I grew up in paradise, but some people call it Honduras. I lived with my mom, sister, brother, and grandparents in a large house filled with books. As a child and teenager, I painted everything: from portraits to still lifes to landscapes. After a hiatus, I took painting up again right before the pandemic and fell in love all over again as a way of creating beauty. Writing, of course, became another creative outlet as an adult and is my primary method of expression.

In 2002, I received my Bachelor of Science degree, summa cum laude, in finance and accounting from Ithaca College and then earned a Master of International Affairs in international finance from Columbia University. I also became a certified public accountant in the state of New York. Life brought many blessings in terms of opportunities.

From 2008 to 2017, I worked at Alianza, a real estate development firm, and was responsible for the commercial management of over $50 million in real estate properties. I designed and implemented its operational structure, oversaw company operations and processes, and collaborated in the design and development of new residential, office, and retail commercial projects throughout Tegucigalpa, Honduras.

I knew, though, that I wanted to see what else I was capable of.

So in 2015, I co-founded Celaque, a real estate development and property management company based in Honduras. My husband and I wanted to branch out on our own, and Celaque gave me the perfect opportunity to try to build the organization I had always dreamed of. We manage a portfolio of properties of more than 200,000 square feet now. As CEO of Celaque, I focus on growing the company into a model for the 21st-century company.

Despite my background, making my way was not easy: sometimes people didn’t take me seriously, while others didn’t know quite what to make of me. I overcame these moments by working hard, being disciplined, remaining adaptable, and staying focused. Little by little, and then, suddenly, I got to where I wanted to be.

In 2019, I launched my first children’s book, Alicia and Bunnie Paint a Mural. I serve as the Secretary of the Board of Directors and Strategy Committee at Asociación Creciendo Juntos. I’m also a member of the Board of Directors and the Board’s Finance Committee at FEREMA.

When I’m not busy building a 21st-century company, I spend my time reading a book a week and raising my three daughters with my husband. I’ve also rediscovered baking during the pandemic and have been working my way through Julia Child’s Mastering the Art of French Cooking.