What led you to work in sustainable finance?
While working at Bancolombia, I had the opportunity to contribute to financial inclusion by helping develop a strategy that enabled some of the country’s most remote and marginalized communities to access basic financial services. This experience allowed me to see first-hand the impact financial empowerment can have on underserved populations. I was inspired by this to pursue an MSc in sustainability, and later a career in sustainable finance.
Why Tribe?
After earning my MSc in Sustainability Management and Innovation – where I focussed my dissertation on impact investing – I set out to find a job in a company that embodied the values of genuine impact. That’s when I came across Tribe. Their commitment to making a positive impact in the financial sector deeply resonated with me. Tribe’s B Corp certification, use of the UN SDG framework, commitment to SBTi, and their role as a signatory of the PRI and HM Treasury’s Women in Finance Charter all reinforced for me that this was a company genuinely dedicated to its mission – exactly the kind of organisation I wanted to be part of.
What’s your most memorable work milestone?
My most memorable work milestone was when I was working at Bancolombia as a project manager, and during the pandemic we managed to develop a solution that would alleviate clients’ pressure from paying their mortgages and credits due to the economic recession.
What did you want to be growing up?
A professional ballet dancer.
What’s your earliest memory?
My earliest memory is being with my siblings in the town I was born, Bogota, playing in the park in the neighbourhood we used to live in.
If you had to pick, which of the 17 SDGs means the most to you and why
SDG 5, gender equality.
I strongly connect with the mission of the SDGs, especially when it comes to gender equality. Having pursued a career in the STEM field, I’ve seen first-hand how underrepresented women are in these spaces. Moving into finance only reinforced this feeling, as I often found myself in the minority, sometimes struggling to have my voice heard or feeling underestimated because of my gender. This has made me a firm believer in the power of equality and the importance of recognising the strengths that both men and women bring to the table. I truly believe that when we work together, we can make decisions that can create a lasting positive impact and shape a better future for society and the planet.
If you could have dinner with two people who would they be? What would you discuss/ask them?
Jay Shetty, because I would be highly interested in exploring his mindset and understanding his approach to life and personal growth. Also, Misty Copeland, because I would love to discuss the challenges she encountered throughout her career and how she managed to overcome them.
If you weren’t an impact analyst at Tribe, what would you be?
A ballerina at the American Ballet Theatre or Royal Opera House.
What have you read, listened to, or watched recently that you’ve enjoyed?
I recently listened to a podcast called “Se Regalan Dudas,” hosted by two Mexican women who explore a wide range of topics that impact women, particularly in Latin societies. One episode that really stood out to me focused on the challenges women face today, specifically addressing the struggle many have with their own body image and how to stop living in conflict with it.
What’s something you’ve always wanted to do but never have?
I have always wanted to collaborate with Fundación Tortugas del Pacífico, a foundation dedicated to protecting sea turtle eggs in Colombia’s Pacific region. They relocate the eggs from endangered areas to protected coastlines, ensuring the hatchlings can emerge in a safer environment.
Give us an exclusive, what’s something no one knows about you?
I love insects, from the smallest ants to the largest cockroaches.
Picture this: A moment from Veronica’s camera roll
