Your "Accent" is Your Superpower: Keynote at Santander's Conexión BRG Summit

When I walked into Santander Tower in Dallas for the Third Annual Conexión BRG Summit, I felt it immediately – that energy you get when you're in a room full of people who get it. People who've been told their accent is a problem. People who've had to work twice as hard to prove they belong. People who are ready to stop apologizing and start innovating.

The theme of this year's summit was "Collective Heritage: Honoring the Past, Inspiring the Future." And honestly? That's exactly what my keynote, "Synaptic Innovation: Where Your Creative Genius Meets AI's Infinite Possibilities," was all about.

The Gifted Child in the Room

Here's something I told the audience that seemed to really land: Artificial Intelligence is a lot like a super gifted child. Brilliant? Absolutely. But you have to constantly push back against it, correct it, shape it, educate it, and mold it so it can actually be useful.

Too many people think AI is this all-knowing oracle. It's not. It's a powerful tool that needs your guidance. And here's the thing—the more complicated the problem, the easier it is to get substandard answers. I showed the audience several examples of how it takes multiple tries to get the outcome you actually want. AI will give you something. But "something" isn't the same as "exceptional."

Only if you know what you want—and have the attitude to push back—will you get exceptional results. Your personal grit, persistence, and curiosity are what push AI to deliver unimaginable results for your personal and professional life.

What is Your "Accent"?

I opened with something personal: "When I came to America, they said my accent was a barrier. Today, I know it's my superpower. AI doesn't need you to speak perfectly – it needs you to think differently."

The room got quiet for a second. Then heads started nodding.

See, the concept of your "Accent" goes way beyond how you pronounce words. Every single one of us has a powerful place to draw unique experiences from – and that comes from our history, our upbringing, and where we are in our lives right now. That's your innovation signature. That's what AI can't replicate.

AI can save you a massive amount of time. It can give you superpowers. But you need to start from a place of knowledge. You need to bring something to the table. Your experiences, your perspective, your way of seeing problems that nobody else sees – that's the raw material AI needs to do something truly special.

From Keynote to Panel: A Full Day of Real Talk

After the keynote, I had the privilege of moderating a panel called "Shaping Our Future at Santander." We dug into some meaty questions:

What are the biggest opportunities for Santander to innovate in the next 3-5 years? How do you balance speed and innovation with security, compliance, and customer trust? And here's the one that got everyone talking: How can every employee, regardless of role, contribute to innovation?

The panelists were fantastic. But what really made it special was the energy from the audience. These weren't passive listeners. They were leaning in, asking questions, sharing their own experiences. This is what happens when you create a space where people feel seen.

The Feedback That Made It Worth It

The day after the event, I got an email from the VP of Risk Management at Santander and Conexión Regional Lead. Here's what she wrote:

"The team was amazed with Ariel in both environments, in-person and virtually. The approach to the topic of reality and the way Ariel connected this to the evolving role of AI was both engaging and thought-provoking. Many attendees shared the message that was meaningful and a starting point to better understand how AI impacts both our personal and professional growth. It was a perfect balance of inspiration and practical insight – exactly what we hoped for."

Look, I've done a lot of keynotes. But messages like this one? They remind me why I do what I do. When people leave a room feeling empowered instead of overwhelmed, feeling like they can actually do something with what they learned – that's the goal. Every single time.

What I Want You to Take Away

If you weren't in that room at Santander Tower, here's what I want you to remember:

AI is not magic. It's a tool. Despite its power, AI remains merely a tool. And like any tool, it's only as good as the person using it.

Your background is not a limitation. It's your competitive advantage. Your unique experiences give you a perspective that AI—and everyone else—doesn't have.

Grit matters more than expertise. You don't need to be a tech genius to use AI well. You need curiosity. You need persistence. You need the willingness to push back when the first answer isn't good enough.

Start where you are. I talk about four levels of AI engagement—from basic "Googler" searches all the way to true "Innovator" status. You don't need to be at Level 4 tomorrow. Just start. Ask questions. Experiment. Get it wrong. Get it right. Keep going.

To the Conexión BRG Team

To everyone at Santander who made this happen—thank you. Thank you for creating a space where heritage and innovation aren't at odds with each other. Where our culture isn't something we leave at the door, but something we bring to the table.

The future you're building is one worth celebrating.

Your Turn

So here's my challenge to you—wherever you are, whatever your "accent" is:

Your accent is your advantage. Your curiosity is your credential. Your perspective is your power. Your story is your strength.

AI will not replace you. It will amplify you. But first, you've got to give it something to amplify.

Let's make it happen.

Interested in bringing this conversation to your organization? Let's talk.

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