Latin America Leadership Program

From her early ventures in innovation within the food industry to her work in real estate and architecture, Anamargarita Baasch’s (GCL 2016 and MPS in Real Estate ’21, Venezuela) career reflects a business vision rooted in her home country and focused on international growth. As Principal of Baasch Gallegos Architects, she has demonstrated how entrepreneurship and synergies can transcend business success to become a platform for impact, creating opportunities for professional development. 

by Guadalupe Ramirez

This vision is reflected both in her participation in civic initiatives in Venezuela and in her connection to the GCL community, where she now supports the next generation as a mentor. For Anamargarita, leadership also means leaving a positive mark on the people and spaces around us—or, as she puts it, “leaving every place better than we found it.” In the following conversation, she shares the experiences and values that have guided this journey, from volunteerism and civic engagement to mentorship.

In addition to your role as Principal at Baasch Gallegos Architects and your previous professional experience, you have also volunteered with various organizations and causes. What motivated you?

That’s true. I volunteered in Venezuela with the Unidad platform in Carabobo, helping coordinate citizen networks to document irregularities during the 2012 and 2013 presidential elections, and submitting the findings to organizations such as the Carter Center and the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR).

My motivation came from a value my parents instilled in me from an early age: leave every place better than you found it. That principle doesn’t apply only to nature when you go camping; it applies to the way you engage in a conversation, your role within a company, and the impact you leave on people’s lives.

Along these lines, and as a GCL alumna, how have you stayed connected to the network, and what inspired you to become a mentor?

I have stayed connected in many ways. For example, I have supported the preliminary selection of program applicants and stayed in touch with different cohorts—through the global network, my own cohort, and Venezuelan alumni—using digital communication platforms such as WhatsApp, as well as the virtual town halls organized by the current GCL Alumni Network Board.

Since I currently live in the area known as the DMV (D.C., Maryland, and Virginia, in the United States), it is easier for me to serve as a local point of contact for new cohorts and help connect them with key stakeholders whenever possible. I have also been invited to participate as a panelist in sessions organized by the Latin America Leadership Program (LALP), where I have shared my professional journey and supported new program participants for the in-person module on the Hilltop campus.

Among all these forms of engagement, one of the most rewarding experiences has been serving as a mentor to Tatiana Podliszewski from the 2026 cohort as she worked on her Community Resilience Portfolio, also known as PNUD. My motivation came from curiosity and, above all, from a sense of responsibility, as I felt that I had reached a point in my career where I had a mature body of experience that I could put at the service of the network.

I have also supported emergency and natural disaster response efforts, such as those following the earthquakes in Venezuela on June 24. I served as one of the main contacts within the GCL network, helping locate Venezuelan alumni and curate a list of trusted organizations to which people could send donations.

“My motivation comes from a value my parents instilled in me from an early age: ‘Leave every place better than you found it.’” — Anamargarita Baasch (GCL 2015, Venezuela)

Why do you consider guiding the next generation important? How did you prepare, and what did the experience bring you personally or professionally?

I believe that guiding others shortens the learning curve. Having the perspective of someone who has already been where you are helps you feel less alone and provides a safe space to ask questions, iterate, and grow.

To prepare, I attended the GCL Alumni Mentors alignment sessions organized by the LALP team, where we reviewed deliverables and timelines. I mapped the deadlines on my calendar and refreshed key strategic tools, such as the Business Model Canvas, along with relevant readings so I would be prepared for any needs that might arise.

For me, this experience was a deeply enriching, two-way process. It felt like experiencing GCL all over again from a different perspective. Practicing active listening to help strengthen Tatiana’s project and experience helped me grow as a professional. In fact, I began applying those same mentoring skills with my own team, and the response to a leadership approach focused on helping people reach their full potential has been transformative.

What would you say to alumni who are considering becoming mentors?

I would tell them not to hesitate. Being part of a network and serving as a mentor is a two-way street: the knowledge you have accumulated is incredibly valuable to the next generation, and the personal satisfaction of watching another leader grow while rediscovering the spirit of GCL is simply incomparable.

Thank you, Anamargarita, for your contributions as a GCL alumna to program participants, the alumni network, and society at large!