Lucas V. Pinzon is a visionary leader and passionate advocate for education as a transformative tool for breaking the cycle of poverty. As the Executive Director of Esperanza Juvenil, a nonprofit organization based in Guatemala City, Lucas has dedicated over 18 years to empowering youth through education, mentorship, and holistic development. Under his leadership, Esperanza Juvenil has grown from serving 29 children in 2006 to impacting 203 young people from 16 diverse rural and urban communities. The program’s commitment to quality education has resulted in 100% of its high school graduates being accepted into universities across Guatemala, with 37 students currently pursuing higher education and 18 alumni who are now independent professionals creating ripples of change in their communities.

Lucas’s unwavering focus on gender equity is evident in the organization’s efforts to provide more opportunities for girls and young women, who represent 60% of its beneficiaries. By creating spaces for young people from various Mayan communities — where 10 different Mayan languages are spoken — Esperanza Juvenil fosters inclusivity and celebrates cultural diversity. Lucas believes that education is a powerful equalizer, opening doors to brighter futures for low-income children and their families.

With a Master of Business Administration from Universidad Mesoamericana and a Bachelor’s Degree in Marketing from the University of the Ozarks, Lucas brings strategic acumen and a global perspective to his work. His achievements include winning the prestigious Walton International Scholarship and being recognized as a Centro America Adelante Fellow by the Seattle International Foundation. These experiences have shaped his commitment to fostering cross-cultural collaboration and driving impactful change.

Lucas’s leadership extends to reviewing Esperanza Juvenil’s strategic plan to enhance its reach and quality over the next five years. He is dedicated to learning from global best practices in education to strengthen the organization’s model and expand its impact. This includes collaborating with other educational programs in Guatemala to share knowledge and elevate collective outcomes.
As a Mountaintop Executive Fellow, Lucas will engage in tailored professional development designed to refine his strategic vision, strengthen his leadership, and empower his team to scale Esperanza Juvenil’s transformative work.