HOPE Binational Fellowship 2026 Cohort

Alejandra Budar is a data scientist at LinkedIn who is passionate about transforming complex data into products, insights, and experiences that create meaningful impact. In her current work, Alejandra works at the intersection of data science, product, and content strategy. She is especially passionate about and committed to supporting and empowering the Latino tech community, mentoring others, and creating spaces where knowledge and opportunities can be shared more broadly.

Marielys Divanne is a nonprofit executive, strategist, and community leader dedicated to advancing educational equity, women’s empowerment, and community development across New York City. She currently serves as Executive Director of the Dominican Women’s Development Center (DWDC), one of the nation’s largest Dominican-led nonprofit organizations, where she leads efforts focused on early childhood education, economic empowerment, domestic violence prevention, maternal health, and LGBTQ+ youth support.

Known for her collaborative leadership style and systems-thinking approach, Marielys has built a career at the intersection of community voice, public policy, and organizational growth. Her work has included leading citywide stakeholder engagement initiatives, facilitating cross-sector partnerships, and advising organizations on strategy, communications, and impact. She has played a key role in initiatives connected to literacy, family engagement, and educational access across New York City.

Marielys is especially passionate about creating pathways for women and families to thrive at every stage of life. Her leadership centers storytelling, cultural pride, and community-rooted solutions that honor lived experience while driving sustainable change. A proud Dominican leader with deep roots in Upper Manhattan, Marielys is recognized for her ability to convene diverse stakeholders, inspire teams, and translate vision into action. Whether working with grassroots organizers, philanthropic leaders, educators, or policymakers, she remains committed to building stronger, more equitable communities grounded in dignity, opportunity, and collective empowerment.

With more than 20 years of experience across foodservice and consumer packaged goods, Rocio Garcia has built a career around transforming sales strategy, scaling enterprise partnerships, and delivering profitable growth through disciplined execution and genuine investment in people.She currently serves as Senior Director Distributive Sales, North America at OSI Group, a premier global supplier of custom, value-added food solutions for the world’s leading foodservice and retail brands.

Prior to OSI, Garcia spent over eight years at Bimbo Bakeries USA, most recently as National Director of Away-From-Home Foodservice Sales, leading a $200M+ national business across fresh, frozen, and ambient bakery categories — with full ownership of commercial strategy, P&L performance, pricing and contract governance, distributor partnerships, and innovation commercialization.

Beyond her corporate role, Garcia contributes through board and community leadership. She served as Strategic Board Chair for the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE) and on the Executive Board of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, focused on leadership development and expanding economic opportunity. Garcia holds an Executive MBA from Loyola University Chicago’s Quinlan School of Business and a B.S. in Business Administration from Northern Illinois University, with international business studies in Spain. She has been recognized as a Diversity MBA Top 100 Under 50 leader and among Chicago’s Top Latino Leaders.

Perla Gheiler is an accomplished marketing and public sector leader with more than 25 years of experience in strategic marketing, community engagement, and public administration. She currently serves as Executive Director of Denver Human Rights & Community Partnerships, overseeing 10 community commissions, six divisions, and 44 employees. During Denver’s migrant and unhoused crisis, she helped lead efforts that placed more than 5,000 migrants into temporary or permanent housing.

Previously, Perla served as Director of Denver’s Office on Aging, where she advanced policies and programs supporting older adults and served as liaison to the Commission on Aging. She is also the founder of Perla Gheiler Solutions, LLC, a consulting firm specializing in marketing and community affairs.

Her professional experience includes leadership roles with Metropolitan State University of Denver, American Family Insurance, and major advertising agencies serving clients such as Ford Motor Company and General Motors. A graduate of the University of Colorado Denver, Perla has also completed executive leadership programs through Harvard University and the National Hispana Leadership Institute. A dedicated civic leader, Perla has served on numerous nonprofit and business boards and has been recognized with several leadership awards, including the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce Top 25 Most Powerful Women Award. She is a Colorado native, proud mother, and active community advocate.

Senior education leader with over 25 years of experience in academic administration, public sector leadership, and institutional development. Proven track record in driving enrollment growth, securing multimillion-dollar funding, and leading large-scale educational transformation initiatives. Skilled in strategic planning, stakeholder engagement, and organizational efficiency.

Adrian´s Mom (21), 25 years of marriage with Alex, so proud of my little family.

Melody Gonzales is the founder of Hope and Power Strategies, a consulting and executive leadership coaching practice built on more than 20 years of experience across federal government, advocacy, labor, media, and political campaigns. Her career includes service to two U.S. Presidents, two Governors, three federal agencies, Congress, the nation’s largest Latino coalition, and the nation’s largest labor union.

In the Biden-Harris Administration, Melody served as Executive Director of the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Equity, Excellence, and Economic Opportunity for Hispanics at the U.S. Department of Education, where she worked with the White House and more than 35 federal agencies to advance historic initiatives, including a Hispanic-Serving Institutions Executive Order and expanded access to federal contracts, grants, and employment opportunities.

During the Obama-Biden Administration, she served as Chief of Staff at the Mine Safety and Health Administration and Deputy Chief of Staff at the Office of Personnel Management.

Melody has also held leadership roles with the National Education Association and the National Hispanic Leadership Agenda, where she founded the Latino Appointments Program and LatinasRepresent. She served on the Biden-Harris presidential transition team and Virginia Governor Abigail Spanberger’s transition committee.

A bilingual speaker and recognized leader, Melody has delivered presentations across the United States, Washington, D.C., and Puerto Rico. She holds a bachelor’s degree from UC San Diego, a master’s degree in Public Policy from Georgetown University, and executive leadership certificates from Georgetown, Harvard, and the Center for Creative Leadership. She is the first Latina President of the UC San Diego Alumni Association and currently serves on the UC San Diego Foundation Board.

Dusti Gurule has been the driving force behind the Colorado Organization for Latina Opportunity and Reproductive Rights (COLOR) and the COLOR Action Fund, serving as President and CEO since 2017. Under her seven-year tenure, COLOR has solidified its position as Colorado’s premier multi-entity reproductive justice organization dedicated to empowering Latinas and their families. Gurule’s dedication to equity and justice is deeply personal, rooted in her upbringing, shaped by the Chicano Movement, and her activist family.

Her extensive career in advocacy and public service is marked by several key roles. From 2010 to 2017, she served as a Regional Representative for the Secretary of Labor, a post appointed by President Obama. Earlier, in 2004, Gurule founded the Latina Initiative and served as its first Executive Director. This organization was instrumental in amplifying Latina voices and building Latino/a political power through initiatives such as LIPS, Colorado’s Latino/a Advocacy Day, and the COLOR Action Fund’s Reproductive Justice Academy. She also currently serves as the board chair of Voces Unidas Action Fund.

Academically, Gurule holds a B.A. in Chicano Studies from MSU Denver and an M.A. in Nonprofit Management from Regis University. Her profound impact has been recognized with numerous honors, including the City of Denver Mayor’s Award for Diversity & Inclusion, the Making a Difference Award from MSU, the Latinas First Foundation Unsung Heroine Award, and her 2024 induction into the esteemed Colorado Women’s Hall of Fame.

Dr. Erica Jacquez, MPA, DPPD, serves as Commissioner for Economic Development for the City of Long Beach, California, where she advances policies and initiatives that drive economic growth, business development, and community investment. She is a public policy and government affairs executive with more than 20 years of experience across local, state, and federal government.

Dr. Jacquez has held leadership roles throughout government, including service in the California State Senate, Los Angeles County, and as a presidential appointee at the White House. Her work has focused on public policy, legislative affairs, coalition building, and strengthening partnerships among government, business, and communities across California and nationally.

She currently serves as Executive Director of Government and External Affairs for Verizon. Previously, she served as Associate Vice President of Government Affairs at AltaMed Health Services and as Executive in Charge of Government Affairs for the Directors Guild of America, leading advocacy and policy efforts on key legislative and industry issues.

Dr. Jacquez is also an adjunct professor at the University of Southern California Price School of Public Policy. She serves on the boards of Habitat for Humanity and Adventist Health White Memorial Hospital, and is a Fulbright Specialist. She is recognized for advancing policy solutions, building strategic partnerships, and creating impact at the intersection of government, economic development, and civic leadership.

Ana María Magaña Rodríguez is a distinguished Mexican with a solid track record of over 15 years in public affairs, institutional relations, and public policy, with a particular focus on Mexico and the Central American region.

She currently serves as Public Policy Manager for TikTok, where she leads engagement strategies with governments and organizations in various Central American and Caribbean countries. Her work focuses on digital security, regulatory frameworks, and the promotion of digital literacy programs such as “AprendeEnTikTok,” online safety for teenagers, and guidance for parents and guardians through the TikTok Guardians Guide and other programs supporting entrepreneurs.

Previously she held senior management positions such as Country Managing Director of the Motion Picture Association (MPA) in Mexico, where she contributed to the defense and protection of audiovisual works through national and international legislative reforms, such as the intellectual property chapter of the USMCA.

She is a lawyer specialized in intellectual property and copyrights, with experience in comparative law. She holds a Master degree in Law, a diploma in Lobbying, Regulatory Design and Strategic Communication, a diploma in Anti-trust, and a Master’s degree in Sustainable Development Management.

At TikTok, she is a member of the Board of the organization “Mujeres que inspiran,” where she actively promotes the professional and personal growth of women and the development of female leadership.She is recognized for her ability to manage complex relationships between the private sector and governments of multiple countries, notably her participation in regional conventions on digital security and public policy.

Mariana Martinez is a dynamic consultant and educator with more than 20 years of experience in family systems and family enterprise advising. She specializes in supporting high-net-worth (HNW) and ultra-high-net-worth (UHNW) families in navigating the intersection of wealth, relationships, governance, and legacy. Drawing on her expertise in Bowen Family Systems theory, Mariana helps families manage complex wealth transitions, strengthen multigenerational cohesion, and address the emotional dynamics that shape decision-making and long-term success.

Her work integrates clinical, academic, and advisory perspectives, allowing her to serve as a trusted advisor and facilitator in the family enterprise field. Mariana is also an accomplished author, with two published books focused on systems thinking and family enterprise. In addition, she serves on the Board of Orchestra of the Americas, supporting cross-cultural artistic and leadership initiatives across the Americas.

Mariana earned her doctorate in Clinical Psychology from the California School of Professional Psychology in San Diego, California. She completed advanced specialization in family systems at The Bowen Center for the Study of the Family, where she currently serves as faculty. She also holds certifications in Family Wealth Advising and Family Business Advising from Family Firm Institute, where she is likewise a faculty member.

Based in Potomac, Mariana values family above all and enjoys spending time with her husband, three adult children, and extended family in Mexico City.

Dr. Olga Mejía Glenn was born and raised in the El Chorrillo neighborhood of Panama City. At the University of Panama, she graduated with two bachelor degrees, in journalism and English. She has devoted her life to serve others through human rights advocacy and through education. She was former President of the non-governmental Human Rights Commission of Panama, CONADEHUPA, part of a Central American human rights network with consultative status at the United Nations. After the U.S. invasion of Panama, she was invited to the U.S. and to the European Parliament to address the impact of the war, and also appeared in the Academy Award documentary, “The Panama Deception.”

She migrated to the U.S and earned a master’s degree in International Studies at the CUNY Graduate Center and a Ph.D. from Fordham University in second language acquisition. She leads with strategic clarity, humility, and an unwavering commitment to human dignity. Her work has spanned systemic educational leadership in New York City—impacting thousands of English Language Learners, which earned recognition for contributions to education by Marqui Who’s Who, among other awards. A long-life learner and advocate, after retirement she recently became a Certified Human rights Consultant for the US Institute of Diplomacy and Human Rights; and was accepted for the HOPE BINATIONAL Fellowship; and founded a non-profit organization to support indigenous communities through economic empowerment, environmental stewardship, and international advocacy. She currently lives in New York.

Denise Miranda has served as the Commissioner for the New York State Division of Human Rights since 2024. For nearly 30 years, Commissioner Miranda has been actively engaged in the practice of law and protecting the rights of New Yorkers. Prior to joining the Division of Human Rights, Commissioner Miranda served as the Executive Director of another state agency, the New York State Justice Center for the Protection of People with Special Needs, for seven years. Before her career in state service, the Commissioner stood up for New Yorkers as managing director of the Urban Justice Center’s Safety Net Project in New York City and as a prosecutor for domestic violence, child abuse and sex crimes in the Bronx.

Beyond her professional accomplishments, Commissioner Miranda is deeply committed to community service. She is a member of the New York State Bar Association, the Puerto Rican Bar Association, 100 Hispanic Women of Westchester, Women Creating Change, Westchester Black Women’s Political Caucus, the Latina Mentoring Initiative, and is a legislatively appointed member of the Westchester County Hispanic Advisory Board. The Commissioner was listed by City & State on the 2026 Protecting New York List, the 2025 Bronx Power 100 List, and the 2024 Power of Diversity Latino 100 List. She has also been honored by El Diario as a Distinguished Latina and by 100 Hispanic Women National with the Latina Government Service Award. She is a proud alumna of St. John’s University School of Law, where she earned her Juris Doctor, and New York University, where she completed her Bachelor of Arts.

Gloria Nieto is a business executive and marketing professional with over 25 years of experience in multinational companies like P&G, Mars and Gentera, where she is currently the CCO. She is responsible for listening to customers and analyzing their needs and wants to develop the strategies and plans that deliver on both long- and short-term goals.

Gentera provides financial services to people generally excluded from traditional banking channels because of their low and irregular incomes, and she is incredibly grateful to have the opportunity to help improve their living conditions and to empower women to start their businesses enhancing their overall socio-economic status through her job.

A passionate leader, she is acknowledged for her strong strategic thinking, analytical and communication skills, and outstanding team building.
She is an advocate for diversity and continuous improvement and has earned several recognitions throughout her career mainly around brand building, coaching, and training.

Gloria received her MBA from IPADE (Instituto panamericano de Alta Direccion de Empresas), and has a bachelors degree from ITAM (Instituto Tecnologico Autónomo de Mexico), as well as several certifications from Columbia and HBS.

She has 2 sons. She has lived in 4 countries and loves to travel, to learn new things and spend time with family and friends.

An executive leader with more than a decade of experience across tourism, hospitality, international trade, agribusiness, sustainability, and public administration. She serves as CEO of the National Association of Hotel Chains (ANCH), representing Mexico’s hotel industry before government authorities, regulators, and international stakeholders. Her career includes senior roles at Mexico’s General Customs Administration, AMDETUR, and CONCANACO-SERVYTUR, as well as international experience with the OECD, the European Union Delegation in Mexico, and ProMéxico in Canada. She holds an MBA from EGADE Business School and a Master’s in Internet Business from ISDI and is recognized for building strategic partnerships between the public and private sectors to advance competitiveness, sustainable development, and international cooperation.

She is also a fourth-generation member of a coffee-producing family with more than 100 years of history in the specialty coffee industry. Through APG Coffee, one of Mexico’s leading specialty coffee exporters, she contributes to strategic planning, communications, sustainability initiatives, and corporate governance. The company’s flagship estates, Finca Fátima and Finca La Perla in Veracruz, have earned multiple recognitions in the prestigious Cup of Excellence competition, helping position Mexican specialty coffee among the finest in the world. Combining experience across business, government, and agriculture, she is committed to strengthening Mexico’s global competitiveness and fostering sustainable economic development.

Katharine Pichardo is a trailblazer who has melded political organizing expertise and executive leadership to become a widely recognized change-maker in the governmental, political, and civic arena. As president and CEO of Latino Victory, she takes charge of a mission perfectly suited to her 25 years of experience as a successful leader and passionate advocate: building political power within the Latino community and ensuring that Latino voices are included in the nation’s policy and fiscal agenda. Empowering Latinos, and all underrepresented communities have always been at the center of Katharine’s adult life and career. From her start as a civic education organizer at the National Association of Latino Elected and Appointed Officials (NALEO) Educational Fund, to her time as chief of staff and other senior-level positions in government, Katharine has been at the forefront of advancing our communities. She has fought publicly for common-sense immigration reform, universal access to healthcare, a good quality education for all children, economic policies that create upward mobility for all, and fair and equal representation at all levels of government and in all rooms where decisions are made.

Prior to joining Latino Victory, Katharine was Senior Vice President at the MirRam Group, a top-tier New York-based strategic consulting firm where she has managed some of the firm’s most prominent government and community relations portfolios. Between 2018 and 2022, Katharine also led the firm’s political arm, as President of the Hamilton Campaign Network (HCN). In this role, Katharine played a key role in various successful high-profile and history-making campaigns, and worked with stakeholders around the country to engage Latinos in the political process, providing a roadmap for voter participation efforts during the 2020 Presidential election, and supporting down-ballot races in 10 strategically important states.

Born in the Dominican Republic, Katharine is a proud product of New York City public schools and Queens College of the City University of New York (CUNY). She is a sought-after strategist, has appeared on various “power lists” and is a regular political commentator on CNN.

For over 23 years her professional practice has been focused on fiscal and tax issues, she worked for 21 years for the Tax Administration Service; she had the opportunity to participate in the design of tax laws and policy that govern Non-Profit Organizations and specifically Tax-Exempt Authorized Organizations. She joined the SAT for her internship in 2000 and she was hired right away when her internship ended, she left in 2021; she held various levels, positions and areas, the most relevant ones in the legal area and taxpayer services, both at the local and central level.

Currently, she works as a Tax Consultant specializing in Non-Profit Organizations and Tax-Exempt Authorized Organizations. She now has her own practice; she collaborates with various firms and organizations involved in the tax treatment of non-profit organizations.

Independent Board Member and Mexico Country Chair CSR G100.

As CEO & President of the Hispanic Contractors of Colorado (HCC), Ale is responsible for the overall management, strategic direction, and successful achievement of the organization’s mission and objectives. Founded in 1990, HCC is a trade organization that advocates, supports and represents small, minority/women owned business in the design and construction industry. Born and raised in Guadalajara, Jalisco, and resident of Colorado since 1999, Ale has 20+ years of construction experience. She received her Bachelor of Science degree in Civil Engineering from the Institute of Technology and Higher Studies of the West, in Guadalajara Mexico. A fellow from the Latino Leadership Institute, received her Diversity and Inclusion certificate program thru University of Cornell, completed the Governor’s Fellowship program, received her Corporate Social Responsibility certificate thru the University of Colorado Leeds School of Business.

Ale has been extremely involved in the community with her board service such as governor appointed to the advisory council for the state of Colorado Minority Business Office, AdventHealth Avista hospital in Louisville, Bellco Credit Union, Associated General Contractors of Colorado, STEMblazers, Mile High Youth Corps, Colorado Succeeds, chairwoman of the board of the Colorado Construction Education Foundation, (first woman and Latina to serve in such role), recently Ale joined the Colorado Women’s Chamber of Commerce and International Institute for Women in Construction boards. Ale has participated in several panels sharing her story as a woman in the construction industry, career opportunities and workforce initiatives for diverse talent, and the importance of diversity and inclusivity on construction projects.

With over 23 years of experience in the microfinance sector, Mariana Torres currently serves as CHRO at Gentera, a financial group operating in Mexico and Peru with more than 22,000 employees. The organization is committed to delivering human-centered financial solutions to underserved populations.

Since joining Gentera in 2003, she has led high-impact strategic initiatives, including the creation of the microinsurance business line. In 2012, she was appointed CEO of Aterna, the largest microinsurance broker in Latin America. She later led the transformation of Gentera’s product portfolio in 2017. In 2021, she assumed the role of Executive Director of Digital Transformation, where she drove the evolution of the customer experience through technology adoption, agile methodologies, and a strong focus on customer centricity.

In November 2025, she took on her current role, leading the People function with a focus on strengthening talent, leadership, and organizational capabilities to support business transformation while preserving the company’s human-centered purpose.

Mariana holds a Bachelor’s degree in International Relations from Universidad Iberoamericana, with a specialization in International Economics, and has completed executive programs at ITAM and Harvard ManageMentor. She is a member of Andares, an international network that promotes women’s leadership in financial inclusion.

She is committed to leveraging knowledge as a driver of informed decision-making, innovation, and sustainable impact.

Begoña Vizcaíno is a Partner at PwC with extensive experience in Deals, financial services, and strategic advisory, with a strong focus on inclusion, leadership development, and advancing opportunities for women in business. Throughout her career, she has combined professional excellence with a deep commitment to creating more equitable and inclusive environments across the corporate and financial ecosystems.

Begoña has led and contributed to multiple initiatives focused on women’s advancement, accessibility, and financial inclusion. She was recently recognized with the Women in Finance LATAM Award for her work in microfinance and fintech initiatives aimed at increasing women’s participation in the financial ecosystem across Latin America.

She is also actively involved with organizations including Women Economic Forum Iberoamérica (WEF Iberoamérica), ALPFA, and Executivas de Galicia, where she supports mentorship, leadership development, and networking opportunities for women professionals and emerging leaders.

Passionate about mentorship and community building, Begoña is dedicated to helping the next generation of women leaders grow, connect, and succeed while fostering inclusive cultures that empower diverse talent to thrive.