YURANI SANDOVAL
Founder & CEO
Yurani is a native of Colombia, lives in the Washington, D.C. area and is passionate about entrepreneurship. Prior to founding Women Palante and SingleParentPower, Yurani has worked in various roles with the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO), the World Health Organization's Regional Office for the Americas.
As a business advisor and mentor, she completed her training at the Founder Institute and has been an organizer of the D.C Startup Weekend for Hispanics in the Washington, D.C. area. She has more than 10 years of leadership in Public Health Management and Grants and Budget for Latin American countries. She holds a MBA from Johns Hopkins University and is a graduate (with honors) from the Universidad del Norte.
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yurani-sandoval-7646022a/
MANOLO PAEZ
President, Board Member
Manolo is the Chief Revenue Officer (CRO) at the Global Good Fund, a non-profit organization that amplifies the impact of social entrepreneurs worldwide, investing in their leadership development. Manolo is responsible for overseeing all revenue generation processes and defining the organization's revenue strategy, while being accountable of integrating and aligning revenue-related functions, including marketing, sales, customer support and pricing.
He has an extensive background in business development and innovation in the United States and Latin America. He has also experience as a lecturer and speaker in academic and business environments. In the past, he has worked for the International Labour Organization (ILO) in the youth employment and entrepreneurship fields and has also experienced being an entrepreneur, having started companies in several parts of the world. He holds a Master of Science degree in Economics at the Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, and has taken courses at Georgetown University and Stanford University.
"I am passionate about being part of Women Palante's mission of helping Latina women to become successful entrepreneurs while living a healthy and balanced life. I truly believe that investing in people is the most effective way to create positive impact and lasting social change in communities around the world, and in our case with Women Palante, in Latina women across the Americas." - Manolo
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/manolopaez/
Adelayda M. Lawford
Treasurer, Board Member
She is a driven Treasury Management professional who utilizes a consultative approach to understand clients' cash flow needs. This process allows the ideal set of treasury products which creates long lasting relationships between clients and banks.
Adelayda has an MBA and Master in Finance, Certified Treasury Professional and 20 years of banking experience. She has held treasury board positions in the past and is currently assisting Women Palante to create a process for banking reconciliation, financial reports generation, etc.
With 20 years of successful sales experience, leadership and motivating others, she has developed important skills that make her manage all aspects of financial functions. Currently, she is an SVP at Forbright Bank, where under her leadership is creating new products and services that can serve clients in an efficient manner.
She is now a part of the Women Palante Board and the Treasurer of the organization!
The reason why she wanted to join as a Board Member of Women Palante: “I am latino and a woman so I feel directly related to the cause. Also, I have a strong belief that when we assist a woman, we are assisting an entire home as women are usually the driving force in a home”.
Marta Texidor Mendez de Vigo
Vice President, Board Member
Marta is a multilingual and experienced engineer with strong business and customer focus, great communication, problem solving and analytical skills. Able to remain calm under pressure and work in a concise, clear and focused manner. Committed team player, always interested in knowledge sharing and continuous improvement.
She has experience as a workshop facilitator, with focus on business value, multiple certifications including Prosci (change management) and Insead Value Negotiation. Her academic background in BaSc, Computer Science is one of the reasons why she is the right person to ask for advice on success criteria and/or technology fields.
The last 10 years of her career, she has held positions where she had to influence others without power, understanding their 'what's in it for me' (WIIFM). She currently leads a team driving their customers objectives through Microsoft solutions, and also is part of the leadership team of the Customer Success org for Healthcare and Life Sciences.
She is very committed to this social cause and receiving her ideas and recommendations to further improve Women Palante’s impact in women’s lives is very valuable.
The reason why she wanted to join as a Board Member of Women Palante: “Empowering women is one of my passions. I am grateful to all the women that have helped me get where I am today and want to pay it forward, supporting others”.