Diego Mariscal is disabled and proud! From his early experiences as a Paralympic swimmer to his current role as CEO and "Chief Disabled Officer" of 2Gether-International, Diego has dedicated his life to empowering young people with disabilities and reshaping society's perception of their abilities.

Growing up in Monterrey, Mexico, Diego understood the significance of advocacy from a young age. At just 12 years old, he and his Paralympic junior swim team embarked on a bold campaign to establish an accessible training center. Their hard work paid off, resulting in the construction of a fully accessible facility. This triumph allowed Diego to continue his training, eventually leading to his representation of Nuevo Leon in the Mexican National Paralympics from 2004–2009.

Fueled by this early success, Diego founded Limitless Prepa Tec in Monterrey, Mexico. This initiative aimed to educate students about disabilities, challenge stereotypes, and foster inclusivity. Over four years, Limitless expanded to seven high schools across Mexico, reaching over 3,000 students. Diego's commitment to disability education and youth empowerment has made Limitless one of the largest youth-led programs in Monterrey.

Recognizing that the attributes required for successful entrepreneurship align well with the disability experience, Diego launched the not-for-profit accelerator 2Gether International (2GI) in 2012 to empower people with disabilities to launch and grow businesses. He understood that the problem-solving skills developed in navigating a world not designed for them could be transformed into innovation and creativity. 2GI now has a network of over 600 entrepreneurs living with disabilities in 15 different countries.

In his role as CEO and Chief Disabled Officer, Diego has collaborated with multinational organizations

such as the U.S. Department of State, the Organization of American States, the Inter-American

Development Bank, and companies like Google, Blackboard, and McKinsey to help them better

understand disability as an asset for startups and entrepreneurship.

Diego's efforts have garnered worldwide attention, including being selected as an Architect of the Future by the Waldzell Leadership Institute of Vienna, Austria, and as a Global Changemaker by the British Council. In 2017, Diego became the first entrepreneur with a disability from the US delegation to participate in the Global Entrepreneurship Summit held in Hyderabad, India. He has also been an honorary guest and spokesperson of the U.S. Embassy of Panama and the U.S. Consulate in Cd Juarez Mexico.

In 2022, Diego had the honor of meeting both President Clinton and President Biden at the Clinton Global Initiative and at the White House, respectively, to discuss disability and entrepreneurship issues. And in 2023, Diego was a featured panelist at the Clinton Global Initiative hosted at Vanderbilt University and moderated by Hillary Clinton.

With intelligence, tenacity, unwavering optimism, and an unparalleled work ethic, Diego managed the demands of building 2GI while completing his studies at George Washington University this spring. Although he no longer competes, the water remains a source of joy and inspiration in his life.

Register here, prices go up June 1

Private screening Thursday evening June 8: Beyond Their Years; the incredible legacies of Herb Carnegie and Buck O'Neil, two social justice icons that blazed a train in sport and changed the world.

  

Wednesday June 7, Reception at 5:00 pm, Dinner and Awards at 7:00 pm to open the 2023 GlobalMindED Conference. Bring your co-workers, team, students, or friends as we honor these incredible leaders in 15 sectors - listed below. Corporate Sponsorship options begin at $5,000 a table and $250 for individuals.  GlobalMindED conference registrants can attend the dinner for an additional $100.

You can use the QR codes below or register here for the dinner and the conference June 8-9

Early Childhood Education:

Miriam Calderon, Chief Policy Officer, ZERO TO THREE

K-12 Education:

Dr. David Miyashiro, Superintendent, Cajon Valley Union School District

Higher Education:

Carrie Billy, President & CEO, American Indian Higher Education Consortium

Afua Bruce, Founder & Principal, ANB Advisory Group

Health & Wellness:

Dr. Elena Rios, President and CEO, National Hispanic Medical Association

Banking & Finance:

Hassan Salem, Head of Commercial Banking, U.S. Bank

Mary Nichols, Professor in Residence, UCLA Institute of the Environment

Greg Robinson, Webb Space Telescope Program Director, NASA

Technology:

Michael Campbell, General Manager, EdTech Innovation & Transformation, Intel

Diego Mariscal, CEO and Chief Disabled Person, 2Gether-International

Mario Carrera, President & CEO, CLLARO

Nasruddin Rupani, Chairman, Ibn Sina Foundation, RUPANI Foundation

Kimberly Bryant, Founder, Black Girls CODE

Leadership & Equity:

Guillermo Diaz Jr., Founder & CEO, Conectado Inc

Rosanna Durruthy, VP, Global Diversity, Inclusion and Belonging, LinkedIn

Reach conference attendees and students looking for career opportunities. This event is also open to the public. REGISTER: Industry Marketplace/Career Exploration EXHIBITOR Event June 9 1:30-3:30

GlobalMindED | 303-327-5688 | contact@globalminded.org | www.globalminded.org