AVPN Global Conference 2023 | 20 - 22 June 2023

Days
Hrs
Mins
Secs
Daniel Fuentes
Senior Manager, Business Development

at

Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA)

About

In collaboration with Pillar Nonprofit Network (https://pillarnonprofit.ca/) and its social finance intermediary, VERGE Capital (http://vergecapital.ca/), I am managing Social Enterprise Southwestern Ontario (https://www.sesw.ca/): a regional partnership of business support service providers implementing professional development programs, coaching services for social entrepreneurs, and connections to investors for enterprises interested in achieving social or environmental outcomes. Following my MBA studies at Ivey Business School, I participated in a scoping field mission of the Mennonite Economic Development Association (https://www.meda.org/) in Guatemala. My contributions to this mission included financial modeling for microfinancing impact and the development of partnerships with regional and national partners for strategic planning with local stakeholders. Following this international experience, I collaborated with the largest coalition of conservation organizations in Southwestern Ontario, Carolinian Canada (https://caroliniancanada.org/), in an initiative to bridge social finance models with restoration and conservation efforts. I continue to explore opportunities of collaboration between impact-first and profit-first organizations to accelerate and scale environmental efforts. Before starting my MBA studies, I worked as a Political Affairs Analyst for the Embassy of Mexico in Canada. I also launched a social enterprise incubator in Juarez, Mexico (the first one of its kind in the City), and a social entrepreneurial bootcamp in collaboration with the Office of the High Commissioner for Peace of Colombia. Highlights: Experience, passion, and commitment in executing and delivering results for impact. -Social entrepreneurial experience in North America and Latin America. -Understanding of the business sustainability framework for long-term value creation and strategic positioning of an organization. -Bilingual in Spanish and English.