María Elena Vásquez de Flores

I am María Elena Vásquez de Flores, a proud Salvadoran entrepreneur, environmental advocate, and social impact leader, driven by a deep commitment to create opportunities for those often left out of the conversation — informal workers, women, young people, and underrepresented communities in my country and region.

My journey has been anything but conventional. After earning my degree in Marketing, I paused my career to become a full-time mother, a decision that profoundly reshaped my identity, priorities, and understanding of leadership. Those years taught me about resilience, empathy, and the unseen labor that sustains families and societies. It also awakened in me a desire to someday build something meaningful — a project that would uplift others and honor the sacrifices we make for those we love.

In 2022, I took a leap of faith and founded MasVerde, a green-tech social enterprise designed to connect eco-friendly service providers and independent workers with clients who value sustainability. MasVerde is more than a digital platform; it is a movement to formalize and dignify the work of gardeners, landscapers, and environmental service providers in El Salvador, while raising awareness about the importance of conscious consumption and responsible business practices.

Believing that real change begins with education, I also created the "Escuela +Verde" initiative. Through this program, we bring environmental education, urban gardening projects, and climate awareness campaigns to schools in vulnerable communities. I have had the privilege of seeing hundreds of students discover their potential as environmental changemakers, and this continues to fuel my passion for community-driven climate action.

My leadership extends beyond my ventures. I actively mentor women entrepreneurs and young leaders through programs like Glasswing International, Bridge for Billions, and the Red de Mujeres Empresarias de El Salvador. I strongly believe in the power of collective leadership and the importance of creating safe, supportive spaces for women and youth to thrive in business and social impact initiatives.

I am currently pursuing a specialization in Digital Business Models, exploring how technology and innovation can be leveraged to solve social and environmental challenges in emerging markets. My academic and professional journey has led me to research behavior change strategies for sustainability initiatives, inclusive business models, and the circular economy’s potential in Latin America.

Throughout my career, I’ve had the honor of representing El Salvador in international programs such as INCAE Entrepreneur Award 2024, the EDP Hope Found Accelerator by Ashoka and Bridge for Billions, and being winner in the program "Ayudando a Quienes Ayudan 2024" challenge by Fundación Gloria Kriete — one of the most respected social entrepreneurship competitions in my country.

But beyond titles and ventures, I am a woman shaped by life’s adversities and gifts. The recent loss of my beloved dog, Papi, was a deeply personal experience that reminded me of the importance of grief, healing, and honoring our emotional journeys, even as leaders. I now advocate for integrating mental health, emotional resilience, and human connection into entrepreneurship and leadership conversations.

I believe that small actions, multiplied by many, can transform entire systems. This belief guides my work and my vision for a greener, fairer, and more inclusive Latin America. I dream of expanding MasVerde beyond borders, launching a certification program for eco-friendly service providers, and continuing to empower women and underrepresented communities to lead in the green economy.

I see entrepreneurship not only as a path to economic growth but as a tool for healing, justice, and systemic change. And I am determined to be part of the generation that builds solutions for both people and the planet — from the ground up.