Verónica Maldonado Envisions A ‘New Business World’ With Thriving Hispanics Companies 

The Colombian-born businesswoman became the president of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. 

<p>Verónica Maldonado takes the reins of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce with a positive vision for Hispanic businesses and women entrepreneurs. (Negocios Now)</p>

After a challenging year for many small businesses trying to stay afloat during COVID-19 lockdown, Colombian-born businesswoman Verónica Maldonado became the president and CEO of the Georgia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GHCC) in mid-June. 

She sees it as an opportunity to create a post-pandemic “new world.”

“Unfortunately, the pandemic was a strong blow, especially for our communities, but it allowed us to see our vulnerabilities. If we seize this opportunity as a way to create a new world, we can enhance the resilience of our business community,” said Maldonado.

A communicator and the founder of VMT Consulting, Maldonado was appointed in May.

She has an inspiring project for the GHCC, which comprises 1,300 members — 45 percent women — and 585 companies.

“I have the opportunity to create a new world for our business community amid this crisis, to think differently, to transform the adversity we have faced and create a new business world, with new thoughts about how to move forward,” Maldonado said.

From her perspective, the challenge the Chamber of Commerce faces is to continue providing members with the information and resources they need in these times of change. 

“The most important thing is to guide our business community,  increase business opportunities and make sure that companies become more economically sustainable,” said Maldonado, who embraces the so-called Driven to Thrive mindset. 

Maldonado comes from a family of entrepreneurs. She says one of her priorities is to provide more resources to businesswomen. “Latinas are growing enormously in the business world.” 

“I have experience in business training, business and corporate development, as well as getting ready to work with large companies,” said Maldonado. 

With Maldonado at the helm, the organization plans to enter sectors in which it has little representation. 

Despite low numbers of female entrepreneurs at large, Latinas are breaking the norm.

“I am trying to understand why we are not involved in the technology and innovation sectors,” said the former director of the Georgia Mentor Protégé Connection, an initiative through which she supported the development and growth of more than 150 companies. 

The new president of the GHCC says that she arrives with a new vision of the future. “I come with a pretty aggressive vision, which I think is necessary at the present moment,” she said.

Verónica Maldonado asume presidencia de Cámara de Comercio Hispana de Georgia con visión futurista was first published in Negocios Now.

(Translated and edited by Gabriela Olmos.)

(Edited by Gabriela Alejandra Olmos and Fern Siegel)