2. A lobby with soul — independent from political ideologies, created to transform Latin America through values, projects, and social impact.
We are not here to debate who is right; we are here to decide what is right.
Block 2. Structure and Inclusion
Q3. How is the Parliament organized to ensure this social focus?
A3. The Parliament is structured like an ecosystem of leadership. We have a President, a CEO, ten Vice Presidencies dedicated to specific areas such as Education, Culture, Economy, Youth, and Wellbeing, plus National Directors and Thematic Commissions.
Each leader must turn ideas into measurable action — that’s our DNA. Our strength lies in diversity: teachers sit next to entrepreneurs, artists next to engineers, and each one contributes a different kind of wisdom. That blend of knowledge, creativity, and conscience is what gives the Parliament its authentic human pulse.
Q4. What makes someone a member of the Parliament?
A4. Commitment. We don’t accept spectators — only actors.
Every member must lead or support a project that generates tangible social value. Titles don’t matter; contribution does. We seek people who embody what I call active citizenship: those who transform words into action and ideas into impact.
Block 3. Projects with Social Impact
Q5. What are the Parliament’s flagship social projects?
A5. Several initiatives are already shaping our identity.
- The Latin American Education Forum, which reimagines education with creativity, inclusion, and emotional intelligence.
- The Latin American Leadership Institute, dedicated to training conscious, ethical, and compassionate leaders.
- The Dale la Vuelta a la Tortilla (Turn the Table) movement, a project close to my heart, born to teach resilience and transform pain into strength.
- And soon, the Latin American Journal, a digital platform to amplify voices often ignored by mainstream media — teachers, community builders, innovators, and cultural agents.
Each of these projects has a shared mission: to make social wellbeing the new currency of progress.
Q6. How does innovation contribute to this social mission?
A6. Through our IntelligencIA Center, we aim to harness technology with conscience.
Artificial Intelligence must not replace humans; it must serve humanity. We want AI to reduce inequalities — by improving education access, health systems, and public management.
Technology is only valuable when it has a soul behind it. That’s why we speak of intelligent sensitivity rather than just intelligence.
Block 4. Global Alliances for Social Progress
Q7. Why are international alliances so important?
A7. Because no region can transform itself in isolation.
Latin America needs alliances based on shared values and human trust. Our challenges — inequality, education, healthcare, sustainability — are global, not local.
That’s why we’re building bridges with universities, foundations, companies, and international organizations. We seek partnerships with the UN, with European and American universities, and with NGOs that share our belief in education and dignity as tools of peace.
We don’t compete with governments; we complement them by bringing ideas, innovation, and social participation.
Q8. What role do ambassadors play in this network?
A8. They are our messengers of transformation.
Each ambassador represents the Parliament’s values abroad. They open doors, connect communities, and turn our vision into influence.
But beyond diplomacy, they are bridges — between continents, between institutions, between hearts. Their mission is to ensure Latin America’s voice resonates globally, not as a cry for help, but as a call for collaboration.
Block 5. Values and Credibility
Q9. How do you ensure the Parliament doesn’t fall into empty rhetoric?
A9. By demanding measurable action.
Every member must present a project that produces real, verifiable impact. We evaluate progress, outcomes, and sustainability.
Our credibility is not built on speeches but on results. That’s why we have created a Parliamentary Observatory of Social Impact to monitor initiatives and publish transparent reports.
Words inspire — but actions transform.
Q10. What values sustain the Parliament?
A10. Our foundation is ethical, emotional, and human.
We stand for integrity, justice, respect, transparency, solidarity, empathy, humility, dignity, and responsibility.
They’re not decorative words; they are daily practices.
In a continent tired of corruption and empty promises, our goal is to prove that values are not a weakness — they are the strongest strategy for development.
Block 6. Social Future of Latin America
Q11. What do you want the Parliament’s social impact to be in the coming years?
A11. We want to reduce inequality through culture, education, and wellbeing.
We aim to create a network of social innovation laboratories in every country — spaces where ideas become community-driven projects.
We want Latin American youth to believe again that the future is not an illusion but a possibility.
And we want companies, governments, and citizens to rediscover cooperation as a moral duty.
Our dream is a Latin America that doesn’t just grow economically — but evolves spiritually and emotionally.
Q12. What message would you give to the youth of Latin America?
A12. That they are not condemned by the system.
That they have the right — and the duty — to lead change.
That leadership is not about hierarchy; it’s about hope.
In the Parliament, their voice doesn’t echo — it acts.
The future of Latin America will not be written by politicians or economists alone, but by the courage of its young dreamers.
Closing
The Latin American Leaders Parliament is not a traditional institution. It is a social movement with a heart, a collective conscience, and a will to act.
It doesn’t pass laws — it inspires them.
It doesn’t seek power — it generates purpose.
It is a network of doers, not talkers; a chorus of citizens who believe that change begins with one ethical decision at a time.
As Dr. Ignacio Bonasa concludes:
“We don’t want to replace politicians.
We want to replace indifference with action.
That is our true mission.”
The Parliament with Soul stands as a symbol of what Latin America can become: a continent not defined by its wounds, but by its capacity to heal through unity, dignity, and human creativity.
– Dr. Ignacio Bonasa
