Happy Sunday, Meridian Readers! We hope your weekend has been relaxing, rejuvenating and maybe even a little fun. It’s week two of #MeridianReads and we’ve compiled everything you’ll need to know to ace your Monday morning small talk. Grab a coffee, grab a seat and check out this week’s must-knows. High-Level US Visits to Taiwan Mark 40 Years of Unofficial Ties Publication: The Diplomat | By Nick Aspinwall Taiwan Officials say the country will continue to welcome officials from the United States to the island as the two countries commemorate the 40th anniversary of the Taiwan Relations Act (TRA),...

We just launched the YLAI Innovators Series podcast that puts a spotlight on emerging entrepreneurs who are innovating and sparking change across Latin America and the Caribbean. The series is part of the Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative, and serves as a platform for YLAI Alumni and Network Members to engage in discussions on advancing entrepreneurship in the region. Tune in to the latest episodes of the YLAI Innovators Series by clicking the links below – and stay tuned for more information about upcoming conversations. Episode 1: YLAI 2018 Fellow, Andres Sanchez Mora Andres is the Founder and Executive Director of Millennial Ecuador, a business consulting firm that provides young entrepreneurs with seminars, workshops, talks and services to help them develop a business plan. After returning home from his YLAI...

Meridian International Center has launched its Corporate Diplomacy Training program where we equip corporate leaders across industries and sectors with the diplomatic tactics, strategy and insights to succeed in a competitive global business environment while enhancing leadership skills and advancing multilateral cooperation. We sat down with Betsy Whitaker, a former diplomat and our trainer for the program to discuss her stance on corporate diplomacy.   Meridian International Center: Why is corporate diplomacy training necessary?  Betsy Whitaker: I see tremendous overlap between the work of corporate diplomats, if you will, and traditional diplomats. It’s all human relations. Whether we’re diplomats trying to cultivate a...