Ernesto Zedillo Speaking Fee: $75,000 to $100,000

Ernesto Zedillo Ponce de León, an esteemed economist and politician, was born in Mexico City in 1951 and grew up in Mexicali. He pursued his undergraduate studies at the National Polytechnic Institute in Mexico and later obtained his Ph.D. from Yale University. Zedillo’s career began at the Bank of Mexico, where he worked on economic policies before entering government roles as Undersecretary of the Budget, Secretary of Economic Programming, and Secretary of Education. In 1994, Zedillo was elected President of Mexico following the assassination of the initial PRI candidate, Luis Donaldo Colosio. His presidency was marked by significant economic reforms and efforts to stabilize the Mexican economy after the peso crisis. Zedillo's administration also saw the implementation of political reforms that ultimately led to the end of the PRI's 71-year hold on the presidency. Since leaving office, Zedillo has remained an influential voice in global economics and policy. He has been a key player in numerous international organizations and commissions, including the Global Commission on Drug Policy and the Kofi Annan Commission on Elections and Democracy in the Digital Age. At Yale University, he serves as the Director of the Center for the Study of Globalization, where he continues to contribute to discussions on international economics and development. Zedillo’s post-presidency work includes significant contributions to global dialogues on trade, economic governance, and sustainable development. He has chaired several high-profile commissions, such as the High-Level Commission on Modernization of World Bank Group Governance and the Global Development Network. His expertise and leadership have earned him numerous honors and positions on influential boards and advisory panels worldwide.