Latin America Leadership Program

by Cristina Ruiz (G'21)

The GCL Impact Award was created by Georgetown University’s Latin America Leadership Program and the GCL Advisory Committee to recognize Global Competitiveness Leadership Program (GCL) alumni who have demonstrated outstanding leadership in promoting the multiplier effect in the Latin American region. Today, we are very proud to announce that Allison Silva, GCL 2009 from Bolivia, was awarded the 2020 GCL Impact Award.

Through her foundation Emprender Futuro, Allison Silva (GCL 2009, Bolivia) has been a catalyst for the development of new opportunities in Bolivia with scale-up entrepreneurship and women in tech education. Allison inspires and teaches about technology and entrepreneurship through the platforms Bolivia Emprende, El Efecto Gratitud, and Mujeres 360, to build a community around women and men entrepreneurs and to generate a positive multiplier effect that reaches their families and communities. Allison believes that “in order to change the mindset on market vision, collaboration, and gender, we must build trust, and that it is important to recognize the role of women and entrepreneurs in building a trust-based economy to create equal opportunities for all."

Allison promotes leadership and entrepreneurial soft skills, such as empathy, and develops communication campaigns that promote gratitude as a tool for change and empowerment, starting from the awareness of each person's experiences to become Changemakers. She strives to achieve systemic change, not only in Bolivia but across borders as well. In addition, she leads the company she co-founded after GCL, Eressea Solutions, to provide tech solutions in Bolivia and around the world, and this year she’s launching a new company, LinkSpace, to foster a new model of doing business. Also, she will be co-leading the first tech entrepreneurship ecosystem mapping in Bolivia during the next three years in partnership with FundaPro and Solydes in order to develop a document for national and international reference to promote tech entrepreneurship in the country.

Allison has been recognized by different organizations since her GCL experience for her continued impact:

• Ashoka Fellow – Global Social Entrepreneur Network
• Founding Curator – Hub La Paz (Global Shapers, World Economic Forum)
• Former President – GCL Alumni (2013 – 2014)
• IVLP Entrepreneurship – International Visitor Leadership Program (Department of State, USA)
• TOYP Bolivia – Top Outstanding Young People (JCI Junio Chamber International)
• Selected to represent Bolivia at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit (India) as a woman entrepreneur by the US Embassy in Bolivia

Some of the impact that Allison has achieved throughout these years with Emprender Futuro:

1. Entrepreneurship (Bolivia Emprende)

• PLEI Program: Training and strengthening of 200 companies.
• Total visits to the Bolivia Emprende online platform”: More than 5 million visits in the last five years 
• Trained more than 5,200 entrepreneurs from 2014 to 2019
• Emprender Futuro is working in four cities. In 2020, they will be working in 7 cities in Bolivia and one city outside Bolivia.
• Emprender Futuro has created two mobile applications with digital tools for entrepreneurs 
• Emprender Futuro awarded 7 International scholarships to participate in entrepreneurship experiences in Colombia, Mexico, France, and the U.S.

2. Women and Technology (Mujeres 360)

• In the last two years, 123 young women have been trained in The 360 Effect Women and Tech program (unique methodology developed by Allison and her team), with the support of the U.S. Embassy in Bolivia.
  
• Mujeres 360 organized 3 Women and Tech forums in two cities in Bolivia, featuring women leaders in tech.
• The 360 Effect Women and Tech grants have provided scholarships to women for tech education.
• Through an alliance with a financial institution, they are working on designing a tech solution with young women entrepreneurs. With this solution, they work towards closing the gender gap in education and employment.

3. Publications (Report on Tech Start-up Ecosystem Mapping in Bolivia) 

•  During the next three years, Fundacion Emprender Futuro will develop the first report on the technology start-up ecosystem in Bolivia, in collaboration with Fundapro and Solydes Foundation, in order to provide a document for national and international reference for the development of this industry.
  

Allison’s impact shows her commitment to the GCL program mission, as she puts it:

“All of this (impact) wouldn’t have been possible if I wouldn’t have been a part of the GCL program where I learned that consistency, continuity, and commitment are the necessary drivers for change. My appreciation to Georgetown University is infinite.” 

Allison Silva is a role model for all new GCL generations. Her dedication and commitment support the mission of the GCL program, which aims to generate positive change in Latin American countries and activate a multiplier effect with exponential impact throughout the region. Congratulations, Allison, and thank you for all that you have achieved and continue to achieve!