“Every generation has a challenge, and this, I think, is ours…to create…an authentically, sustainably shared prosperity.” - Umair Haque, Generation M Manifesto, Harvard Business Review, July 8, 2009

Last Saturday, crowded in a small ballroom in the Ipanema neighborhood of Rio, the future of Latin America unfolded. There, one hundred students from across the region came together to compete for the honor of being Junior Achievement’s Company of the Year. Beyond the event, though, these students will become the future entrepreneurs in their nations. Their creativity, passion and innovations will drive the economic future of this region.

This week, hundreds of Latin American high school students journeyed to Buenos Aires for the first Junior Achievement Company of the Year Competition in the Americas. Cargosas won the inaugural FedEx Global Access Award by successfully marketing a reusable tote bag made from recycled materials. This team from Ecuador best incorporated concepts related to international trade, environmental sustainability and global market expansion.