ComMUNiqué

Sergio Fernández de Córdova and the Importance of the SDGs

October 05, 2020 MUN Impact Season 1 Episode 8
ComMUNiqué
Sergio Fernández de Córdova and the Importance of the SDGs
Show Notes Transcript

Join this exciting episode in which our host, Erik Novak, interviews successful entrepreneur and changemaker Sergio Fernández de Córdova. Sergio played a key role in establishing many initiatives around the Sustainable Development Goals framework for the UN, and has since also co-created the SDG Media Zone, a platform that leverages the wide-scale impact of digital media to advance and create awareness around the SDGs. Sergio’s experience leading the PVBLIC Foundation as its Chairman places him at the intersection between media and public-private partnerships, and enables him to opine on the SDG vision expertly and deeply. He is also passionate about youth engagement and explains what the role of the SDGs is for tomorrow’s generation. Sergio’s expertise and relevance shine through despite his humility and approachability, truly the mark of a leader.

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Podcast Name: ComMUNiqué

Podcast Producer: MUN Impact

Episode Title: Sergio Fernández de Córdova and the Importance of SDGs

Episode Number: 8

Host: Erik Novak

Guest: Sergio Fernández de Córdova

Date Published: October 5th 2020

Episode Description: Join this exciting episode in which our host, Erik Novak, interviews successful entrepreneur and changemaker Sergio Fernández de Córdova. Sergio played a key role in establishing many initiatives around the Sustainable Development Goals framework for the UN, and has since also co-created the SDG Media Zone, a platform that leverages the wide-scale impact of digital media to advance and create awareness around the SDGs. Sergio’s experience leading the PVBLIC Foundation as its Chairman places him at the intersection between media and public-private partnerships, and enables him to opine on the SDG vision expertly and deeply. He is also passionate about youth engagement and explains what the role of the SDGs is for tomorrow’s generation. Sergio’s expertise and relevance shine through despite his humility and approachability, truly the mark of a leader.

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Erik Novak: Hello and welcome to today’s episode of the premiere podcast at the intersection of international education, global engagement, and the work of the United Nations proper. I am Erik Novak, and THIS is comMUNiqué. If you enjoy our content, don’t forget to like, comment, share, and show our work to your friends and colleagues. That said, put on your seatbelts, folks, because today we have a truly special guest: Sergio Fernández de Córdova. Sergio is a Peruvian-born entrepreneur who has certainly left an indelible mark on the impact of the UN Sustainable Development Goals framework. He is one of the world’s foremost leaders at the intersection of public-private partnerships and media, and has influenced projects the world over as chairman of the PVBLIC Foundation, which he founded after leaving the day-to-day of the private sector. Through his current work, Sergio influenced the development of the SDG framework, and pioneered the SDG Media Zone, a digital platform that leverages the ubiquity of cyberspace to propagate the work and impact of the SDGs to millions around the world. Through its success, the SDG Media Zone is now a mainstay in many General Assembly meetings of the UN. Clearly, Sergio is a highly accomplished individual, and so I cannot wait to get started. Good afternoon, Sergio, thank you for being here!


Erik Novak: [00:00:00] Without further ado, welcome Sergio. Can't wait for us to get started. And in particular, I wanted to start us off by linking the work that you've done with the UN as a whole, because, it's my understanding, you started off, focusing in media and then you expanded into, public private partnerships. And then as your work became more global, you started engaging at a. At a greater level with the UN itself and with the idea the, of international business as a whole. So I suppose the first question is generally speaking, why support the UN, what drives you in this quest to, to, to increase this international connectedness in the work that you do?


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:01:37] And thank you for having me and I'm really excited to carry on with today's conversation. I was introduced to impact while I had a lot of businesses and I saw that I was doing well and, you know, part of my own DNA and the way I was brought up is, you know, sort of, you know, how am I helping others? And when I started to look at the evolution of the .com and technology and, and everything else around us, that's created the world that we live in today, what I saw was that there was an opportunity to start to bring people together to think and build platforms that actually have a purpose, a heart, a soul, a mind, not just a revenue conversation. And it was always in my sort of, in my purview, which is, you know, if I'm building something, why can't I also have purpose. You know, built in and weaved in the projects of whatever I'm doing. You know, we were doing building, you know, at a newspaper business, we had, you know, a billboard business. So, part of what I could give was access to space, access to, you know, media, communication strategies.. What have you to tell stories and communicate, impact, right. But at the same time, you know, we also had a, you know, infrastructure and we had, influence, and these are all currencies of, of, you know, what I believe could also be used for doing good. Fast forward, we were asked to create a, you know, at the peak of, of, of us doing so much with our collective businesses, we were asked to, you know, sort of to create an entrepreneur council to support and bring in some of the world's top entrepreneurs to create a entrepreneur council for the UN. And basically it was called the GEC, the global entrepreneur council, which was launched within partnership with the UN foundation, which was really focused on how we could bring entrepreneurial solutions to solve global problems right. And this is before the SDGs, it was, you know, sort of a, you know, MDG 10 years in and, and, and five years before the SDGs and. Just really became fascinated with this idea of a global infrastructure called the United Nations that is already been dedicated to peace preservation of humanity, wildlife, and all the things that actually matter. So that those that are running their businesses can still run their business. Those that are saving lives can still save lives and, and built this sort of infrastructure, which really brings public private, intergovernmental governmental and multilateralism together. And, and it's just something that really sort of I identified with, right. And it's just something that defined what I was thinking, but it actually gave it structure and didn't realize that this existed at that level. And when I looked at technology and the evolution of media data technology, and what role that could play and how we could change the future and make it better was just sort of became my purpose. And I started the foundation called PVBLIC, really to focus on how we are the infrastructure and helping build bridges between innovation and technologies of tomorrow, but bringing all stakeholders so that they actually can benefit from the value of these things and we leave no one behind, right? So that we are building capacity and building the next generation of leaders, but equipped. The same way, someone that built a billion dollar business and, you know, a lot of people thought I was crazy when I started the foundation because it was still in 2010. It was still something that, you know, data was not a conversation, you know, media and digital. It was just sort of, a lot of people were building a lot of businesses around it, but when it came to impact, you know, no one was like, I don't understand the value. You know, 2012 was an opportunity to learn about the creation of the SDG vision at real 20. And that was my first sort of foray and this conversation that, hey, if we're going to build a new global agenda after the MDGs, we need to include everyone, at which point as an entrepreneur, right? I was like, you know, fascinated with this opportunity. I said, this is the greatest opportunity. At least, you know, I'm a straddle generation. I straddled the old and the new gen X. I said, this is my generation's greatest opportunity to help save the planet. There's now an agenda that benefits humanity that ask everyone to be involved. You know, when I looked at the MDGs, I did not think that I felt a part of that. Right. I did not feel like I could control it would be to it. Although everyone, when we launched our foundation was saying we have five years left, we have four years left. We have three years left and I said, no, we have a new agenda. And I'm going to commit everything. And my generation to help build the road for the generations to come. And that's really kind of why, right? That's the why, because when you look at, you know, the UN is a mechanism, so, you know, it is a platform that brings 193 countries together, focused on peace, security, preservation, human rights, social justice, right. And, and so, so when, when you have that, it's just, okay, now how do we bring. Our generations from my generation to yours right together to actually activate around, you know, a global agenda, right. When the goals were launched. That was it. That was the answer to everything because I was like, now we have a framework by which to operate in a common language by which to bring everybody together to do so. Hopefully that's a, a long answer to a short question, but I think it deserves context. 


Erik Novak: [00:07:52] Oh, no for sure. I mean, the question was short, but it's open endedness is meant to lead to these more philosophical and macrosophical ideals. And the fact is, in my opinion, at least it seems that what you mentioned about a common language is very true. And the MDGs to the extent and that they were successful in their own, right, I think one of them, the biggest improvement between the MDGs and the SDGs is the dissemination capacity. People know about the SDGs and it probably due to, well, partly the fact that the idea of sustainable development has now existed for more time. And also that the SDGs are focused a lot in dissemination and marketing to people around the world. And maybe this is one of the ways in which your presence has been most felt because of course, with your past experience with media and with these sorts of engagements, you can, bring a different perspective to the table in these regards. And I also remembered something interesting that you, from something that you mentioned right now, I remembered something interesting. And it's that you said when you started off with public, right after being, first engaged with the MDGs because of an event and you help organize to my understanding. People thought that it was a little odd that you were doing this because there was still not a big discussion around data. And the whole idea seemed somewhat niche still. And yet right now it's incredibly central to conversations in the UN the world over. 


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:09:31] What, I mean, part, part, part of where we came in and we were involved in the strategy hub to help design the SDGs and, and, and the committee that was, helping, you know, communicate this story to all. And part of, you know, the challenges, were, how do we get everybody excited? How do you build, you know, the framework was already built by the governments. And they said, okay, here are the 17 goals. And now it's like, okay, we need to, you know, we need to this sort of land this, right. Land, the airplane. So that it actually, every single human on a planet knows that they could do something. Yeah. And there are part of it. Right. As you were say, look, the MDGs, you know, where we're important in their own rights because it opened the door to the SDG's right. With the SDGs. Right. I think the SDGs is, yeah, really, you know, the, the, the, the, the, the evolution that the planet needed, because now we all felt like we belonged to a conversation and any which way we could do something to make the planet better, or be smarter about how we build the elements of the key words, sustainable development goals. Three key words. If you take them apart, sustainability. Right, as it is, is how we're presented, serving and making sure that we, you know, our children's children have a planet to live in right development is how we building every day consciously so that we are not building backwards, but building forward, right?

Making things better in design DNA, the fabric, the chromosomes of what we are building has a vision of making things better. Right? Sometimes we just need goals to let us know. That with a goal in mind, then at least whether as an entrepreneur, a social impact leader, or just someone that's starting a family, right. We have a set of goals. We are humans. We need to be inspired, given hope, give it, you know, inspiration hope and leadership. And, so then all of a sudden, you know, with an agenda such as clear. You know, it's just, you know, how do you educate everybody not to, to support PVBLIC, not to support XYZ, not, but rather how did they, you know, sort of take these things into their every day. Right. Hey, maybe shut, shut the water off, turn the electricity off because you're just, you know, drink, you know, drink out of a, paper straw versus plastic, little things that, you know, fortunately we're human created, but you know, we now need to just be smarter about, you know, again, how we sit with sustainable development goals. And to me, that was also very exciting around even just the SDGs as people tried to rename them. I'm like, no, there's such an importance to us understanding that it is. Why they were made. Right. And, and, and, and, and understanding the fabric of, of, you know, what it means. And, and, and so, again, from us, communication was key. Data was key. So, you know, again, when I, when we launched a foundation before the goals, people didn't get it. When the goals. We're launched. It was like a perfect, you know, sort of platform to help advance a conversation because we're talking about media data technology and program management. So just wanted to add that to as, as what you were saying, Erik.


Erik Novak: [00:12:49] Yeah, no, I see what you're saying for sure. I mean, it's been five years since the goals started. And even in that amount of time, I have palpably seen people's understanding of what the goals are and how they can contribute to them increase. So it's a, it's an accumulation. I think that over the years builds positively. But what I was reminded from all of this is that your Instagram profile picture, and indeed the picture we're going to use for promotion is one where your hands have written on them never, ever give up. And I felt that it was a very powerful message. Not just because I assume that after you started the foundation, people like a people like, well, what's going on here? Why are you doing this? There may have been some level of self doubts there. But nevertheless, you carry it on and it proved to be the right choice. So I wanted to know a little bit more about how that mantra never, ever give up plays into how you dealt with your vision and with establishing Public and then the SDG media zone. And also how you think this contributes to people's engagements with the SDGs in general. 


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:13:59] Well, you know, it, thank you for that, Erik. You know, the element of, you know, never, ever give up it wasn't because of self doubt. It was more for me a message as someone that is in the element of, of impact and having launched a foundation, I never doubted what I was doing because you know, I did a Ted talk before I launched the foundation about building a global platform. I knew that there was an opportunity there. The element of never, ever give up is that every day we are faced with challenges every day. We hit a wall and whatever we do in life, right? Whether it's personal, business, impact, passion, sport, whatever it is. And we hit walls and, and every day we just feel like just leave it off to tomorrow. Right. And, and just not wanting to do it because we are discouraged by some of the roadblocks and some of the things that, the challenges, right. It's not roadblocks, it's more the challenges and, and, and, and the, these, these are part of it's part of growth. And I think part of, in my own evolution, this element of never give up, I never ever give up. I had a bracelet that was given to me as a gift about 15 years ago. Did I still wear it? No, I'm never taking it off is, you know, to me was just something so important. And it's just to find who I am become because every day, whenever I hit a wall, whatever that wall was, you know, it just was reminded by the fact that know that, you know, there are other people, you know, out there that are worse off or, you know, that, you know, no matter what the challenge is, we can overcome it.

And, and, and this mantra of never, ever give up is sort of my little fuel every single day. You know, in the many programs that we’re involved in, the many challenges that we face every day that, you know, we need to just stay on course and, and, and it just kinda, you know, became this thing that, you know, just sort of help define or chart the course, if you will.


Erik Novak: [00:16:15] I see what you're saying. It's important to have, like personal reminders of the mission that the, wants to accomplish and the things that we have set for ourselves further on down the line. And, well, I mean, my belief is that while brilliance is certainly important, consistency is what long term, leads to personal accomplishment in the things that we do wish to do. So this is particularly interesting and I wanted to pivot slightly on this whole discussion to what you think the role of youth in this whole process might be in particular, what do you feel should be happening in schools? And I mean, there are obviously differences between primary schools, high schools and university. And I assumed that your answer may be different for each of those, but do you see students more as conduits for STG messaging? Or as actually engaged in projects themselves or some sort of combination of both? 


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:17:24] Well, I, I don't think it's about conduit and, and I think it's about embracing, you know, the conversation. It's almost like, you know, from a chromosome through DNA conversation, it's, it's, you know, it's capacity building. Right. And I think that the beauty about the sustainable development goals is it's a framework, it's a roadmap, right? So if you were to grab that as a roadmap, then what do you need to do is tell everybody, educate people and let them know that whatever it is that you are doing, that there's actually a roadmap that it actually could be supported or can be, you know, sort of be part of a broader conversation. And I think for a youth perspective and next generation perspective, part of that is education capacity building. I keep saying capacity building because capacity building, it means that you need to educate people to know how to do it so that they could learn how to do it, embrace it in their own way, socialize it locally and, in, in what they do in their, in their own capacity so that they are building. You know, in whatever they're building together also collectively with a sort of global infrastructure. I think the SDGs for that next generation is, is so important for, for, you know, for them to be educated for leaders to help lead. For leaders, to also have a framework by which to help create and develop a stronger, more successful, you know, leadership and, and programs around it. And I think that, you know, from a generational perspective, It's not about forcing someone to say, Hey, you must learn this. It's rather, you must embrace it. And, so I think that there's an incredible opportunity because you know, every generation has a way of doing something better, smarter, different, and adapts to that generation. So if they don't know that this is out there, then how can they help make it better and integrate integrated into what they're doing. Right because, you know, we meet so many young leaders as people say, hey, I want to get involved. I want to support. And then when they learn about the SDGs and I remember this was in the beginning of, of the SDGs were ratified. And then when people looked at it, I said, what a God, I don't need to bother you anymore. I know exactly what I need to do. And I know exactly how I need to do it. Right, and that right there says it all.


Erik Novak: [00:19:54] It's, it's definitely a highly empowering tool. One of the reasons why I originally started becoming more interested in the work of the UN's because I'm from Rio de Janeiro and so when the Rio+20 2012 meeting happened, that's when I started researching a little bit more at the top and I was only 11 years old at the time. Anyway, so, it's I was very young, but I think it, sparked an interest in me that has persevered since, and that was even before the SDGs themselves were established. So even as just an idea, it's an incredibly powerful framework. I say that from personal experience. 


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:20:32] So you're a perfect example. You are a perfect example because you, it changed and it evolved you to be the human you are today. 


Erik Novak: [00:20:42] That's for sure, for sure. And running this podcast as well as also an opportunity to try to get this message across. And so leverage the expertise of global leaders in order to motivate and contextualize what the impact that people around the world can have as individuals, as well as members of their communities. I think that, I mean, I deeply empathize with what you're saying there and to, to piggyback off of this a little bit, but one of the biggest things that you've done over the last few years in regards to, the SDG is the SDG Media Zone, which to my understanding you co-founded, and it's a mainstay in every General Assembly, high level meeting that happens each year. I think in September, if I'm not mistaken, the UN Plaza. And I wanted you to explain a little bit more what the role and impact of the SDG Media Zone has been also in reference to, the things that we've talked about earlier in the episode already.


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:21:44] Yeah. So basically the SDG Media Zone was an idea and we co-created it. Right. Cause we basically worked with the, PGA, the president of the general assembly and a gentleman by the name of Dan Thomas, who was head of communications. And he, and I basically concocted this idea, this vision of how we create sort of ESPN for the UN. Right. How do we create this mechanism that tells everyone what is happening inside the walls, not just the SDGs, right, but the conversation of this global leader who is, you know, running the world bank or running the government of, you know, Zambia or Brazil. Right. And, and how do we give them a bit of a megaphone to communicate to people in a sort of humane human perspective, right? Meaning, you know, the, the, the, the real person, right. Because when they're on stage at the UN at the general assembly, they're talking policy on behalf of their government, they're talking about the future. They're talking about what there, you know, what they've done and how their people are, are, are need help or, or, or have, have evolved, or, you know, and, and sort of an essence, like, you know, the board meeting, right. And they're giving the, providing this sort of a structured set of communications. And, but then, you know, when he, or she walks off that sort of podium you will, at the high level meetings, you know, how do you communicate that so that you, right Erik, you and sort of those in your sort of age bracket can understand what's going on over there and behind the walls, if you will. So that, you know, you're able to absorb that information. That was really kind of the beginning of the SDG Media Zone. Right? And, and, and, you know, today has become one of the main features of the UN general Sunday high-level week, right? Cause it's bringing together UN member states, content, creators, influencers, activists, and media partners to highlight actions and solutions in support of the sustainable development goals. So basically, you know, the SDG Media Zone is on today is organized by the UN department of global communications and PVBLIC foundation. And we're really kind of, you know, the whole element of the conversation's advancing the 2030 agenda out of the policy's fear and into the public discords. Right. And what we do is we bring together impactful in depth interviews, panels, and discussions like TEDx style, Ted style, right. So that we could then socialize it, but then you Erik, the president of Brazil to den, bring that home into your sort of, you know, ecosystem, if you will. And then that communication makes it home to the next Erik Novak. So, you know, the, the, that was kinda, you know, the idea and, and, you know, be honest with you it, it was just an idea to, for high level, you know, really, you know, high level, high level week and high level weeks, because as a high level political forum and a bunch of the others, and then over the years, it's just evolved tremendously. And I mean, it's been, you know, the dream, right? It's a to see, to see this little vision evolve into something that, that, you know, today, let me pull the stats real quick, but today is, I'll tell you right now. We've reached over 600 million people around the planet. 


Erik Novak: [00:25:24] that's impressive. That's what, 8.5, 9% of the world population?


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:25:29] Yeah. Hold on. I'll tell you. One second. I must look at the stats that we have on our LinkedIn page here. So the SDG Media Zone stats to date are 18 SDG media zone platforms across seven countries. So we cover on, we covered or general assembly, for those listening, you know, we cover, you know, the, the Paris, excuse me, UNF Triple C, which is a cop, you know, climate summits and related, you know, high level week, et cetera, et cetera and the high level political forum. So we've had over 685 million. People reached and growing, and have a 1,300 speakers, heads of state CEOs and globally leaders, you know, come through our platform and we've reached over 80 plus countries, reached and or activated with, you know, through our communications and, and, and platform. And, you know, and, and yeah, this is become now one of PVBLIC foundations sort of you know, marquee products and programs that we manage but it's also been kind of one of those things that like, you know, five years ago, it's a five year anniversary. When we launched, as you know, we didn't know where we were going, but, you know, I think it goes back to don't give up. Everyone said we were, you know, it wasn't going to work. It, wasn't going to take off what have, what have you. And, you know, fast forward, I'd be happy if we reached a million people. And to know these stats and when my team comes back and say, hey, these are updated stats. I almost fell off. My chair was just, wow, we're so busy working. We're so busy doing, that we didn't realize is how incredibly large the reach has gotten. So, it's just, it just goes to show you, you know, when you set your head, you know, your mind and you find the right strategic, you know, conversations, which is, we just wanted to communicate SDG activation as I said before.


Erik Novak: [00:27:38] How did it work this year, due to COVID? 


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:27:41] Everything was digital, because this is what we created, right. The SDG Media Zone, it was a digital platform. So for us, it was exactly what we were always doing this year. We just became more the centerpiece, than ever, you know, I think it's, you know, we focused, we kept it smaller than the normal, but we kept it very focused on educating people about, you know, what's going on in wildlife, what's going on with food, what's going on in social justice and really in depth conversations around these topics with the leaders that are running, you know, these, you know, initiatives, globally, so that people can understand what this woman leading this conversation or, you know, or whoever was this, head of state, you know, how they are, you know, trying to, you know, change and activate humans around the world.


Erik Novak: [00:28:38] I think this year was definitely the year for digital platforms that had some level of prior establishment to really consolidate themselves for obvious reasons. So for, for better, or for worse, our, our world got essentially thrust into the 21st century, if you will. 


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:28:56] Yeah. I mean, if you weren't there, you're there now. Exactly. You know, it's, it's absolutely. Absolutely. And I mean, look, this year we're celebrating the 75th anniversary of the United Nations and it's just, again, another incredibly important, you know, conversation and, and that's really kind of. Well, we've been trying to do is just educate people so that they themselves could find a way to activate and engage and be part of the conversation, you know, it's it's, you're it, it's, it's the digitization, I feel like it's created a democratic way of allowing people to enter these conversations more than ever. And to me, I'm just, just very excited about, you know, our digital platforms already having been at it for four years, you know, that we weren't just trying to build something and try to figure out how to communicate to people we were just growing what we had already built.


Erik Novak: [00:29:51] A large part of your work has to do with public private partnerships. In fact, my understanding is that your, your organization grew in terms of its connections because of your expertise with establishing public private partnerships. I definitely, I adore that concept and I've studied it quite a bit and we could talk about this I'm sure for hours on end but I did want to ask about how you think those fit in with the theme of individuals engaging with the SDGs and why do I ask this? Because I feel like one of the most de-motivating factors for people is the idea that, well, if you're just a drop of water in the ocean, what difference are you making and I think the idea of crowdfunding itself counters that because if everyone chips in 5 cents, you can raise millions, even though each person's individual contribution. 


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:30:49] Billions.

Erik Novak: [00:30:50] Yeah, each person's vision contributions is negligible, but the sum of the parts is bigger than certainly the, the whole is bigger than the sum of the parts, if you will.

So there's that, but you also have the idea of, companies operating in the market themselves, and the fact that individuals are a little further away in their sphere of influence from those than they are from the habitual things that they decide to do in their lives. How do you think public private partnerships fit into this mold and contribute positively to the SDGs?


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:31:22] So, yes. Excellent. Thank you for that. And, and look, I may, as an, entrepreneur and having built every business that I've built has been around a governmental entity or partnership. So one could say that I'm passionate because of my experience, but I also then realized, and when I exited and sold out of everything in 2011 to start a foundation, realize that, you know, one of my greatest sort of gifts back and through my foundation was how do we make PPPs or P three's a good thing because we are evolved so quickly that PPP  became a negative. Whenever you said PPP, it was a Scarlet letter PPP. Nobody liked it. Why? Because the private sector had taken advantage of a mechanism. To create only private sector benefit. So what I saw as an opportunity with the SDGs as well at the heart of it was goal 17, goal 17 is about the only way we're going to advance the 20, 30 agenda effectively and accomplish as many of the goals as, as, as, as, as mapped out is through public private partnerships. 


Erik Novak: [00:32:33] Goal 17 is partnerships for the goals, I believe, right?


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:32:36] Yes exactly, goal 17 is partnerships with their goals and you'll see the three circles, you know, and the many circles that are, you know, sort of, it's the element of bringing all the multi stakeholders and multilateral platforms together to hold hands and accomplish the goals and to, you know, to get into, not to get into deep into public private partnerships, public private partnerships. Originally, if you look at the history of them were designed a, you know, as a means of bringing private sector innovation into the governmental, you know, framework to advance an agenda that is for the benefit of. The people. Right? So, and if there is a business model that the private sector could then be engaged in and, and embrace the opportunity to do this project, then it benefits all the parties because the government sector doesn't have to use tax dollars to create this solution, ie: bridges tunnels infrastructure projects, but then when you land that, and you look at the world needs the help of everybody, public private partnerships become the bridge on how you bring in private sector to do good. Right? You bring in a private sector company to work alongside an NGO and IGO, inter-governmental organization, nongovernmental organization, and a government organization together with a common agenda. You know, most recently we've been working on policy with a, the UNECE, the European Economic Council, you know, in UN to really focus on how do we write better policy that is people-centric right. So PVBLIC first public private partnerships, because although the original nature of the development of what became, and what is known as today's public private partnership was for the benefit of, you know, people at the end, we forgot that element because we've over commercialized, we've over politicized it, whatever, what have you. So now we're looking at how do we improve public private partnership policy so that we are, are not forgetting the least deserve, you know, the, the, the, you know, folks that are, least fortunate and, and, and make sure that we are leaving no one behind.

And we are not just thinking government, not just thinking private sector or not just thinking NGO, but rather thinking how we are making the planet better through these programs. So to me, I am extremely passionate and Erik, you and I could have another followup, but you know, the, the conversation of PPPs is, is a way out of this pandemic. It's the way back to what, not back, the way where the, the, the mechanism that's going to take us to where we're going. And, because I think, you know, post pandemic, you know, we are in the new better world because we're building better. We're going to build stronger. And, and we're going to build smarter and public private partnerships stand, you know, as a, as a, as a bridge to bring all the stakeholders together.


Erik Novak: [00:35:46] It's hard for me to contribute to this without it feeling underwhelming, honestly. But my understanding and my belief is that public private partnerships enable business propositions. They basically widen the stakeholders to streamline them together with the idea of sustainable development more. And I think it's something that consumers are being more mindful of with each passing day and thus further incentivizing companies to move in that direction. So I'm excited to see what a, the decade we just started moving in has in store for this idea and this readjusting of the stakeholders in the business proposition. So I can't thank you enough for the points that you've made throughout our discussion here, Sergio. And again, be mindful of time. I wanted to close us off with one final and perhaps personal question, if you were fine with that, and it's that you're obviously an incredibly well accomplished individual and congratulations, firstly, and secondly, I believe you are incredible inspiration for many of us, but I was curious about what you might highlight as perhaps one of the peak moments in your life.

When you achieved something you felt truly happy about being grateful and at complete peace. Could you describe one of those moments?


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:37:19] God. I mean, I've, I've had this conversation before and to me, it's, it's, it's about evolution and, and every time I embark on a new journey, it's like a new chapter in my life. So it's feels like it's, you know, the book is doesn't end, right? The book is life and each chapter is just a different evolution. So I think that, I don't know how to answer that because I'm not about the destination. I'm still in the journey. And, so, you know, I'm present and, and looking forward every day. So I think every single day I am at peace for knowing that I've accomplished something every day. Right. And I think that in my own personal craziness is that I want to, I feel like we have 20 hours or 18 hours for normal people a day and every single day I want to do something positive and I am at peace every day when I go to sleep, because I know that I've done my part for the day. And I think that's really, you know, sort of to land a very sort of broad and, you know, sort of conversation. It's just really how I look at it. And every day I'm just putting another brick and building and building and building and, so, you know, I guess that's the best way I can answer that only because it's the most genuine way. When I look at the different accomplishments and things, I'm like, it's wonderful. It's amazing. And it's great because we all love to be accomplish for the work you've done, but, you know, I, I I'm thankful but, you know, I, it's just, it's like putting a breakdown every single day and then realizing you've built the building and, and, and that's kinda, you know, I'm just, you know, I want to build the city. So, you know, I, I, you know, it's, it goes back to never ever give up. Right. I just, I think that, you know, I've been fortunate enough to learn what I've learned and I've been gifted with the gifts that I have, and I don't, I want to stop and, and I'm not giving up. And that's why I built the foundation because it wasn't a business. I didn't want it to be anything that can ever be owned by anybody rather have a purpose and a vehicle to do good and to give back everything that I've learned exponentially. And so, again, going back to my moments of peace are at the end of every day, knowing that, you know, I've advanced conversations, a step forward every day.


Erik Novak: [00:39:59] That is truly impactful and I think it speaks to me at a personal level as well, because I spent several years trying to build my personal metaphysical framework about what should motivate me to get up out of bed in the morning. And honestly, it's about living in the now. And have been purposeful about the things that I do. And I mean, I can also talk about that for hours on end, but I very much empathize with, with the system that you've just described.


Sergio Fernández de Córdova: [00:40:26] I mean, exactly, because that's what, that's, what I tell folks is that entrepreneurs and people listening, they're just like, oh my God, that's so lofty. That's so out there. It's not because if you don't start today, you won't get there tomorrow. If you're not building, if you're not getting it started, then how do you know where it's going? And you're never going to guess what the journey is unless you begin it. And, you know, to be cliche, it's always just do it, start it because what you think is today, you don't know what that will be tomorrow, unless you begin the journey. And even with you, Erik, as you're talking about sort of building what you're building and trying to define what you're trying to define and what your journey is and will evolve, if you're not on it, then you're not in it. And if you're not in it, you're not, you're not going anywhere. And so, you know, a lot of people get caught up, especially when it comes to impact the SDGs. I don't know where to start. I don't know what to do. I don't know what gets me excited about the way you are excited to do what you do. We are right. And when people say to me, it's like, how do you know? And I'm like, I didn't get here. And wake up and be involved in over a hundred different initiatives. Right. Which is insane, right? No, I got here because every day I took a step forward and every day I was able to see clearer and clearer and clearer. And then I was able to define the, what I wanted to do the, who I was looking to become and the path that I wanted to take and the, you know, in the heart and soul and passion just kept getting stronger and stronger. Hence, I knew that I was going in the right direction. And was inspired by just my own steps that I was taken because I was starting to see it take shape. And I think that, you know, to most people listening, it's daunting to think about impact and to think that you could change the world that goes back to, you know, the sum of the pieces, right.

To think that you could change the world, but yes, every single person. It's part of this global ecosystem and every single one of us can do something. And the more you do, the more, you know, you, you could, you, you see the value you are creating for humanity and for humans. And the more you do that, the more you are embraced to do more because their return, although in some cases, meet people saying, well, I make no money, but there's no greater feeling knowing that you have helped someone that you've changed someone's life. And, and that is, you know, money can not buy that money, will never buy that. There's nothing. And that is the genuine element of saying, hey, I built a program that is educated, a thousand young leaders to become a leader. 20 years later, a young woman that has two questions is now the president of Pakistan. Right. And it's like, Whoa, all right. But that's the impact that just one conversation created. It gave that woman hope. It gave that woman inspiration.


Erik Novak: [00:43:24] The journey is a joy in itself, honestly, regardless of whether this nation is actually attainable or not, that's an afterthought fact is it's really is about the journey and the people you interact with on the way there. So I believe this message is one that is truly important, especially for youth these days to understand what our power and impact can be. If we, look at the big picture instead of the possible shortcomes. Can't thank you enough for the conversation Sergio and I would be incredibly interested in having you on the podcast someday in the future again. So thank you so much once more that said, unfortunately, our time is up. So if you dear listeners enjoyed our content, don't forget to share, subscribe and show our work to your friends and colleagues, but for now we yield the floor until next time.