Read more inspiring stories like Gustavo's
Gustavo Payan MC/MPA 2017 grew up in Ciudad Juárez, Mexico, a city with 1.5 million people bordering El Paso, Texas. “It's a city where there's been a lot of migration,” he says. “And like many other cities across the world and in Latin America, Juárez is characterized by stark inequality.”
Before coming to HKS, Gustavo spent more than a decade on the front lines of international development, with a focus on creating equal opportunities through education and human capital. He’s worked in some of the most complex environments in Latin America, including Honduras, where he navigated the intersection of community violence, migration and the COVID-19 pandemic to build resilient learning environments, and Colombia, where he helped remove barriers for migrant children from Venezuela to access education.
“My overarching goal is systemic change,” he says. “Whether it’s technical training or formal schooling, it’s about making education and human capital a protective factor for children, youth and families at risk.”
“Moving to the balcony”
Gustavo came to HKS to augment his leadership skills and connect with a global network of changemakers. Here, he learned about adaptive leadership, a framework that continues to inform his professional approach. One specific concept—“moving from the dance floor to the balcony”—stuck with him. “It’s about gaining perspective and not being seduced by the immediate emotions of a crisis,” he says. He also points to the distinction between leadership and authority. “In my teams, I try to ensure everyone has the opportunity to exercise leadership, regardless of hierarchy.”
Beyond the classroom, Gustavo draws strength and inspiration from the HKS community. For example, they provided him with a vital network as he transitioned between countries. “My best friend in Colombia was a friend I made at HKS, and he and his family became a rock for me and my family as we settled in Colombia. So, it's not just the professional aspect of the network, but the personal aspects.”
A homecoming
After more than two decades living and working abroad, Gustavo returned to his native Mexico, pivoting his career from field implementation to impact investment and venture philanthropy. He now works at Promotora Social Mexico as director of strategy and systemic impact, where he helps the organization use evidence to make informed decisions related to where and how to invest private capital and philanthropic funds to solve social problems, with a focus on early childhood, education, youth, health, and social entrepreneurship. For Gustavo, this is the natural evolution of his work: using every tool available—whether government-funded or private—to move the needle on complex social issues.
He remains inspired by the “unknown heroes” like teachers in areas of Honduras impacted by violence and principals in Colombia who welcome and understand the value of Venezuelan students in their schools. “At the end of the day, this is who I’m working for,” he says. They are the reason he continues to push for systemic changes that lead to stronger, more inclusive education systems. “My goal is to create a better environment and improve people’s quality of life,” he says.
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