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Lavin Bernick Executive Chat with Juan Simon Mendoza ’96 MBA, Executive Director, Empresas Polar
by
Fri, May 1, 2026
12:15 PM – 1:15 PM CDT (GMT-5)
Private Location (register to display)
53
Registered
Registration
Registration is now closed (this event already took place).
Details
The Lavin Bernick Executive Chat series gives Kellogg students an opportunity to engage with an esteemed executive or civic leader presenting his or her perspectives on leadership. The sessions are dialogue-driven, and informal, with a limited number of seats available at each session. They provide an intimate forum for in-depth conversations and student interaction.
SELECTION PROCESS
- This session is open to FT & EW Kellogg MBA students.
- Your registration indicates your interest to attend.
- 25 Attendees will be selected using a lottery system in accordance with event capacity.
- If randomly selected, you will be notified via email and required to re-confirm that you will attend within 24 hours.
- If you need to cancel your registration, please do so before registration closes
This chat will be held in-person at the Kellogg Global Hub. Once re-confirmed, selected students will receive room location details via an outlook invitation.
***Due to the exclusive nature of this event, and limited capacity, all confirmed respondents are expected to attend.***
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Lavin Bernick Executive Chats present . . .
Juan Simon Mendoza ’96 MBA
Executive Director
Empresas Polar
Juan Simón Mendoza G. is a distinguished Venezuelan executive with a diverse academic background and an extensive track record in the business sector. He currently serves as the Executive Director of Empresas Polar in Caracas, Venezuela. Since 1996, he has been a member of its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and he also sits on the boards of key related companies such as Bebidas Polar, C.A. and Alimentos Polar, C.A..
Juan Simon will speak with 25 students in an off-the-record discussion, where he'll share leadership best practices from his extensive experience.
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Dress Casual (jeans ok)
Food Provided
Speakers
Juan Simon Mendoza
Executive Director
Empresas Polar
Juan Simón Mendoza G. is a distinguished Venezuelan executive with a diverse academic background and an extensive track record in the business sector. He graduated from the Law School of Universidad Católica Andrés Bello in 1992 and furthered his technical education at Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management, where he majored in International Business, Finance, and Marketing in 1996. More recently, he expanded his professional profile by earning a Master’s degree in Contemporary Art from the Sotheby’s Institute of Art in New York (Class of 2018-2019). In the corporate sphere, he currently serves as the Executive Director of Empresas Polar in Caracas, Venezuela. Since 1996, he has been a member of its Board of Directors and Executive Committee, and he also sits on the boards of key related companies such as Bebidas Polar, C.A. and Alimentos Polar, C.A. His influence extends to prominent trade and economic organizations, having held leadership roles such as President of the Venezuela-United States Business Council (CEVEU) and President of the Venezuela Executives Association (AVE). He has also served as Vice President of the National Council for Investment Promotion (CONAPRI) and as a board member for the Center for the Dissemination of Economic Knowledge (CEDICE), in addition to being a member of the Venezuelan Chapter of YPO-WPO. On a personal level, he was born in Caracas, is fluent in Spanish and English, and has basic knowledge of French.
Married since 1994 with Cristina Peña de Mendoza, and father of 4 wonderful daughters Cristina Elena, 29 years old, Professional Chef, trained at Ferrandi, Paris- France; Ximena María, 26 years old, married, Villanova University Mechanical Engineer, - Class 2021, Google Operations; Clarisa Eugenia, 25 years old, on going (2nd. year) Georgetown University Medical School and María Ignacia, 21 years old, Junior Villanova University School of Nursing.