Gina Maldonado

Gina Maldonado is a social impact leader with over 14 years of experience in project management, social entrepreneurship, and public policy across Latin America and North America. She designs and manages international initiatives that deliver practical, data-driven solutions in women’s entrepreneurship, economic development, and ocean conservation. Her international experience spans Peru, Mexico, El Salvador, Ecuador, Canada, Panama, Spain, and the United States.

She is the Founder & Managing Director of Bluence, an independent, purpose-driven initiative advancing a blue economy rooted in communities and women’s leadership. Bluence works at the intersection of sustainability, storytelling, ocean governance, and citizen engagement to strengthen ocean- and water-connected communities and support more just and resilient livelihoods.

Previously, as Chief Operating Officer at Escala Initiative, Gina led the design, delivery, and growth of an eight-month capacity-building program for women entrepreneurs from low-income communities in Peru and Mexico. Since 2019, more than 3,000 entrepreneurs have received scholarships through Escala Business School, which combines training, market access, and seed capital. Under her leadership, the initiative expanded operations across eight Latin American countries, was awarded by the U.S. State Department’s Empower Innovation Challenge (2023), and reduced scholarship cost per student by 50% while maintaining quality. She also managed finances in both countries and supervised a multicultural team of 35+ staff, trainers, and facilitators.

Her career spans multilateral organizations, the private sector, and government. She has worked with the UN World Food Programme, IDB, USAID, and APEC, as well as corporate impact initiatives from the Goldman Sachs Foundation, Walmart Foundation, Cisco, Mastercard, and the German Red Cross. In the public sector, she played a key role at the Ministry of Production of Peru, where she led the nationwide launch of the country’s first business development services platform for entrepreneurs. She has also designed digital transformation projects in Latin America and developed a digital roadmap for financial inclusion in microfinance institutions.

Gina holds a Master of Public Policy from McGill University, where she was awarded the Peruvian Presidential Scholarship for Academic and Career Excellence and the Max Bell Entrance Scholarship. Her academic journey spans Peru, Spain, Argentina, Austria, and Canada, complementing her BA in Business Management with a Social Management major from the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru and diplomas in Project Management and Smart Cities.

She is an active member of Catalyst Now, Global Entrepreneurship Network, OceanExpert, Women in Ocean Science, Ocean Culture Life, BlueInvest Community, Whale Guardians, U.S. Early Career Ocean Professionals, and the International Public Policy Association. She has also held leadership roles at McGill’s Public Policy Graduate Association, McGill Women in Leadership, PUCP’s Alumni network, and the Innovation and Impact Network.