Tech hub offers strategic AI insights for international leaders.
Medellín, Colombia, increasingly recognized as a regional hub for science and technology, will host the second annual “WOBI on AI and Business Transformation” on April 28, 2026. The summit, held at the Plaza Mayor convention center, aims to bridge the gap between emerging technology and corporate leadership. Organized by WOBI in partnership with the local government, the event targets international executives and entrepreneurs looking to navigate the complexities of automation and data-driven decision-making.
Martha Lucía Maldonado Nieto, Managing Director of WOBI Colombia, noted that while the organization has been active in the city since 2017, the recent focus has shifted heavily toward the practical applications of generative technology. “Artificial Intelligence is not just another trend; it is a new reality,” Maldonado stated during a briefing. She explained that the event is curated to help leaders manage their organizations through knowledge rather than technical coding skills. “WOBI is not about providing technical content. Our goal isn’t to teach people how to operate a specific AI tool, but rather to support them in their roles as leaders.”
“The event is an opportunity to open a global conversation on AI for leaders across the region.” — Martha Lucía Maldonado Nieto
The speaker roster for the April event includes prominent figures from the global tech and academic sectors. Terry Gutiérrez, who serves as the General Manager for Tesla (TSLA) in Mexico and Latin America, will lead a session on “The Leader’s Algorithm.” She is joined by Nathan Furr, a professor at INSEAD in Europe and an advisor to various multinationals, who will discuss strategies for turning AI into scalable business models. Other confirmed participants include Giuseppe Stigliano, a marketing expert and former CEO of major advertising agencies, and Andrew Mayne, a former prompt engineer at OpenAI and host of the OpenAI Podcast.
The local administration views the summit as a cornerstone of its “Special District of Science, Technology, and Innovation” designation. María Fernanda Galeano Rojo, the Secretary of Economic Development for the city, emphasized that the summit is designed to have a broad impact on the local and regional business ecosystem. “We want all this knowledge to reach different sectors of our city,” Galeano Rojo said. She will also participate as a speaker, presenting a conference titled “Cities that Think,” which examines how AI acts as a catalyst for social and urban transformation. “We are betting on digital skills training and AI training; we are certain that only by sensitizing our leaders will we achieve real changes in organizations,” she added.
For international visitors, the event offers a window into the professional landscape of Colombia’s second-largest city. Previous WOBI events in the city have seen attendance from over 4,300 business owners, with a significant portion traveling from outside the department of Antioquia. The 2026 summit will focus on macro-management themes, such as how AI interacts with strategy and marketing. Maldonado noted that the successful format established in Medellín has recently been exported to other major European markets. “This year there will be a second edition of ‘WOBI on AI’ in Medellín, and a first edition in Milan and Madrid,” she confirmed.
Participation in the summit is available through a membership model introduced in 2024, or via individual ticket purchases. The cost for attending the single-day academic session is approximately $1,990,000 COP. The Alcaldía de Medellín and the Secretaría de Desarrollo Económico have coordinated parallel activities to ensure the visiting speakers engage with local entrepreneurs and university students. This collaborative approach is part of a wider effort by the municipio to integrate high-level global expertise into the regional economy.
The event is scheduled to begin at 9:00 AM at the Plaza Mayor facilities. Content curation for the summit is managed through WOBI’s New York office to ensure the topics align with global trends in management and innovation. Other entities mentioned in relation to the speakers’ professional backgrounds include Rappi, McKinsey, and Procter & Gamble (PG).
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