Maria Gracia works in the youth empowerment sector as the Executive Director of WIIE Ventures. For female professionals, WIIE Ventures is an innovation and empowerment service that offers educational opportunities and development opportunities by linking its clients with entrepreneurs and the Latin American innovation ecosystem of startups, academia, and corporations to increase the representation of women in decision-making roles within their respective industries. Maria Gracia’s short-term goal is to establish partnerships with at least three universities to deliver diverse, tailored innovation programs in Latin America. Their long-term goal is to become a driving force for gender diversity and innovation within Latin America, not only bolstering the presence of female professionals by achieving a 70% employment rate for the company’s volunteers but also extending the company’s reach to multinational companies. Coming into the YLAI Fellowship, Maria Gracia’s top business challenge is Finance, specifically, finding a sustainable revenue model that upholds their commitment to supporting female founders. During the Fellowship Placement, Maria Gracia hopes to gain knowledge and valuable insights from accomplished professionals through collaboration to enhance the fellow's professional growth and expand their network, contributing to their personal development and the success of WIIE Ventures.