With more than 20 years of experience in the public and private sectors, Carolina Duran is a Program Director at Building Markets, a non-profit organization that creates jobs and sustains peace by championing local entrepreneurs in conflict-affected countries. She is also a Co-Founder at Beyond Ventures, a consultancy firm that provides strategic advice and support for universities, VC and PE funds, chambers of commerce, and ventures in innovation and investment. Carolina is passionate about the use of technology and innovation for the greater good, and has a proven track record of facilitating policy and resource allocation to assist businesses in challenging environments. She has been an international speaker at prestigious forums and events, such as OECDE, TedX, Stanford University, and IXL Innova Flanders, sharing her insights and best practices on entrepreneurship, economic development, and social change. She has also been a strategic ally for several chambers of commerce, developing and implementing programs to open new markets for Colombian ventures wishing to enter the USA or Europe. Carolina holds a Master's degree in International Relations and Public Administration from Columbia University, where she was a Fulbright and Colfuturo scholar, and a Bachelor's degree in Economics from Universitat de Barcelona.