Paula Cucalón
Paula Cucalón
Deputy Program Director, Latin America
Paula Cucalón is a Political Scientist from the University of the Andes, Specialist in Regional Development, with a Master’s Degree in Public Affairs and Governance. She brings 20+ years of experience in international cooperation, project management, impact investment, and effective channel-building between the public sector, private sector, communities, and international agents.
Her previous work has been developing successful business development plans, fundraising strategies, and implementing ESG principles, all requiring effective stakeholder engagement. Paula served most recently as Director of Competitiveness for the city of Bogotá, improving the productivity of more than 30,000 SMEs through digital transformation, innovation, and new business models that incorporate building capacities, technology appropriation, and access to international markets. She has worked as deputy director, consultant, and advisor in different organizations of multiple sectors, including Reconciliación Colombia, Renault, Terpel Foundation, Federation of Coffee Growers of Colombia, Fundación Acdi Voca, and Agencia Renovación del Territorio. Paula has channeled more than USD 10 million to Colombia's development ecosystem, closing poverty gaps and promoting inclusive growth in the region.
She is an authentic, courageous leader who loves to inspire teams to find their purpose and achieve social impact and shared value. She is a passionate advocate of diversity, equity, and inclusion and a loving, present, and engaged mom to daughter Luciana, as well as a daughter and aunt within a large, fun-loving mixed family.