José Rafael Espinosa is an education innovator and social entrepreneur passionate about transforming learning through technology. He is the Co-Founder and CEO of Mentu, an EdTech organization that helps education systems adopt technology—especially AI—in safe, effective, and sustainable ways. Mentu provides advisory services and professional development, and has created Shaia: an AI-enabled ecosystem of tools designed to empower teachers and school leaders. Under his leadership, Mentu has partnered with governments, schools, and universities across Latin America to design systemic solutions that go beyond device distribution, focusing instead on strengthening teaching practices and driving measurable improvements in student learning outcomes.

Before founding Mentu, José was an Associate Partner at McKinsey & Company, where he led the Education Practice for Latin America, advising governments and organizations on large-scale education reforms. He also served as Advisor to the Minister of Education of Colombia and worked as a Researcher at Dejusticia, contributing to education and social policy initiatives.

With a background in law and public policy, José has dedicated more than a decade to advancing equity and quality in education. He is a strong advocate for human-centered, technology-enabled learning and firmly believes that empowering teachers and students with the right tools and support is essential to preparing societies for the challenges of the 21st century.