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On Wednesday, October 23, I had the privilege of participating in a roundtable at the Canada UN Mission office in New York focused on deterring and preventing hostage taking. The meeting included representatives from the US Department of State, Global Affairs Canada, and former hostage in Iran, Siamak Namazi. Hosted by Pedro Pizano from the McCain Institute and Hostage US.

Siamak and I discussed ways governments can improve in assisting detainees and deterring hostage taking practices. It was an insightful session aimed at enhancing strategies for addressing this critical issue.

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My visit to “The Wall” in Georgetown after 1,775 days of captivity. Bleu Intense (Azul Intenso) was written and arranged at El Helicoide prison in Caracas Venezuela

On July 5th, 2022, during my time in captivity when hope seemed distant, I poured my spirit and heart into a letter addressed to President Biden.

During my last year of captivity, music not only helped me to preserve my mental and spiritual health but also to help others by teaching.

Hostage Diplomacy is a crime against humanity

The objective of “A Marathon for Freedom” was to use the process involved in Mickey Bergman and my participation in the Marine Corps Marathon, from preparation to finishing, to convey a message of awareness and prevention about Hostage Diplomacy.

As part of the “A Marathon For Freedom” initiative, I discussed with Mickey Bergman the correlation of a marathon vis-a-vis the survival after a hostage situation.

After assessing the situation “as it is”; the next question is “What will I do?”. Here is when my volition comes into the picture, my decision on the next course of action: to survive.

After deciding to survive, the next question is “Why?”. The answer to this question comes from establishing a PURPOSE and a MEANING of survival, and I found the value of PRIORITIZATION in this process the hard way. I realized that my priorities were wrong, my job was not my top priority; instead, it was my Family. Priorities in life drive you to set up a purpose and a meaning for your survival or anything you want to accomplish. It also fuels your determination to take action.

Action is the next step after the “What” and the “Why”, and is the implementation and execution of my strategy to survive and capture the value of change, challenges, and adversity.

On March 9, 2024, I spoke in Washington DC in the event “Keeping Faith With American Hostages and Ourselves”, as part of a panel with family members of former and current hostages, moderated by Jason Rezaian from the Washington Post. The James W. Foley Foundation and the McCain Institute hosted the event.

With the recent establishment of an official Hostage & Wrongful Detainee Day by an Act of Congress, the plight of Americans held unjustly captive abroad will receive more of the public attention it deserves. The official flag of Hostages and Wrongful Detainees was officially raised in U.S. Government Buildings such as the U.S. Capitol and the Department of State. Besides going over my process to survive 1,775 days of captivity and my transition to society after my release, I discussed the role of the family and the situation of current hostages and political prisoners captive in hostile States.

Hostage Diplomacy is a Crime Against Humanity.

Images from the Oslo Freedom Forum 2024 – Raising Voices on Democracy, Human Rights, Political Prisoners, and the Hostage-Taking Practice by Authoritarian Regimes

ACHIEVING RESULTS
Achieving results is the outcome of a process, where determination and action are fundamental drivers.

MY PERSPECTIVE ON SUCCESS
Success is not casual, this is my perspective on Success.

THE ROLE OF A LEADER
A Leader’s success is based, in an important percentage, on managing and developing teams.

INSTINCT OR WISDOM?
A human side to the decision-making process is also important when running a business, creating any expression of art, or even playing a sport.