We know that many boys and girls leave school because of poverty, because they have to work. However, there are an important number of children who abandon their studies because of the abuses they're subject to by teachers and their own parents.

I admire Madonna because she always did whatever she felt like doing. She went through some controversial periods when people rejected her, but she kept on reinventing herself.

In tough economic times, we have to make every dollar count, and studies have shown a return of up to $17 for every dollar invested in early childhood.

I'm lucky to have family around me. Otherwise, I'll be taking the risk of falling in love with myself.

Obviously, our business leaders yield enormous influence on our political leaders, and they have a duty to use that influence for the greater good. But beyond that, the private sector depends on having healthy, educated and productive workers.

I've always thought of myself as a woman who works hard, believes in herself, and wants to accomplish as much as possible.

Of course for a Colombian girl it was always impossible to even imagine becoming an international popstar, but my dream became reality.