Bridging the Gap Between Policy, Technology, and People
Adrian Rodriguez is a master convener who moves fluidly between the boardroom, the briefing room, and the community hall. As a U.S. Department of State Speaker on Economic Prosperity, Adrian has represented American innovation on stages from Mexico to Albania, translating complex economic shifts into actionable insights for global leaders.
He is not an academic theorist; he is a practitioner. As the former Policy Director for the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Co-Founder of CORAMA, and founder of AGORA Virtual, Adrian has managed dozens of programs annually, scaling initiatives that connect entrepreneurs to millions in capital. Whether addressing a crowd of 1,500 at a national summit or facilitating a closed-door diplomatic briefing, Adrian brings a unique blend of Harvard-trained strategy and startup grit.
He specializes in "Operationalizing Equity"—moving audiences past the buzzwords of diversity and AI into the hard, messy, rewarding work of building inclusive economic systems.
The Pyramid of Tirana, a former dictator-era museum now repurposed as a technology hub, symbolizing Albania’s transformation. The session focused on training small and medium-sized enterprises to digitize their operations and become procurement-ready.
Rodríguez served as the keynote speaker at the AWE Cinco Más Allá event in San Pedro Sula, Honduras, addressing an audience of more than 500 attendees on the adoption of artificial intelligence by future-oriented enterprises.
The New Infrastructure: AI as the 21st Century Highway
The central tenet of this framework is that Artificial Intelligence must be conceptualized not as a vertical industry (like “fintech” or “biotech”) but as a horizontal infrastructure layer, akin to electricity, broadband, or the highway system. In the 20th century, a business’s competitiveness was determined by its access to physical infrastructure. In the 21st century, it is determined by access to “cognitive infrastructure”—the ability to process information, predict trends, and automate routine tasks using AI.
Rodríguez argues that the “digital divide” is rapidly mutating into an “intelligence divide.” Large corporations have the capital to build private AI clouds and train proprietary models, giving them a cognitive advantage that compounds over time. Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs), which form the backbone of most economies (especially in Latin America and the Balkans), are at risk of being left behind—not because they lack innovation, but because they lack infrastructure.
USAP (Universidad de San Pedro Sula), Honduras, formed part of the U.S. Speaker Program.
Responsible AI in Public Systems
Artificial intelligence is rapidly reshaping how economies function—but its real impact depends on how it is governed, implemented, and connected to institutional systems. In this keynote, Adrián Rodríguez explores how AI can be deployed as a practical driver of inclusive economic development, drawing on real-world implementations across the United States, Latin America, and Europe.
Using examples from public procurement reform, SME capacity-building, workforce resilience, and institutional modernization, Adrián demonstrates how AI can expand opportunity, reduce structural barriers, and strengthen local and regional economies. The session emphasizes actionable frameworks, governance considerations, and lessons learned from deploying AI inside real public, private, and academic environments.
Consulate General of Mexico
Consulate General of Mexico
Consulate General of Mexico
Entrenamiento en Inteligencia Artificial para Emprendedoras," a specialized training session focused on practical AI adoption for women entrepreneurs.
Tegucigalpa, Honduras
Consulate General of Mexico
Consulate General of Mexico
In Honduras, Rodríguez appeared on the live television program Frente a Frente on Televicentro, following an invitation from the U.S. Embassy as part of the U.S. Speaker Program. The two-hour live broadcast featured an AI demonstration and sustained high audience engagement, focusing on the responsible use of artificial intelligence in business and society.
Chicago, IL
Consulate General of Mexico
Guadalajara, Mexico
Rodríguez appeared on Univision Chicago’s program Al Punto in a segment focused on supporting Latino-owned businesses through artificial intelligence. The discussion highlighted the Illinois Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (IHCC) and the use of the Corama platform to help minority-owned businesses compete for government contracts
Guadalajara, Mexico
Guadalajara, Mexico
Guadalajara, Mexico
In collaboration with the U.S. Embassy in Mexico, Adrián conducted an intensive AI training workshop at the American Corners within the University of Guadalajara library.
Tirana, Albania
Guadalajara, Mexico
Washington, D.C.
In Tirana, Albania, Adrián Rodríguez served as a keynote speaker at the AATT | RIT Campus, presenting on the strategic use of AI in Public Procurement to foster transparent and fair investment climates.
Washington, D.C.
Guadalajara, Mexico
Washington, D.C.
At the NAPEX National Conference in Washington, D.C. (November 2025), Adrián Rodríguez addressed a national audience of procurement professionals on the practical integration of everyday AI tools for business.