Latin America Leadership Program

By Guadalupe Ramirez

In 2024, María Florencia, alongside Fernanda De Mora (GBEL 2024, Argentina), both members of the program’s inaugural cohort, took on the challenge of founding and co-chairing the GBEL Alumni Committee. Thereafter, José Mejía (GBEL 2025, Colombia) and Cintia González (GBEL 2025, Argentina) joined the Committee as members. Since then, they have worked to keep the connection among graduates alive and turn it into new opportunities for learning, collaboration, and leadership.

The Committee is built on a simple yet powerful belief: when diverse talents, experiences, and perspectives come together, possibilities emerge that would be difficult to create individually. With this spirit, they have launched initiatives such as the From One to Many conversation series, which connects GBEL graduates with business leaders from across the region and creates opportunities to share knowledge, experiences, and new ideas.

“For the current GBEL Alumni Committee, the mission of the network is to foster continuous learning that creates opportunities for professional growth and strengthens cooperation in business and leadership initiatives throughout the region, through a strong and collaborative group of alumni.” — María Florencia Rizzardi (GBEL 2024, Argentina)

For María Florencia, every member has something unique to contribute. That is why she encourages members of the network to share their skills, knowledge, and experiences. The diversity of career paths is one of this community’s greatest strengths, and when placed at the service of others, it can lead to new conversations, partnerships, and opportunities.

An upcoming opportunity to meet in person will be the celebration of the first 20 years of impact of LALP programs in Washington, D.C. In addition to the main forum, which will be open to the entire Georgetown community, a dedicated agenda for alumni groups will take place from November 5–9. It will be an opportunity to reconnect, build new relationships, and, above all, imagine together everything this community can continue to build for the common good, for its organizations and ventures, and for future generations of business leaders.

A Multifaceted Leader Committed to Purposeful Service

María Florencia’s commitment to building connections does not stem from a single professional experience, but rather from a way of understanding life: as a continuous process of learning, transformation, and service. Her professional development, personal interests, and desire to contribute to the well-being of others converge in this vision—a dimension of her journey that naturally aligns with the values of the Georgetown spirit.

As a business administration professional and founder of MFR Consultoría y Gestión, she understands that every organizational transformation is, at its core, a human transformation. Her approach combines analysis and strategy with empathy and a deep understanding of people. For her, transforming an organization does not necessarily begin with an organizational chart, but with the ability to look inward, understand what needs to change, and recognize the people who will make that transformation possible.

This same perspective is reflected in her editorial contributions on leadership, organizational culture, and change management, published, among other outlets, by Forbes Argentina. It is also evident in her experience as a road and trail runner—disciplines in which she sets goals, sustains effort, and learns to trust processes whose results are often built one step at a time.

“I believe deeply in the value of pausing and reflecting on where we are going, what we want to achieve, and the principles that guide our actions, especially in the digital age and the fast-paced world in which we live. We cannot give what we do not give ourselves, and many times, it is through service that we find the fulfillment that makes the present a place to enjoy.” — María Florencia Rizzardi (GBEL 2024, Argentina)

Service has also been a constant throughout her journey. She has volunteered in a variety of settings, including Amnesty International at the Cité Universitaire in Paris; TECHO’s International Cooperation team in Buenos Aires, an organization that works alongside families living in informal settlements to overcome situations of social vulnerability; and Fundación Camino a Jericó, a home for people experiencing homelessness in Argentina.

All of these experiences now come together in the way she practices leadership. Her journey as a consultant, writer, athlete, and volunteer has enabled her to develop a broad perspective on people, organizations, and communities. This perspective is also one of her greatest contributions to the GBEL Alumni Committee: the conviction that leadership is not simply about achieving goals, but about creating the conditions for others to grow and contribute.

Her story invites a broader perspective on leadership: not only in terms of what each person can accomplish individually, but also in terms of what can be created when people choose to share, connect, and serve. That possibility is open to every member of the alumni community.

Today, the next step can begin with each individual: sharing an experience, starting a conversation, building a bridge, offering knowledge, or simply reaching out to another member of the network. A community becomes truly strong when its members choose to participate and contribute what they know and who they are in service of something greater. Getting involved is also a form of leadership. Together, the GBEL alumni network can help make a difference and strengthen a community of business leaders whose impact extends beyond their individual journeys, reaching current and future generations.

Congratulations, María Florencia. Thank you for your commitment and for multiplying, through your example, the spirit of the GBEL Alumni network!