EDINBURG, Texas - Rubén Cantú, executive director of Frontera Leadership Institute, says it is a testament to the success of the group’s first two programs that Brownsville Community Improvement Corporation has invited them back again.
The third program, which lasts 12 weeks, is now underway at both the eBridge Center and Camp Rio.
“At Frontera Leadership Institute, we believe in collaboration and innovation to empower the next generation of transformative leaders,” Cantú said.
“Our goal is to provide opportunities for emerging leaders to make a real impact in tech and entrepreneurship, especially in the Brownsville area.”
Asked how the program works, Cantú said: “It’s a three-month program where students learn the principles of design, product management and also lean startup. All in all, throughout the whole process, they have to learn how to work inside of teams as a cohort, embrace conflict, learn healthy conflict and dialog, and then figure out how they can create ideas that impact their community.”
Cantú pointed out that it is about 18 months since FLI first arrived in the Rio Grande Valley.
“We're so excited to be here again. Our students… are committed and excited to help learn entrepreneurship, learn executive leadership, learn product management. Our students in the past have now gone on to launch their own small businesses, go work inside of tech and then learn the skills of community engagement and community asset building,” Cantú said.
“So, we’re not just sitting like with our hands crossed, waiting for something to change. Our students are the change agents, and we're excited to see that.”
Cantú said the goal is to continue having cohorts in Brownsville, but also to spread them throughout the Valley.
“We would love to be able to have the opportunity to expand. If you're hearing and listening to this, and you're like, what is going on down there in Brownsville, please reach out to us. We love to be able to be able to build those partnerships,” Cantú said.
“It's not just teaching them traditional curriculum of entrepreneurship, it's really seeing the transformative change that happens within them as leaders, as they come out and they're bold and they're courageous, and they can see the vision for the Valley here and now into the future.”
Cantú added: “Let’s work together to create a future where authentic leadership and innovation are at the forefront of our success.”
Here is a recent video interview the RGG Business Journal secured with Cantú:
