From Rural Roots to Regional Transformation
My professional journey is rooted in the landscapes of western Nicaragua, where I grew up witnessing the immense resilience of communities facing systemic limitations. This early exposure to the entrepreneurial spirit of rural families inspired me to study Finance in Managua, a step that launched an 11-year career at Banco Popular. However, it was my work with MEDA (Mennonite Economic Development Associates) in the 1990s that revealed my true calling: harnessing microfinance as a powerful tool for social transformation.
In 2004, I co-founded MiCrédito Nicaragua with a simple but defiant conviction: that micro-entrepreneurs deserve dignified, responsible access to capital. Beyond my role at MiCrédito, I’ve dedicated myself to elevating the entire financial ecosystem, serving two terms as President of ASOMIF to strengthen Nicaragua’s microfinance sector. This commitment to systemic change led to being named ‘Entrepreneur of the Year’ in 2017, and in 2018, I was honored to be recognized as one of the most influential women in Central America – a testament to the growing power of mission-driven leadership in our region.
Today, as CEO of MiCrédito Holding Corp, I lead our strategic vision across Central America, fueled by a singular goal: to improve the quality of life for one million women across the region.
Scaling Impact Across Borders
Transforming a startup into a regional powerhouse is one of my proudest achievements. We launched MiCrédito with just $150,000 and five employees; today, we manage over $70 million in assets and employ more than 400 people – 60% of whom are women.
Some additional key achievements for MiCrédito over the years:
- Regional Expansion: We have successfully scaled our model from Nicaragua into Costa Rica and Honduras, with immediate plans for Panama and Guatemala.
- Targeted Innovation: Through solid governance, transparency, and aligning with global standards of transparency, we have unlocked institutional investment to fund essential non-traditional products, including clean energy financing, water and sanitation solutions, and credit specifically tailored for women.
- Empowering the Excluded: Over 22 years, we have provided capital to more than 50,000 micro-entrepreneurs who were previously excluded from the formal financial system.
Resilience Through Uncertainty
Leading MiCrédito through the global pandemic and its aftermath was perhaps the greatest test of my career. In times of extreme uncertainty, an institution’s strength is measured by its values. Our response was built on passion and strategic clarity. We didn’t pull back; we moved closer to our clients. By strengthening our governance, reinforcing internal communication, and offering flexible, responsible repayment solutions, we chose to stand alongside those we serve. This period of crisis did not break us – it refined us. We emerged with a more robust risk management system and a deeper collective resolve, proving that resilience is a byproduct of a mission-first culture.
The Future Outlook: Balancing the Scales
To me, the future for female empowerment includes ensuring fair access and opportunities for vulnerable families and communities, while maintaining strong environmental responsibility and sound business principles.
It also means correcting the profound inequality of opportunity in Central America. Talent is distributed equally across our mountains and cities, but capital is not. True balance means ensuring a woman leading a small rural business has the same pathway to growth as a corporate client in a traditional bank. At MiCrédito, we believe that being profitable and ethical are not mutually exclusive – they are mutually reinforcing.
As we look toward the future, our success will not be measured solely by the health of our portfolio, but by the dignity, stability, and progress we help create for families. When a woman gains access to capital, she doesn’t just grow a business; she transforms her household and her community.
