Agustín Alejandro Batto Carol: Empowering Communities through Learning
Ladderworks is a publishing platform of diverse picture books and online curriculum with the mission to empower over a million kids to become social entrepreneurs. Our current series features interviews by our interplanetary journalist Spiffy with inspiring Social Entrepreneurs, Entrepreneurship Ecosystem Builders, and Changemakers who are advancing the UN SDGs.
Welcome back! Spiffy here, your interplanetary journalist reporting from Planet Earth with an eye on entrepreneurs working to make this world more equitable. Today I’m super excited to speak with Agustín Alejandro Batto Carol, founder and vision and strategy lead of Eidos Global.
Spiffy: Hi Agus, thanks a million for talking to me today. Tell me, what challenge is Eidos Global addressing?
Agus: Thanks for having me, Spiffy. In an era where technological innovation is skyrocketing, the demand for advanced cognitive and digital skills has never been higher. Yet, traditional education systems worldwide are falling short of equipping people with these essential skills. On the flip side, we're witnessing humanity increasingly disconnected from itself, from Mother Earth, and from its untapped potential. Eidos Global aims to bridge these gaps. We're committed to empowering underserved communities globally with the digital, cognitive, and socio-emotional skills they need, all through transformative learning experiences. Our challenge is re-skilling humanity for a harmonious and prosperous future.
Spiffy: That’s great! What motivates you to do it?
Agus: Growing up with a mother suffering from bipolar disorder, I faced numerous dangerous challenges that tested my resilience. It was my social, emotional, and cognitive skills that got me through those turbulent times. At 18, a teacher invited me to teach, and that's when it clicked—I could pass on these life-saving skills to the next generation. That epiphany led to the birth of Eidos Global. My motivation is deeply personal—I want to equip every individual with the skills they need to not just survive, but thrive, in any circumstance.
Spiffy: What is the impact of your work?
Agus: Over the past 15 years, Eidos Global has touched the lives of four million people across 85 countries. Our reach extends from the youth and mothers to seniors, educators, policymakers, and even heads of state. We've empowered thousands to secure new jobs, return to education, or pivot careers. But our impact goes beyond job placement; we instill lifelong learning skills for improved quality of life. In collaboration with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), we also contribute to shaping public policy guidelines, amplifying our impact on a global scale.
Spiffy: Tell me about a recent organizational milestone or initiative. What impact does that make?
Agus: We recently wrapped up a three-year collaboration with Microsoft and the Organization of American States. The program focused on creating high-quality, interactive content to upskill underserved populations and workers at risk of unemployment due to technological advancements. We imparted essential digital skills, lifelong learning techniques, and socio-emotional learning. Our reach extended to trainers from ministries, foundations, unions, and major employers across Latin America, impacting a total of three million people in over 14 countries.
Spiffy: Is there anything else you would love to tell our audience?
Agus: A few years ago, we realized that to scale globally, we needed to influence public policy. That led us to partner with development banks which are major players in shaping economies and policies. Last year, the Inter-American Development Bank chose us to implement a reskilling program focused on the senior population—pioneering work in the region's silver economy. We've launched multiple pilots to identify the best strategies for reskilling seniors and shifting employer mindsets toward this demographic. We're proud to say that our insights will inform future policies, helping governments better integrate the silver population into the workforce.
Spiffy: Thanks for speaking with me today, Agus—it’s been an honor!
A social entrepreneur and a global traveler, Agustín Alejandro Batto Carol is the founder and vision and strategy lead of Eidos Global. Passionate about education's transformative power, he's impacted four million lives in 85 countries. A spiritual thinker, he's dedicated to empowering individuals to unlock their unique gifts for a sustainable world. (First published on the Ladderworks website on October 25, 2023.)
The views and opinions expressed herein are those of the interviewee and do not necessarily reflect those of Ladderworks LLC.
© 2023 Ladderworks LLC. Edited by Sujit Kunte. Spiffy’s illustration by Shreyas Navare. For the Ladderworks digital curriculum to help K-3 kids advance the UN SDGs, visit Spiffy's Launchpad: Creative Entrepreneurship Workshops for K-3 Kids and their caregivers here.