People of STEAM: Meet Guillermo
Guillermo is an 18-year-old robotics leader from Mexico whose journey has come full circle, evolving from FIRST® student participant to coach, volunteer, and honoree of the 2026 Inspire the Future: FIRST Recognition Program. As a young entrepreneur, he founded his own non-governmental organization (NGO), iXsteam, driven by a belief that all students deserve the opportunity to participate in robotics and STEM learning opportunities. Guillermo will begin the next chapter of his journey as a member of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Class of 2029, where he looks forward to building on the experiences that have shaped him as a founder, mentor, and changemaker.
Keep reading to learn more about Guillermo and how he is making an impact as a STEM educator through FIRST and iXsteam.
FIRST Staff: Can you share some information about your current job role?
Guillermo: As the 18-year-old Founder and Executive Director of iXsteam, my absolute mission is to forge global superheroes. iXsteam is a personal leadership initiative dedicated entirely to empowering youth to change the world. I don't just coach a robotics team; I actively cultivate visionary leadership within our community. My role is to awaken the latent power in every single student, proving that our bond is far more than robots. By merging STEAM education with profound community action, iXsteam provides the exact framework young minds need to rise and literally change the world!
FIRST Staff: What is your favorite part of being a FIRST Educator?
Guillermo: My absolute favorite part is witnessing a student’s emotional transformation into a true community champion. When a young person realizes their inner potential, it brings tears to my eyes. Seeing my "soñadores" (dreamers) use STEAM to uplift their community and lead with pure empathy is breathtaking. We use technology as our superpower, but the ultimate victory is the profound community impact they achieve.
FIRST Staff: What is the hardest part of your job?
Guillermo: The hardest part is fighting the barriers that hinder brilliant young students from pursuing their dreams. Changing the world requires immense resources, and uplifting my iXsteam community requires relentless emotional energy. I constantly push myself to the absolute limit—designing global initiatives and driving our leadership vision forward—to ensure nothing stops my students.
FIRST Staff: How do you use STEAM skills in your current role?
Guillermo: I use advanced engineering, Java, and CAD to teach problem-solving, but through iXsteam, we apply these exact skills to heal social architecture. I approach community leadership with the rigorous logic of a visionary engineer. Whether optimizing a mechanism or designing a hackathon, the scientific method applies. I constantly remind my students that true innovation demands this holistic, world-changing mindset. By combining hardcore technical skills with empathetic leadership, we prove every single day that our monumental work is infinitely more than robots.
FIRST Staff: Can you share your thoughts on the impact you have had on your students in STEAM?
Guillermo: Through FIRST and iXsteam, my students no longer see themselves as just teenagers; they are empowered leaders ready to change the world. My most touching impact lies in shifting their paradigm—transforming quiet curiosity into bold, world-saving leadership. I have guided them to launch their own community initiatives, proving they can solve global challenges. They now deeply understand that their hands can build so much more than robots; they can build a brighter, more compassionate future. The iXsteam and FIRST communities give them confidence to change the world.
FIRST Staff: Can you share a story of how STEAM skills have helped your students grow?
Guillermo: The turning point wasn't a robot failing, but a student losing hope in their future. I looked them in the eyes and shared my own impossible journey: founding my non-profit at just 18 years old, collaborating with the UN, and earning admission to MIT. I showed them our circumstances do not define our destiny. The tears we shared weren't about gears; they were about reclaiming our power. STEAM gave us the leadership to rise.
FIRST Staff: Who is a “Person of STEAM” who inspires you?
Guillermo: I am profoundly inspired by the late Dr. Woodie Flowers. He embodied the exact ethos we fiercely cultivate at iXsteam: using technical brilliance coupled with empathy to change the world. He revolutionized our culture by proving that true leadership requires elevating your competitors. His profound vision of Gracious Professionalism® perfectly aligns with our mission to uplift the community. He taught us that our engineering journey isn’t just about what we build, but that it’s also an incredible vehicle for human connection. Following his heroic legacy, I use my STEAM superpowers to compassionately change the world.
FIRST Staff: If you could give your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
Guillermo: I would tell myself, "Embrace your magnificent destiny to change the world right now." When I conceived iXsteam, the magnitude of my ambition seemed terrifying. I would encourage my younger self to take on that leadership role without fear. Don't wait for permission to be a superhero for your community. Believe in what you're creating and don't let the lack of a degree hold you back. Dare to overcome your fears and remember that we were all born with a purpose, and we were all born to be great.
FIRST Staff: Do you have a message you want to share for students who are participating in FIRST today?
Guillermo: Look at your hands. They are capable of building, yes, but they were crafted for something greater: to hold, to comfort, and to heal this beautiful world. Life is not a race to be won; it is a fleeting symphony of moments we are lucky enough to share under the same sky. You are here to fall in love with the world—with the scent of the rain, the complexity of a stranger's story, and the quiet dignity of every living soul. Build bridges of radical kindness, not just for your team, but for every person you encounter. Your value is not written in medals; it is woven into every life you touch with grace. Live with such fierce tenderness, forgive so freely, and love this world so deeply, that when you look back, you don't see a career, but the most beautiful story ever told. You are here to change the world, don't forget it.
Are you a person of STEAM? Share your story with #PeopleofSTEAM on social media or send us your story at marketing@firstinspires.org.