EP 81: Navigating Leadership and Strategy: Monica’s Path from Chile to New York

Monica has been a technology entrepreneur since 1999 and a social entrepreneur since 2015. As a founding board member of Nisum Latam, she played a crucial role in its growth and international expansion, transforming it from a Chilean startup into a global firm with 100 employees from over 25 countries, specializing in complex software development for the U.S. market.

Currently, Monica serves as the Executive Director of Kodea Nonprofit, which focuses on digitally empowering Latin Americans. Kodea promotes inclusive tech development, female digital empowerment, early innovation, and the integration of Computer Science in classrooms to foster digital talent.

Monica has represented Chile on the APEC Business Advisory Council (ABAC) since 2022 and has been a Business Director and columnist for Economy and Business at El Mercurio since 2019. Her accolades include the Chiletec Women in Technology Award (2015) and the Service Export Award (2016). She has been honored as one of Chile's 100 Women Leaders and, in 2021, received the Woman in Tech Lifetime Achievement Award and the Women that Build Awards from Globant. Additionally, she served as an ambassador for the Chile Brand and, with her Kodea team, won the JK Visionaries award in 2020.

Key themes emerging out of our conversation:

• Operating as a Pleaser
• From Chile to New York
• A Round Peg in a Square Hole
• All the Limits Are in Our Mind
• A Lonely Journey and Naysayers
• Focus on Excellence, Money Follows
• Unpacking Pain and Self-Acceptance
• Sharing Your Problems, Your Fragility
• Resolving Conflict, Creating Safe Spaces
• Promoting Chile and Breaking Stereotypes
• Understanding Why We Act the Way We Do
• From Tech Entrepreneur to Founder of Kodea
• Risks of Poor Planning, Leading to Desperation
• Finding Your tribe, People with the Same Mindset

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