The Power of Being: Manolo Páez on Purpose, People & Possibility

• Manolo Páez shares how childhood influences and unexpected choices shaped his professional journey.
• Redefining leadership as a blend of service, storytelling, and social impact.
• Manolo Páez’s wellness philosophy centers around small, consistent actions,  and deep intentionality.
• Through stories of people he’s supported, Manolo shows how real change begins with investing in individuals.

Early Beginnings and Finding Direction

• Could you tell us a bit about your childhood and if there was any particular incident that shaped who you are today? 

Let’s go back to childhood for a second. I have two kids now, my daughter is nine and my son is four, and I think one of the things parenthood teaches you is that you live your childhood again. You start thinking about what you were thinking when you were their age. 

I believe there are a lot of things I could say, but I’ll choose one that I’ve been embracing lately: I feel I was very fortunate in my childhood because I always had someone to look up to. I remember looking up to my father, my mom, and my older brothers. I’m the third of four, so having two older brothers made it easier for me. I always tell my oldest brother, “Being the first must’ve been tough,” and I’m happy I wasn’t the first. I see that now with my daughter. She’s the first, and as parents, we don’t always know what we’re doing. You’re trying to figure it out, be more firm, more flexible; it’s a lot. But with the second one, it’s different. He already has a sister to play with, and so on.

So I’d say having someone to look up to, learn from, and protect me shaped me. And as I grew, those role models shifted. Sometimes it was a teacher, sometimes a friend. You change, your needs change, and the people you admire evolve with that.

I always say people aren’t just people, they’re stories. Who I am today isn’t just about me right now—it’s about all the people who taught me things along the way. It’s that collection of moments, of guidance and protection, that really shaped who I am.

• You’ve worked across different fields — teacher, speaker, consultant, and more. What was it like navigating all those industries, and which did you find the most challenging?

I’d go back to two key moments in my life. First, as a kid between 9 and 14, I dreamed of being many things: a soccer player, doctor, actor, and singer. Those weren’t random choices. They reflected what I was exposed to; my dad worked in music, my uncle was a doctor, and soccer is every Latin American kid’s dream. That phase taught me it’s okay to want different things, even if they seem unrelated. The second moment was choosing what to study. I had no idea. I liked marketing and strategy, but nothing felt certain. The day before I submitted my university papers, my brother asked, “Are you good with numbers?” I said yes, and he said, “You’d be a good economist.” So I chose economics, without knowing anything about inflation or bonds.

When I started university at 16, I felt lost. Everyone else had solid reasons for studying economics. I didn’t. But I gave it a shot, and ended up loving it. Not enough to become a traditional economist, but enough to realize I could use economics as a lens for my work, not as a label. That lesson shaped my path. My career looks diverse; finance, consulting, entrepreneurship, and social impact, but it’s all intentional. I move based on curiosity, learning, and purpose. Economics gave me a way to understand systems and connect ideas.

So the hardest part wasn’t switching industries, it was staying true to who I am, even when I didn’t fit the typical mold. Over time, I’ve learned that your degree or title doesn’t define you. You’re more than a job. And everything connects when you zoom out.

And lastly, I don’t believe in separating “personal life” from “professional life.” I think work is part of life, not separate from it. Everything is life: work, family, learning, play. It’s all connected. And that’s how I try to live and navigate what I do.

Leading With Heart, Acting With Purpose

• What was a defining moment that shaped the way you lead today?

First, I believe the most important defining moment is always right now. This moment, how I show up, how present I am, defines me more than anything from the past. If I’m here, I should be fully here.

That said, one moment that truly reshaped how I lead happened when I pivoted toward social impact. Earlier in my career, I worked in finance, consulting, and entrepreneurship—all focused on growth, money, and building businesses. But then I represented Colombia at entrepreneurship events in places like Silicon Valley and Israel. That exposure lit something up in me. I came back thinking, “How can I help build this kind of innovation ecosystem in my own country?” So I became what I call an “activist” for entrepreneurship. I started volunteering, developing a curriculum for high schoolers, teaching for free, giving talks, launching a youth entrepreneurship award that the President even presented. It wasn’t about titles or pay, it was about purpose.

However the real shift happened when I started teaching entrepreneurship at a government agency, where most students came from tough backgrounds. Some woke up at 2 a.m. to attend. Some didn’t have family support. One tried to take his own life. It hit me deeply. I realized leadership is not just about speaking or strategy, it’s about people. I didn’t want to just give talks and hope something stuck. I wanted to stay, teach, and walk with them. That’s when my focus shifted from building businesses to building people.

Eventually, that led me to the Global Good Fund, where I started as a volunteer. Despite having other job offers, I said yes to the unpaid role because it aligned with what I wanted to do: social impact, leadership, entrepreneurship. Ten years later, I’m still here, having built new ventures and worked with leaders around the world. And it all started with deciding to lead with people at the center, not products, not profit, but purpose.

• In your experience, what’s one powerful example of investing in a person that led to meaningful or scalable impact?

What’s “valuable” really depends on perspective. For some, it’s about numbers such as revenue, reach, and scale. For others, it’s a life changed or even just making someone smile. I think both matter. To me, you can change someone’s life at any time, even with small actions. I’ve started hugging my mom every time I see her, just to be sure I never regret not doing it enough. So that’s the philosophical side: impact isn’t always visible or measurable, but it’s real.

Now for some examples. One is more local. Years ago, I was teaching entrepreneurship at a school, and a student who didn’t speak English herself decided to start an English-learning center in one of the poorest parts of the city. She built it from scratch and kept going, even through personal challenges. Today, over a decade later, her foundation still runs, she’s taught countless kids, and she even earned recognition through an Obama fellowship. She always says, “If it wasn’t for your encouragement, I wouldn’t have started.” That means a lot to me.

On the global side: two entrepreneurs we supported through the Global Good Fund. One with family roots in India, the other in Ghana, launched a startup called Esusu. We first supported them in our leadership fellowship and then with early-stage funding. Their goal was to help renters build credit by reporting on-time rent payments, which millions in the U.S. couldn’t access. In 2022, Esusu became a unicorn. More than a million Americans have been impacted so far.

That said, I don’t believe Esusu is “more valuable” than the English school founder. Impact looks different in every story. I care more about showing up with intention and helping people grow into who they’re meant to be. If I can be a small part of someone’s story, that’s success to me.

Everyday Intentions, Lifelong Impact

• Could you share a few wellness tips or exercises that help you lead a more meaningful life? 

Before even talking about wellness exercises, I think it’s important to start with something deeper: the belief that you need to be well in order to do good. If you’re not okay mentally, emotionally, or physically, it’s hard to show up for others in a meaningful way. I always tell the social entrepreneurs we work with: it’s great that you want to change the world, but what about you? You won’t reach the million people you hope to serve if you’re not in a good place yourself.

That said, one of the most important practices for me is starting each day with reflection, and more specifically, gratitude. I take about 20 minutes every morning to sit and think about the day ahead and remind myself of what I’m thankful for. Sometimes it’s big things, sometimes it’s as simple as, “I’m grateful the AC is working today.” But that habit helps set a calm, centered tone. 

The way I begin my day matters a lot. I wake up my kids, talk to them, and take them to school. That time together gives me energy. I also try to call my mom every morning. These aren’t “tasks”, they’re grounding moments. They remind me what really matters before I get pulled into everything else. Something else I’ve found helpful is learning to prioritize, and I don’t mean just at work. If I handle the most important things early in the day, whether it’s connecting with family or doing something for myself, then the rest of the day feels more open. I’m more available, more present.

And finally, reading has been a big part of my wellness. But I have one rule: if I read a book, I have to implement at least three things from it. It’s my way of ensuring I’m not just consuming ideas but living them. Wellness doesn’t need to come from some big retreat or sabbatical. It’s built in the small, intentional things you do every day.

• If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be and why?

Honestly, it would be amazing to talk to my younger self. And for a long time, I tried to do just that. In fact, I once wrote a book for my family, never published, just something for my daughter to read one day. I called it Yo Soy — I Am. It wasn’t really a journal, but a space to reflect, to put my thoughts and learnings into words. That process helped me discover something powerful: that who you are matters more than what you have.

We often chase things: money, titles, happiness — but those are temporary. You can lose all of them. What you can’t lose is your ability to create those things. If I don’t have money, I remind myself: “I am money, I can create it.” Same with happiness. That shift in perspective shaped how I see life and myself. I’d probably give that book to my younger self, but even more than that, I’d remind him not to wait too long to understand who he is. One thing I’ve learned from being around older people, my grandmother especially, is that some figure it out early, and some spend a lifetime chasing the wrong things. And I’d want him to realize: there’s nothing more important than knowing who you are and being grateful for the people who shape you. 

But honestly, maybe I wouldn’t say anything at all. Maybe I’d just let him live, make his choices, and meet the people he’s meant to meet. Sometimes saying nothing is the safest, most respectful choice. Kids believe what you tell them, and maybe he needs to find the answers on his own.

So that’s my final answer. I’d say nothing. He’ll figure it out. And I’m thankful you asked, because now I finally know that’s the answer.

A Book That Opened a Door

• Do you have a favorite book or quote that inspires you?

I don’t think I have a single favorite book. I don’t really believe in the idea of one perfect book or quote that defines everything. But I can share one that opened a meaningful path for me: The Ride of a Lifetime by Bob Iger, the former CEO of Disney.

It’s not my “number one” book, but it stands out because reading it led me somewhere important. There’s a specific part that hit me deeply. It made me think, “This is who I am.” That small realization pushed me to explore new ideas, people, and cultures. It became a kind of doorway into a new phase of learning, not just about leadership or business, but about myself and how others think around the world. The book itself is great, but what mattered most was where it led me afterward. I started diving into stories and ideas I’d never been exposed to before. That journey hasn’t stopped. So it’s less about the book itself being perfect and more about how it sparked something that’s still unfolding.

I always say I never give a book five stars on Kindle. I never even give myself a ten. I give nines. Not because something’s wrong, but because I believe there’s always room to grow. That’s how I see books too. Even great ones leave space for the next thing you’re meant to discover.

So no, I don’t have the favorite. But The Ride of a Lifetime is one I’d gladly revisit.

Manolo Páez’s journey is defined by curiosity, care, and conscious choice. Whether teaching a classroom of first-time entrepreneurs or advising global ventures, his focus remains the same: lead with heart, live with presence, and never forget that every meaningful change starts with people. His story is a reminder that being — not just doing — is at the core of authentic leadership.