Design thinking expert.
She has been co-founder and director of Impact Hub Caracas since October 2013. And a social entrepreneur passionate about making a difference in the world. She has also been a member of the Board of the Global Impact Hub Association from 2015 to 2018 and of the Membership Committee of the Global Impact Hub Association.
She has been coaching the creation of new Impact Hubs in Africa and Latin America. And she is a consultant for numerous corporate clients promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. She is passionate about supporting teams within companies and corporations to co-create solutions and solve problems by promoting an entrepreneurial approach, using Design Thinking, innovation tools and creative leadership.
She has more than 14 years of experience in the financial sector in Latin America (Citigroup NY, Citi Venezuela and Banesco). And in recent years, she devoted her time in microfinances in Venezuela co-founding Banesco Banca Comunitaria. She has been developing public and private programs and initiatives for more than 20 years. And has also worked for non-profit organizations in favor of the most underserved and needy segments of society.
Her work has taken her to 50 countries around the world and has been recognized through several national and international awards. She was named “Social Entrepreneur of the Year 2010” by the Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship of the World Economic Forum. Venezuela Sin Limites Foundation named Claudia “Outstanding Social Entrepreneur of Venezuela” in 2011 with the support of Schwab Foundation for Social Entrepreneurship and the World Economic Forum. She was named Responsible Leader of the BMW Foundation in 2011. And she was included among the 100 Most Successful Managers in Magazine Manager in 2012 and 2008. She was also included in the 50 Most Influential Leaders according to IESA in 2015. She was a Finalist at The Global Good Fund 2016. She was a guest of the International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) IVLP “Changemakers II: The Impact of Social Entrepreneurs in the US” as representative of Venezuela – US Embassy Venezuela 2016; Honorable Mention Analytical Woman 2012; 15 Exemplary Women, El Nacional, Everything in Sunday Magazine, Oct 2014; Women’s Entrepreneurship Day Global Ambassador, Venezuela 2017; Bronze Award to the Voluntary Service of the President of the United States in 2006 and Medal of Civil Defense in Second Class, Civil Defense Government Federal District in 1996, among others. Participates as director in the boards of directors of: Esteban Torbar Foundation and EPOSAK since 2011; Civil Association Work and Person since 2015; YPO Chapter Venezuela as Social Responsibility Officer since 2013; Board of Directors of the Institute of Advanced Management Studies (IESA) since 2017; Fundación Unidos en Red since 2011 and Fundación Communitas Dei since 2009.
She has a degree in Computer Sciences from UNIMET, an MBA from Loyola University in Chicago, a Master’s in Finance from IESA and has a postgraduate degree in Creative Leadership from the THINK School of Creative Leadership, in Amsterdam. She has taken courses in microfinance, social entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility at Harvard Business School, Harvard Kennedy School, INCAE and INSEAD Business School.
She is a tennis player, she loves cooking, art, traveling, photography, singing and music. In addition to Spanish, she speaks English, French and Portuguese. “The impact that you want to create in the world is to end poverty”, she says. And she is very active in social media so you can follow her on Twitter and Instagram: @clovalladares.