It was a pleasure to give an online presentation for Students for Liberty of Argentina on October 6, 2026.
Zenón Leguiza Yorllente organized and hosted the event. He is a political advisor at the Honorable City Council of Godoy Cruz and an internationalist. He holds leadership roles in organizations including Students for Liberty, the Language of Liberty Institute, and Legado a las Américas.
Students for Liberty (SFL), founded in 2008, is “the largest international pro-liberty student organization in the world, and the most effective student group building a global network of elite young leaders passionate about liberty.” Learn more about the organization here.
I covered three subjects: Argentina and Economic Freedom, Entrepreneurial Mindset, and Leadership in Business, followed by a discussion.
I. Argentina and Economic Freedom
A. Argentina’s Ranking
The Fraser Institute annually publishes a report, Economic Freedom of the World, which includes an index. The index “measures the degree to which people in 165 jurisdictions around the globe are allowed to make their own economic choices.”
It covers five areas: Size of Government, Legal System and Property Rights, Sound Money, Freedom to Trade Internationally, and Regulation.
The 2026 report, using 2024 data, ranks Argentina 151st out of 165 countries, i.e., the fifteenth worst. In 1910, by contrast, Argentina was among the world’s richest countries. By 2023, it had “one of the most regulated economies in the world.” In 2022, its GDP per capita was less than half of that of Western Europe’s.
With the recent enhancements to the country’s freedom, its ranking will improve. With continued liberalization, Argentina could reach the top ranks.
I encourage anyone interested in economic freedom to become familiar with the ideas of the Austrian and public choice schools of economics. See the resources below.
In the discussion period, I offered a few thoughts on how Argentina should proceed and what I believe President Milei is doing wrong.
B. Benefits of Economic Freedom
Freedom is its own virtue, and it has positive consequences. As Fraser notes, the benefits include:
• Higher income
•. Fewer hours of work
• Longer and more satisfying lives
• Lower infant mortality
• Less corruption
•. Cleaner environments
C. Human Freedom Index
Freedom is indivisible. Economic freedom is an important component, but not the only one.
The Cato Institute and the Fraser Institute annually publish the Human Freedom Index, which scores both economic and personal freedom. Personal freedom includes areas such as security, freedom of speech, and freedom of movement.
In the 2025 index, Argentina ranks 37th in personal freedom and 81st overall.
II. Entrepreneurial Mindset
A. Introduction
Economic freedom lets people innovate, start new businesses, and grow them, boosting economic progress. Entrepreneurs overcome the obstacles that governments put in their way, inspiring others to pursue this path.
Argentina’s improved economy has created opportunities for entrepreneurs.
A. Ten Principles of the Entrepreneurial Mindset
1. Follow Your Interests
When creating a new business or introducing a new product or service, do something that excites you, so you can sustain your interest.
2. Be Financially Conservative
• Survive today so that you can thrive tomorrow
• Keep your day job as long as necessary
• Keep expenses low
• Add employees only as necessary, and consider outsourcing
• Create savings
• Be cautious about any outside financing
3. Recognize the Risks of Partnerships
• They come at the cost of independence
o An alternative is collaboration
4. Pursue Excellence in Everything You Do
• This includes any written communication.
o I recommend Grammarly Pro to check your drafts
• Style is substance
5. Be Ethical
• Being ethical is its own virtue, and it is essential for establishing trust and having a good reputation
o Includes honesty and fairness
6. Have a Growth Mindset, not a Fixed One
• But play to your strengths and continue to enhance them
• Focus on the journey
• Be a learner, including through reading books and articles and listening to podcasts
7. Be a Critical Thinker
• Apply reason and question assumptions
8. Persevere
• Accept that all entrepreneurs must deal with challenges
• Resilience means adapting to circumstances and continuing to grow.
9. Create Connections
• Find a mentor in your field
• Consider having a coach
o Coaches are thought partners, offering encouragement and different perspectives
• Network, including by attending industry events
10. Take Care of Yourself
• Walk
o It is good for your health and your thinking
• Sleep
o Getting plenty of sleep is essential for your health, resilience, and performance
III. Leadership in Business
A. Introduction
Whether you run your own business or work in another, leadership skills are essential to success.
B. Eleven Principles
1. To Be a Good Leader, Be a Good Person
Character is its own virtue and a foundation for leadership. Being a good person, including being ethical, makes you a better leader, and being a better leader makes you a better person.
• One of the qualities of character is courage
o Speak up for what is right, including freedom, even if others fail to do so
• Another is compassion, the desire to alleviate suffering
o Treat your employees with compassion
2. Develop a Good Personality
Traits of a good personality flow from good character. Be strong, resilient, friendly, polite, considerate, respectful, kind, empathetic, responsible, and authentic.
• Being polite is its own virtue — and it will make you stand out.
• Be likable, but not at the cost of effectiveness. The goal is to lead, not to be popular.
• Be humble.
o Listen to others, share credit, and have intellectual humility
3. Be a Servant Leader
Leadership is service.
• Servant leaders serve employees, who then serve customers or clients.
• The concept of servant leadership is ancient, but Robert K. Greenleaf coined the term in 1970. He expresses the test of whether one is a servant leader:
“Do those served grow as persons? Do they, while being served, become healthier, wiser, freer, more autonomous, more likely themselves to become servants?'”
• Ken Blanchard notes the benefits:
“[L]eaders develop great relationships, achieve great results, and delight their customers.”
4. Be a Good Communicator
To lead well, communicate well.
• Become a good listener
o Listen well to employees and customers or clients. They have information you need to hear.
o Ask open-ended questions
o Create a culture of psychological safety
• Become a skilled public speaker
o People become comfortable and skilled in public speaking through experience
o Consider joining a local Toastmasters club
5. Develop the Skills of Emotional Intelligence (EI)
• Daniel Goleman explains that there are four domains of emotional intelligence:
“self-awareness, self-management, social awareness, and relationship management.”
• Emotional intelligence is essential for effective leadership, personal success, and happiness
6. Lead from Within
• Explore your own purpose, strengths, mission, and vision
• Always strive to be the best person you can be
7. Play to your strengths
• Identify your strengths by thinking about your accomplishments
o Also, think about what comes easily to you but not others
• Use the strengths that you enjoy using
• Use your strengths to compensate for weaknesses
• Delegate to others the work that plays to their strengths, including what they can do better or enjoy more than you can
8. Apply Stoic Wisdom
• We can only control our own thoughts, judgments, and actions
o With mindfulness, we can thoughtfully respond to events rather than reacting emotionally
o Understanding what we can control supports resilience and avoids our dwelling on regrets
o At the end of each day, we can ask ourselves, as Harry Kraemer, Jr. suggests:
“Did I do what I thought was right? Did I do my best?”
If so, we can sleep well.
9. Learn About Psychology
Understanding psychology helps us understand ourselves and others
• Positive Psychology
o Enables us to flourish — leading meaningful and satisfying lives
• Self-Determination Theory
o Three psychological needs: autonomy, competence, and relatedness
o Foster an environment that supports these needs
• Intentional Change Theory
o People change not because they are told they should, but rather because they have a dream — a vision of their ideal self
10. Lead by Example
• Be a role model, helping shape the business’s culture
• By acting in a manner consistent with what you ask of others, you earn trust
• Albert Schweitzer said, “Example is not the main thing. It is the only thing.”
11. Create a Vision
• Get input from employees
• Purpose is why the business exists
• Mission is what the business does
• Vision is an aspirational and inspiring view of what the business wants to achieve in the long run
• Be a visionary leader
o Help people understand how their work fits in with the big picture and why it matters
……..
Marshall Goldsmith, in the foreword to Real-Time Leadership: Find Your Winning Moves When the Stakes Are High (2023), by David Noble and Carol Kauffman, commends the valuable question the latter earlier shared with him:
“‘Am I being the person I want to be, right now?'”
This can help guide us daily.
IV. Discussion
During the discussion, I offered my opinions on several steps Argentina should take.
First, pursue unilateral free trade, which is the smart and moral path.
Second, immediately dollarize the economy. While inflation has dramatically dropped, it is still high.
Third, seek free markets as broadly as possible.
Regarding President Milei, I give him credit for the reforms to date. However, I recommend he end his relationship with President Trump, who is no friend of freedom.
In addition, Milei’s policies on immigration, inspired by Trump’s war on immigration, are a mistake. Both Argentina and the United States are nations of immigrants. Immigrants are an economic and cultural resource and should be welcomed. The restriction of immigration infringes on the natural rights of both immigrants and native-born people.
V. Conclusion
I appreciated the opportunity to speak and look forward to continuing to help promote freedom for Argentina.
……..
References and Other Resources
Zenón Leguiza Yorllente
https://www.linkedin.com/in/zen%C3%B3n-%E9%9B%B7%E7%A5%9E-yorllente-leguiza-639a54245/
Students for Liberty
Students for Liberty
https://studentsforliberty.org/
About page:
https://studentsforliberty.org/about/
Spanish edition
Estudiantes por la Libertad
https://studentsforliberty.org/es/
Economic Freedom
Economic Freedom of the World: 2026 Annual Report. Fraser Institute.
https://www.fraserinstitute.org/studies/economic-freedom-world-2025-annual-report
“Economic Freedom of the World 2025” (Video) (10-10-25). Fraser Institute.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ek88selgc0o]
Human Freedom Index: 2025
https://www.cato.org/human-freedom-index/2025
Economics
“Austrian Economics” by Peter Boettke.
[https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/AustrianSchoolofEconomics.html]
“Public Choice” by William F. Shughart II.
[https://www.econlib.org/library/Enc/PublicChoice.html]
“Why ‘Economics in One Lesson’ Is as Readable Today as It Was in 1946” (12-18-22).
https://fee.org/articles/why-economics-in-one-lesson-is-as-readable-today-as-it-was-in-1946/
Argentina: Economic History and Current Conditions
References
“Argentina was one of the richest countries in the world at the beginning of the 20th century”
(3-17-26). Esteban Ortiz-Ospina.
https://ourworldindata.org/data-insights/argentina-was-one-of-the-richest-countries-in-the-world-at-the-beginning-of-the-20th-century
“Argentina was among the world’s richest countries in 1910, ahead of several Western European countries, including Germany and France. It also stood clearly ahead of its peers in Latin America at the time.”
“GDP per capita1880 to 2022” (Western Europe vs. Argentina). Our World in Data.
https://tinyurl.com/y3y87wey
Other Resources
“Argentina Is One of the Most Regulated Countries in the World” (12-22-23). Ian Vásquez.
https://www.cato.org/blog/argentina-one-most-regulated-countries-world
“Argentina’s Freedom Revolution: From Economic Crisis to Global Example” (Video). (7-28-25). Atlas Network.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S3T6GwxqeYA]
“In this powerful episode of Atlas Network with Michael Carnuccio, we dive deep into Argentina’s historic transformation with Agustín Etchebarne, Director General Fundación Libertad y Progreso. Agustín shares how decades of policy advocacy, economic reform, and a shift in public consciousness have led to real change under President Javier Milei.”
“Liberty Versus Power in Milei’s Argentina” (Fall 2025). Ian Vásquez and Marcos Falcone.
[https://www.cato.org/free-society/fall-2025/liberty-versus-power-mileis-argentina]
“Argentina’s Radical Economic Experiment Under President Javier Milei” (Video). (2-4-26). Atlas Network.
https://www.atlasnetwork.org/articles/argentina-economic-experiment-milei-marcos-falcone
“In this episode of ‘Atlas Network with Michael Carnuccio,’ policy analyst Marcos Falcone of the Cato Institute discusses the sweeping economic reforms enacted by Argentine President Javier Milei.”
“Milei’s Argentina: Between Liberation and the Institutional Trap” (3-6-26). Nils Hesse.
[https://thedailyeconomy.org/article/mileis-argentina-between-liberation-and-the-institutional-trap/]
Argentina: Policy Recommendations
Dollarization
“Firebrand’s Hefty Dose of Libertarianism Aims to Cure Argentina’s Economic Ills” (10-19-23). Ryan Bourne.
https://www.cato.org/commentary/firebrands-hefty-dose-libertarianism-aims-cure-argentinas-economic-ills
“Complete dollarisation is thus seen by Milei as a prerequisite for rescuing the economy. The peso would cease to circulate and the Argentine central bank would give up monetary control.”
“Argentina: Don’t Waste Yet Another Opportunity to Dollarize” (10-13-25). Gabriela Calderon de Burgos and Marcos Falcone.
https://www.cato.org/blog/argentina-dont-waste-yet-another-opportunity-dollarize
Free Trade
“Tear Down Trade Walls, Unilaterally” (3-21-14). David E. Shellenberger.
[https://www.daveshellenberger.com/tear-down-trade-walls-unilaterally/]
“Argentina Should Ditch Mercosur and Lead the World in Free Trade” (1-29-26). Marcos Falcone.
https://www.cato.org/blog/argentina-should-ditch-mercosur-lead-world-free-trade
Immigration Freedom
“Open the Borders Pending the End of Borders” (7-21-14). David E. Shellenberger.
[https://www.daveshellenberger.com/open-the-borders-pending-the-end-of-borders/]
“Founded with Immigration in Mind, Argentina Has Reconsidered Its Approach” (10-8-25). Julia Albarracín.
https://www.migrationpolicy.org/journal/country-profile/founded-immigration-mind-argentina-has-reconsidered-its-approach
“Argentina’s government posts ICE-style video of immigration operation” (8-7-26). Tiago Rogero.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2026/aug/07/argentina-immigration-operation-video
Argentina: Milei’s Problematic Relationship with Trump
“Argentina, 1500-2023: An Institutional Story” (3-6-25). Nikolai G. Wenzel.
[https://aier.org/article/argentina-1500-2023-an-institutional-story/]
“Trump Takes Page from Leftist Playbook With $5,000 Dividend Proposal” (9-21-25). Agustina Vergara Cid.
https://reason.com/2026/09/21/trump-takes-page-from-leftist-playbook-with-5000-dividend-proposal/
“As I’ve argued before, many of Trump’s policies resemble those of the Kirchnerist government that held power in Argentina for almost two decades. [Its] tenure culminated in 2023 … with 211 percent annual inflation largely due to their obscene fiscal irresponsibility.”
“Argentina: Milei praises relationship with Trump” (3-2-26). Midhat Fatimah.
https://www.dw.com/en/argentina-milei-praises-relationship-with-trump/a-76180454
Entrepreneurial Mindset
References
“Do You Have a Passion for Your Purpose?” (7-31-25). Bill George.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/do-you-have-passion-your-purpose-bill-george-994xe/
Grammarly Pro
https://www.grammarly.com/pro
“What Is a Mindset and Why It Matters” (Updated 6-23-24). Kendra Cherry.
https://www.verywellmind.com/what-is-a-mindset-2795025
“Growth Mindset”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/growth-mindset
“3 traits of an entrepreneurial mindset” (11-23-22). Meredith Somers.
https://mitsloan.mit.edu/ideas-made-to-matter/3-traits-entrepreneurial-mindset
“The Role of Critical Thinking in Entrepreneurship” (8-14-24). Netish Sharma.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/role-critical-thinking-entrepreneurship-netish-sharma-vn42c/
“Resilience”
https://www.apa.org/topics/resilience
“8 Practices for More Resilient Leadership” (9-8-25). Center for Creative Leadership.
[https://www.ccl.org/articles/leading-effectively-articles/8-steps-help-become-resilient/]
“How to become a better leader through resilience?” (Last update: Feb. 2026). IMD.
https://www.imd.org/blog/leadership/how-to-become-a-better-leader-through-resilience/
“Recognizing that resilience is a skill rather than an innate trait, leaders who invest in it elevate both themselves and the teams they guide, turning setbacks into opportunities for growth and sustained success.”
“How (and Why) to Think Like an Entrepreneur:
Approach all new projects with a sense of potential and anticipation.” (7-18-25). Bruce Rosenstein.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/the-peter-drucker-files/202507/how-and-why-to-think-like-an-entrepreneur
“Taking a Walk Will Boost Your Creativity and Problem-Solving” (1-21-19). Susan Biali Haas.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/prescriptions-life/201901/taking-walk-will-boost-your-creativity-and-problem-solving
“Why Is Sleep Important?”
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/basics/sleep
Additional Resources
New edition of the 1936 classic:
How to Win Friends and Influence People (2022). Dale Carnegie.
https://www.simonandschuster.com/books/How-to-Win-Friends-and-Influence-People/Dale-Carnegie/9781982171452
“How to Win Friends and Influence People: A Therapist’s Book Review”
(7-11-23). Meera Phull.
[https://www.brighter-minds.co.uk/blog/how-to-win-friends-and-influence-people-a-therapists-book-review/]
Leadership in Business
References
“How Can You Tell If You Are a Good Person?” (10-14-16). Ronald E. Riggio.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/cutting-edge-leadership/201610/how-can-you-tell-if-you-are-good-person
Etiquette for the Business of Life. Candace Smith.
https://www.candacesmithetiquette.com/
Etiquette in the Business of Living, Day by Day (2025). Candace Smith.
[https://ethicspress.com/products/etiquette-in-the-business-of-living-day-by-day]
From my review:
“Politeness is its own virtue; it also distinguishes us and enables personal and professional success.”
“Does the future belong to humble leaders?” (2-26-26). Florence Wilkinson.
https://www.london.edu/think/future-humble-leaders
“What is Servant Leadership?”
[https://greenleaf.org/what-is-servant-leadership/]
“Let’s Clear Up Some Misunderstandings about Servant Leadership”
(2-7-18). Ken Blanchard.
[https://howwelead.org/2018/02/07/lets-clear-up-some-misunderstandings-about-servant-leadership/]
Grammarly Pro
https://www.grammarly.com/pro
“How fearless organizations succeed:
Amy Edmondson describes three steps leaders can take to create psychological safety, the prerequisite for greater innovation and growth.” (11-4-18). Amy C. Edmondson.
https://www.strategy-business.com/article/How-Fearless-Organizations-Succeed
Toastmasters International
https://www.toastmasters.org/
“EI Overview: The Four Domains and Twelve Competencies” — Daniel Goleman.
[https://danielgolemanemotionalintelligence.com/ei-overview-the-four-domains-and-twelve-competencies/]
“The ‘inside out’ leadership journey: How personal growth creates the path to success” (6-17-24). Dana Maor et al.
https://www.mckinsey.com/capabilities/people-and-organizational-performance/our-insights/the-inside-out-leadership-journey-how-personal-growth-creates-the-path-to-success
“How to Use Your Strengths to Overcome Your Weaknesses”
(6-1-15). Alice Boyes.
https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/in-practice/201506/how-to-use-your-strengths-to-overcome-your-weaknesses
“3 proven ways to win at work, says world-renowned talent expert” (1-14-19). Marcus Buckingham.
https://www.cnbc.com/2019/01/14/marcus-buckingham-3-scientifically-proven-ways-to-win-at-work.html
“A Simplified Modern Approach to Stoicism” (2-3-13). Donald Robertson.
[https://donaldrobertson.name/2013/02/03/a-simplified-modern-approach-to-stoicism/]
Marshall Goldsmith quotes Harry M. Kraemer, Jr. (11-9-25).
https://www.linkedin.com/posts/marshallgoldsmith_if-you-can-answer-yes-to-these-two-questions-share-7392954809768714241-tQ1T/
“Handling Worry, Fear, Anxiety, Pressure, and Stress” (1-23-25). Harry M. Kraemer, Jr.
https://insight.kellogg.northwestern.edu/article/handling-worry-fear-anxiety-pressure-and-stress
“What Is Positive Psychology & Why Is It Important?” (4-20-18).
https://positivepsychology.com/what-is-positive-psychology-definition
“What Is Flourishing in Positive Psychology? (+8 Tips & PDF)”
(5-9-18). Courtney E. Ackerman.
https://positivepsychology.com/flourishing/
“Self Determination Theory and How It Explains Motivation”
(6-21-18). Courtney E. Ackerman.
https://positivepsychology.com/self-determination-theory/
“Intentional Change Theory for Leaders with Richard Boyatzis”
(1-30-24). Institute of Coaching.
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1RkM05e0hQw]
“Albert Schweitzer”
https://en.wikiquote.org/wiki/Albert_Schweitzer
“Difference Between Vision, Mission, and Purpose [With Infographic]”
(5-12- 20. Updated 2-23-24). David Burkus.
The infographic is in the video.
[https://davidburkus.com/2020/05/whats-the-difference-between-vision-mission-and-purpose/]
Real-Time Leadership: Find Your Winning Moves When the Stakes Are High (2023). David Noble and Carol Kauffman.
https://store.hbr.org/product/real-time-leadership-find-your-winning-moves-when-the-stakes-are-high/10571
Additional Resources
Weekly series: “Leadership Week in Review”
https://www.daveshellenberger.com/
Think Like a Therapist (2022). Stephen Joseph.
https://www.hachette.co.uk/titles/stephen-joseph/think-like-a-therapist/9780349431857/
“Primal Leadership, With Daniel Goleman” (May/June 2002). Stephen Bernhut.
[https://iveybusinessjournal.com/publication/primal-leadership-with-daniel-goleman/]
