Poder magazine celebrates Leadership Excellence in the Americas.

Poder magazine in partnership with the America’s Business Council Foundation (ABC*) honored nine distinguished guests at its annual Business Awards dinner celebrated at the Viceroy Hotel in Miami, FL. The awards ceremony celebrated leadership excellence in the Americas by men and women who are producing systematic change in their own communities in the areas of social entrepreneurship, sustainability and peace.

Juanes, People Award

In 1998 Colombian pop star Juanes followed his heart and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a solo career. There he was able to find his unique sound and write the music that comes from the heart delivering messages of social justice, love and tolerance. In 2000 his solo debut album, Fijate Bien, achieved commercial success and went on to win three Latin Grammy Awards.

In his short career he has won a total of seventeen Latin Grammys, more than any other artist, and one Grammy. Instant hits like La Camisa Negra and A Dios le Pido have made him one of the most recognized voices of Latin America.

With all this success his heart is still in the right place, using the power of music to heal nations and to bridge divided societies. He created “Paz Sin Fronteras” a series of benefit concerts that demonstrate that no matter our differences, we are all essentially human.

To celebrate the end of the Andean diplomatic crisis, Juanes organized the first “Paz in Fronteras” concert on March 16, 2008, on the Simon Bolivar Bridge, which borders Colombia and Venezuela. Approximately 300,000 people, from both Colombia and Venezuela, attended the concert.

More recently Juanes united the power of music as he pursued his dream and gathered millions of people in La Plaza de la Revolucion in Cuba.

Emilio Estefan, Entrepreneurship Award

As a globally renowned music producer, Emilio Estefan has identified, nurtured, and supported talents such as Thalia, Shakira, Ricky Martin, and Marc Anthony just to name a few. He started his own band as a young man and along the way became a music and business mogul. He and his wife Gloria Estefan are often called the power couple of the Latin Music Industry. Gloria Estefan is one of the most successful crossover Latin Artists of all time, selling over 90 million records worldwide.

Estefan Enterprises, the company they own together is involved in music publishing, recording, producing, television and film production, talent management, real estate and restaurants.

Most recently they became a minority stakeholder in the Miami Dolphins and Emilio was appointed last month by President Obama to the Commission to Study the Potential Creation of a National Museum of the American Latino.

Yoani Sanchez, Americas Freedom of Press Award

Yoani Sanchez is a 34-year-old Cuban blogger and philologist, who has demonstrated just how powerful a single voice can be.

Circumventing the Cuban authorities that are determined to restrict internet activity, Yoani Sanchez has managed to create one of the most popular and influential blogs on the internet, offering a unique and insightful view of what life is truly like under the Castro regime.

Her courage has been remarkable, and her talent has elevated her to a place that seemed unimaginable for any Cuban writer on the island. In 2008, Time magazine called her one of the 100 most influential people on the planet.

Just a couple of weeks ago, Yoani Sanchez’s courage and determination were put to the test by the brutal regime, as she was detained, packed into a car, and beaten by government agents in plain clothes.

Andres Jamarillo, Innovation Award

In 1982, at the age of 24, Andres Jaramillo decided to open up a small restaurant on the outskirts of Bogota.

Today, “Andres Carne de Res” is a national institution, employing over a thousand people and entertaining a staggering 6,000 people every week. Going to “Andres” is a unique experience, combining fine food, innovative and original decoration, and of course, lots and lots of dancing and music.

An evening at Andres has become a staple of Colombia, a tourist cannot go to Bogota without enjoying an unforgettable evening there.

This year, he has expanded his business by opening a new restaurant in the heart of Bogota. He has managed to create a place, unlike any other, that unites not only Colombians, but also people from throughout Latin America and the rest of the world in joyous celebration.

Jose Antonio Abreu, Leadership Award

Jose Abreu is a Venezuelan economist and pianist who has transformed the lives of thousands of children with the help of music. He is the founder of El Sistema, an organization which provides free music education to over 250,000 Venezuelan youths, most of them from extremely poor backgrounds. Jose Abreu has single-handedly managed to bring classical music to the Venezuelan masses.

Gustavo Dudamel, who was recently named the Conductor and Musical Director of the Los Angeles Philharmonic at the age of 28, is a graduate of El Sistema and is its most famous alumnus. El Sistema’s success has been so resounding that the model is being replicated in countries all over Latin America, thus bringing the magic and powerful educational effect of classical music to thousands of youths all over the continent.

Felipe Berrios, Philanthropy Award

Felipe Berrios is a Chilean Jesuit priest, a marketing pioneer, who also happens to be a social entrepreneur. Hoping to change the way our poorest lived, he started an initiative called Un Techo Para Mi Pais. This program started in Chile and in now managed by 100 recent graduates and young professionals from the best universities in the country who compete for the privilege of dedicating two years of their lives at below market salaries to run the organization’s many programs.

Un Techo para Chile has successfully eroded the barriers preventing national solidarity by generating a commitment by Chile’s youth to the future of their country. In the process, their parents and the public and business sectors have joined the effort. To date, the model has been adapted in 13 other Latin American countries under the name Un Techo para mi Pais (A Roof for my Country).

Guilherme Leal, Planet Award

Guilherme Leal is one of the few businessmen who has effectively merged sound business models with environmental conservation. As the founder and CEO of Natura, Brazil’s largest cosmetics company, Leal has been committed to employing strict sustainability guidelines in the production of his company’s products.

Mr. Leal helped establish ESCAS, a partnership of IPE-Ecological Research Institute and Natura. ESCAS is a graduate school that educates leaders who can create or disseminate innovative models for the conservation of biodiversity and sustainable development. In addition, he has also help launch Instituto Arapyau, a new social venture organization focused on education and sustainable development.

Environmental sustainability is impossible without having businesses involved in the process. In this regard, Mr. Leal is a pioneer.

Peter Kellner, Regional Impact Award

Kellner is the co-founder and Managing Director of Uhuru Capital Management, a fund that dedicates part of its profits to social enterprises engaged in sustainable economic development.

As a social entrepreneur, Peter co-founded Endeavor, a pioneering organization that promotes entrepreneurship in emerging markets. In February 2009, the World Economic Forum named Peter one of its “Young Global Leaders.” He is also a member of the North America Council of Ashoka, an organization for social entrepreneurs.

Alejandro Ramirez, Renaissance Award

Alejandro Ramirez is the CEO of Cinepolis, a multiplex movie theatre company and a pioneer in the realm of luxury cinemas. Cinepolis is the largest movie theatre company in Latin America, operating 1,634 movie screens in 176 theatres in Mexico, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Peru, Panama, Colombia, and El Salvador.

He has worked for The World Bank and for the United Nations Development Program in the areas of poverty and human development. He also worked for President Vicente Fox’s Administration from 2002-2003 and was Mexico’s Representative to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development from 2003-2004.

Ramirez co-authored the book “Poverty, Human Development and Indigenous People in Latin America” which was published by the World Bank in 2005.

In 2003, Ramirez created the Cinepolis Foundation to help underprivileged people get medical healthcare as well as provide education and services to the local communities. Their mission is to contribute to social justice in Mexico through visual health programs.