Ciudad Juarez and technology have something in common.

They are rapidly changing, and for the better. Just as our technology evolves to improve life around the world, Juarez is becoming a central hub and leader in Latin America for advancement and hope. The borders are disappearing. As Oscar Leeser, the Mayor of El Paso EP +0% commented, “This is bigger than a political issue. It’s about the future as human beings working together.”

Teams can collaborate to create companies from all corners of the world. The millennial generation is the future of this evolution, and the countries that invest in their youth, are ahead of the curve.

Mexico and the United States are two such countries, and Campus Link is a perfect example of this union. Esteemed panelists from MIT, The United States Embassy, prestigious local and national politicians from both sides of the border welcomed a crowd of thousands to this event.

Campuslink is the first interuniversity space for technology, innovation, and digital culture. Its first rendition was in 2010 when Carlos Castañeda, Director of IT at the Universidad de Chihuahua, founded Campus Link. Carlos realized that there was a lack of IT innovation events for university students. Then he took action.

Six years later, the event has spanned across two countries, six states, and 60 universities. With more than 12,000 attendees and 1,600 programs, Campus link is a groundbreaking event that challenges university students in the United States and Mexico to expand the landscape of tech and innovation.

In 2016, Campus Link was held between Ciudad Juarez, Mexico and El Paso, Texas. This year’s event brought speakers who are leading experts in the fields of tech, innovation, journalism, and much more. Photographers that cover the indigenous communities of world, National Geographic explorers, venture capitalists, faculty from Silicon Valley’s Singularity University, and more gathered to inspire and share best practices with over 2,000 students who came from all over Mexico to attend this free event.

A special panel dedicated to women in tech, moderated by Martha Edith Hernandez, featured some of the most relevant and talented women hoping to inspire tech-minded teenage girls. Clinics and workshops were offered by thought leaders covering practical implementation strategies to start your own business. There was a shark-tank type hackathon where participants are challenged to develop innovations that solve global challenges such as water, space, learning, environment and more. The awards ranged from drones, 3D printers, access to co-working space, job placements in the United States, and monetary awards.

I had the opportunity to interview the founder of Campus Link, Carlos Castañeda. He shared three main themes that he hopes the participants walk away with.

First, find your passion and follow it. The best way to follow this passion is to develop and feed our most valued resource, our intellect and mind.

Second, your failures don’t define you. Carlos told me that while we can’t chose where we were born, we can create the life we want to live.

Finally, he wants the students that participate to feel like a superhero. In fact, one of the speakers showed us that even the best superheroes overcame obstacles. They all have a back story. Campus Link shares the stories of people who have successful careers that they love. But perhaps more importantly, these speakers share their difficulties and challenges. Before they had the best job in the world, they had to work hard to create it. These super-hero stories are important for the youth and future of our world to hear and comprehend.

The last question I asked Carlos was about his primary motivation for creating Campus Link?

He told me that the reason he started Campus Link years ago is still valid today. He created it for every and any person that had one thing in common.

They want to change the world.