FELLOWS
COHORT 4
Dimitri E. Alejo - My path as a leader and agent of change began at the Universidad de los Andes where I studied Chemical Engineering and Business Administration. I earned an MBA from the University of Michigan. I am currently CEO and Founder of the "Creating Who You Are" Foundation, where perspectives and tools of consciousness and spirituality are shared to cultivate a conscious and purposeful life in individuals and companies.
Andrés Bitar - Lawyer from the Universidad de los Andes, and a specialist in State Contracting and its Management and Administrative Law. Master in Public Policy from the Paris Institute of Political Studies – Sciences Po, with Cum Laude distinction. Lecturer on Oil & Gas and public policy issues. He is currently Vice President of Strategy and Regulatory Affairs of the Colombian Oil and Gas Association.
José Fernando Calderón - He worked with Egon Zehnder in the industrial, financial, life sciences, and consumer practices. He is also part of Egon Zehnder's family business advisory board consulting and CEO practices. José Fernando has degrees in Economics and Law from the Universidad de los Andes and an MBA from Harvard Business School. He is a member of the board of directors of the Universidad de los Andes and is also active on other corporate and NGO boards.
Libia J. Diaz Ulabares - Graduate in Popular Education (degree work with laureate mention), she also holds a Degree in Foreign Languages from the Universidad del Valle and a Master in Social and Political Studies from the Icesi University (degree work with meritorious mention). Co-founder and coordinator of research and strategic alliances of the 'Mine' organization.
Marcela Escovar - Designer of editorial experiences. She studied literature at the University of Los Andes and holds a master's degree in Education from the University of Glasgow. Her five-year experience at the National Library was crucial for the creation of the "Picnic of Words" project, which has been facilitating family reading experiences in public spaces around children's literature books for 11 years.
Genith Fuentes - Former diplomat, consultant, and social entrepreneur. Graduated in Government and Relations from the Externado University of Colombia, she has a Master's Degree in Social Innovation and Entrepreneurship from the London School of Economics. Currently, she incubates Tality, a learning management platform for the Hospitality sector through video games, and LaQuib, an e-commerce store for gifts and stationery inspired by the Colombian Pacific. Genith is also a consultant for the Sourcing2Equal Colombia program, led by the IFC, an institution of the World Bank Group.
Mateo León - Industrial Engineer from the University of Los Andes, with an MBA from INSEAD in France. I currently hold the Presidency of DISAN Latin America. Additionally, I am a member of the Boards of Directors of Zalvadora, Producciones Químicas; and member of the Investment Committee of MAS Equity. In the area of social impact, I lead all sustainability programs within DISAN, I am a member of Probogotá, and the ANDI Chamber of the Chemical Industry, where I actively participate.
Noamby Lucas Castillo - Indigenous Zenú of the Minor Council of Tuchín-Urbano (Córdoba), lawyer and currently Judicial Assistant 04 in the Special Jurisdiction for Peace. Scholarship holder at the University of the Andes, being the first indigenous Zenú to attend and graduate there. Additionally, I was able to contribute as a facilitator guide in my argumentation at the Autonomous Indigenous Intercultural University (UAIIN). I was in the Indigenous Youth Leadership Coalition (IYLC) Cohort 2023 as an indigenous representative from Colombia.
Lina M. Martínez - Sociologist and a Colfuturo and P.E.O International Peace Award scholarship recipient, to study a master's degree in screenwriting in Los Angeles, California, which would allow her to materialize stories in processes of human development. Lina is a fervent believer that the technical processes to promote the country's development must be permeated by thoughtful people who deeply love this land.
Juliana Mejía - Political scientist with a Master's Degree in Economics and studies in Negotiation from the Universidad de los Andes. Member of the Board of Directors of the Foundations: Fraternidad de Medellín, Secretos para Contar, and Fundación El Colombiano. Columnist for the newspaper El Tiempo.
Martin Nova - I am an entrepreneur with training in marketing, focused on issues of disruption and innovation, always thinking about high-impact actions in the country. I have published three books that seek to create culture and citizen awareness on different topics, as well as the production of documentaries such as "Colombia, Magia Salvaje".
María Francisca Ortega - Studied Economics (U. de los Andes) and in 2009, I made the decision to do an MBA in Barcelona. I started my career at Avianca, as a Strategic Projects Manager and ended as Director of Integration and Operational Optimization. In 2021, I made the decision to take a break, dedicate myself to my children, and reconsider how I wanted to approach my work life moving forward.
J. Pauline Pava - Aeronautical Administrator, Specialist in National Security and Defense, Colfuturo Scholar in 2014 and MBA in Responsible Management from Audencia Business School in France, with more than 20 years of experience in the Defense sector and entrepreneurship; especially in financial issues, project management, aviation, human rights, internationalization of processes, change management, process management, strategic management and sustainability. She is currently Chief of Investment of the Colombian Air Force, leading the planning, programming, and budgeting of investment and strategic projects.
Isabel Pereira - Political scientist from the Universidad de los Andes in Colombia (2008), and Master in Development Studies, from the Institute of Higher International and Development Studies of Switzerland – IHEID (2015). She is currently the senior coordinator for the drug policy line at Dejusticia, where she has focused on documenting the differentiated impacts of drug policy on women, the interactions between drug policy reform and other high-impact agendas such as the right to health, criminal and prison policy and transitional justice.
Javier Pérez Burgos - Economist and historian from the Universidad de los Andes, with a master's degree in Economics from the same university and a Doctorate in Urban and Regional Planning from Cornell University. He was recently in the Ministry of Agriculture as Vice Minister of Rural Development and in the United Nations Development Program leading the Poverty Reduction Management. In 2023, WËIA founded a Fintech focused on financing small farmers.
Ugo Posada - As Director of the Portfolio Group, I am responsible for driving transformation in the companies of Advent International, a global private equity firm, in the Andean Region (Colombia, Peru and Chile) and Mexico. I have more than 15 years of experience in transformation and strategy roles in Private Equity (Advent International), Strategy Consulting (Bain & Company), and Multinational Companies (BP Plc). I have an MBA from Kellogg School of Management (Northwestern University), and I am a Systems Engineer (Cum Laude) from the Universidad de los Andes.
L. Gregory Robinson - Director, screenwriter, and cultural manager Raizal from San Andrés island, president of the Native Films Foundation. Professional in Radio and Television Direction and Production with a Master's Degree in Television, Film, and New Media. Member of the Departmental Council of Film and Audiovisuals of San Andrés Isla, Representative of the directors and representative of the region before the National Film Council in different periods.
Oriolson Rodríguez - Master in Computer Science and Engineering, with an emphasis on Artificial Intelligence and Innovation from the Technische Universität München. He has worked in applied scientific research at Microsoft, the Max Planck Institute for Neurobiology, and the Center for Innovation and Technology (ICP).
Mónica Rolong - Expert in public affairs, diplomacy, and international negotiations. Mónica is a lawyer from the Universidad de Los Andes (1999), with a master's degree in Law and Development (LL.M) from University College London (2002) and a master's degree in public policy and development (MIDP) from Duke's Sanford School of Public Policy University (2020). Currently working on the launch of a non-profit organization in the field of political empowerment of girls and women, public policies and gender equality, and democracy parity in the Colombian Caribbean.
Natalia Sánchez - Bachelor's degree in Art from the Universidad de los Andes, and an MSc degree in Sustainable Development from the University of Sussex, and an M.A in Strategic Public Relations from the University of Southern California. She leads the formulation of VidaLabs, an initiative dedicated to development in technology, data science, and new economies, with the aim of contributing to a harmonious future for humanity, its environment, and all forms of life.
Romel Segura - Pediatrician from the Universidad Libre Cali-Colombia, Specialist in Pediatric Oncology and Hematology from the University of Guadalajara - Mexico, currently in training in neuro-oncology (Brain Tumors), with the Hospital St Jude Children's Research Hospital in the USA. I currently work as coordinator of the Pediatric Oncology unit at the Club Noel-Cali Children's hospital.
Amalia Sierra - Co-founder of Maaji, a Colombian fashion company that is present in more than 57 countries. “Planting an ocean of trees” is Maaji's sustainable growth initiative, which aims to return the resources it supplies for production to the environment, which allowed it to become a B Company. Amalia has an MBA from the Business Institute (Madrid).
Juan Sebastián Tobón - Master in journalism, specialized in camera and image reporting, from the Lille Higher School of Journalism, and holds a master's in Political Science from Science Po Lille, France. He is a lawyer, with studies in Art and Art History, from the Universidad de los Andes. Independently, he does research and production of documentaries in Colombia for French Television, and art direction for cinema, and advises people and organizations on matters of communication, media, and culture.
J. Andrés Uribe - Industrial and environmental microbiologist from the University of Antioquia (U de A) and master in biological sciences from the National Autonomous University of Mexico (UNAM). He has more than 13 years of experience in formulating and managing projects both at the CTeI, as well as at a productive and academic level. He currently works as Director of Research and Extension at the Autonomous University of the Americas.
