We recently had the chance to connect with John Moren-Escobar and have shared our conversation below.
John, it’s always a pleasure to learn from you and your journey. Let’s start with a bit of a warmup: What makes you lose track of time—and find yourself again?
Watching a good futbol/soccer game either live at the stadium or on TV. It reminds me of my roots (Colombia), and my upbringing
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m John Moreno-Escobar, my friends call me johncito, and I am the Co-Founder of PODER Collective. I was born and raised in Colombia, moved to NYC when I was 18 years old, and now, after 9 years, I live in Broward County, Florida.
At my core, I am an education and access champion. My professional life is dedicated to architecting opportunities and building platforms that unlock human potential, particularly within underserved communities.
PODER Collective is the direct manifestation of that mission. We are an organization that is transforming how we see leadership. PODER’s mission is to develop culturally conscious leaders through science, purpose, and collective growth.
What makes our work unique is our holistic approach to leadership and our focus on deep community-building. We don’t just teach skills; we build collective power. We believe that authentic leadership isn’t just about individual achievement, but about one’s ability to elevate the entire community. That is why we created the PODER Talks, and we will be hosting a Leadership Summit in 2026.
This mission is deeply personal for me, as an immigrant who understands the barriers to access and someone who has seen the gaps in leadership development firsthand. I am committed to building the infrastructure of opportunity that I wish existed.
Right now, our entire focus is on scaling our new fellowship program, launching our 2026 national summit, and securing our next round of strategic partnerships to amplify our impact exponentially.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
While at Baruch College (CUNY) earning my bachelor’s degree, I was the IT Coordinator at the Weisman Center for International Business, and the director, Dr. Martell, was the person who showed me the path to becoming who I am now. Also, he helped me graduate; he was the first person to tell me I was here on this planet to change people’s lives.
Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
We all have moments of profound doubt. Success isn’t about avoiding those valleys; it’s about building the resilience to climb out of them. It’s about shifting your mindset, leaning on your trusted circle, and knowing that adversity is temporary. That’s where real strength is forged.
I cannot point to one moment – I had several, but it is part of the process.
Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What would your closest friends say really matters to you?
They will say that I live and breathe Futbol—jajaja. Besides that, connecting people and building community. It’s really making an impact in everything I do.
My drive every day is how to help others and how to connect people that together will transform many many people.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. What do you think people will most misunderstand about your legacy?
“I’ve learned that leadership isn’t a popularity contest. It’s about effectiveness and integrity. In many professional cultures, there’s a heavy bias toward ‘comfortable’ consensus, which often just leads to stagnation. Being candid and outspoken isn’t about being abrasive; it’s about valuing truth over comfort. My role, as I see it, is to be a changemaker. By definition, a changemaker has to disrupt the status quo. That disruption is inherently uncomfortable for those invested in ‘the way things have always been done.’ But you can’t have progress without friction.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.podercollective.com
- Instagram: poder_collective
- Linkedin: johnmorenoescobar
Image Credits
Oriana Photography
