Maria Gonzalez Picatoste is an accomplished professional with an impressive track record in ecosystem and relationship building that fuels economic growth. Her career spans government, non-profit foundations, and media, allowing her to accumulate varied expertise and a versatile skillset.

Maria honed her communication and leadership competencies at prestigious institutions such as IESE Business School at the University of Navarra and the Wharton School. She pursued a Bachelor of Journalism degree at Universidad Complutense de Madrid and a Master of Arts in Multimedia Journalism at ABC - Universidad Complutense de Madrid. During her studies, she participated in an Erasmus exchange program at Roskilde Universitetscenter.

Maria's aptitude for community engagement and her ability to identify win-win opportunities led her to work at Telefonica's Open Future, where she managed alliances, and at Endeavor as an account executive, entrepreneur selection & growth, and community engagement manager. Later, she took on a role as Head of Alliances and Investment at High Commissioner Spain Startup Nation - Cabinet, Presidency of the Government of Spain. She is a Columbia Business School Endeavor Mentor Program graduate and an expert in marketing, entrepreneurship, and corporate strategy.

Maria is a prolific writer and editor who launched and edited Rakontant, a digital platform that explored entrepreneurship, innovation and global trends. Some of her previous employers and clients include Onda Madrid, ABC.es - Vocento, The Economist, and Fundación Universidad-Empresa. She is also an experienced foreign correspondent who reported on topics relevant to Spain and Latin America from New York City.

Maria is curious and purpose-driven and thrives under pressure. She has an impressive profile that speaks to her versatility, creative problem-solving skills, and determination to create positive social and economic impact.