Puerto Rico urged to lead with empathy in a global AI economy
Puerto Rico has both an opportunity and a challenge to position itself in the global economy by emphasizing human-centered strengths such as empathy, intuition and culture, according to entrepreneur and academic Rebeca Hwang.
Hwang delivered the keynote address at Echar Pa’lante: Pilares del Empresarismo Boricua 2025, held at the Puerto Rico Convention Center.
“Artificial intelligence is amplifying inequality and rapidly displacing those who are not at the frontier of innovation,” Hwang said. “In this new reality, being average is no longer enough. Puerto Rico won’t compete on scale or cost. Its competitive advantage lies in its ability to connect, understand human emotions and create value from within the community.”
Hwang, co-founder of Rivet Ventures and a professor at Stanford University, also serves as an adviser to organizations in Singapore, Spain and Silicon Valley. She said long-term competitiveness depends not only on adopting technology but on integrating digital tools with human skills to create inclusive and sustainable economic models.
She urged both public and private sector leaders to prioritize continuous learning and collaboration.
“Entrepreneurial education cannot be a luxury or an add-on,” Hwang said. “It must be part of the island’s resilience infrastructure.”
The event also highlighted recent milestones achieved by Echar Pa’lante, a multisector initiative focused on entrepreneurship, education and community-based economic development.
“In 2025, our common agenda has expanded to over 200 certified mentors, strategic global partnerships, and a growing learning community focused on AI, innovation and sustainability,” said Gloria Viscasillas, executive director of Echar Pa’lante.
Recognition of Puerto Rican entrepreneurship
The event included the Recognition of the Pillars of Puerto Rican Entrepreneurship 2025, honoring 11 individuals and one institution for contributions to the island’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. The honorees represent sectors including education, science, community development, business, government and journalism.
Those recognized were Odette Piñeiro of Global Education Exchange Opportunities Inc.; Teresita Ibarra-Pérez of Ana G. Méndez University; Manuel Lobato-Vico of the Center for Innovation and Commercialization Support at the University of Puerto Rico; and José Roberto Acarón of AARP Puerto Rico.
Also honored were Joanisabel González, a journalist at El Nuevo Día; Gisela I. Carrero-Morales of Inter American University of Puerto Rico; Ana Yris Guzmán-Torres of Nuestra Escuela; and Juan E. Figueroa-Rivera of the Small Business Innovation Research and Small Business Technology Transfer programs at the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust.
Additional recognitions were awarded to Linton Wells II for his work in resilience and government transformation; Iris “Chiqui” Santos for her leadership in collaborative social innovation and public policy; and the Puerto Rico Science, Technology and Research Trust for its role in supporting talent development, research and technology commercialization.
