Thought Leader: Leonor (Leo) Gutiérrez Fernández

Leonor (Leo) Gutiérrez Fernández, Director of the Women in Agriculture Initiative (WAI) at Root Capital, is an expert in working at the intersection of gender equity, impact investing, and global development. She has been featured at conferences and events hosted by industry leaders, including INCAE, Vista Alta, Business Fights Poverty and Impact Frontiers. 

At Root Capital—a nonprofit that invests in small and growing agricultural enterprises to transform rural communities—Leo leads the organization’s strategy to advance gender equity in the impact investing space. As Director, she collaborates with Root Capital staff and partners around the world, including farmer-allied businesses, multilateral organizations, corporations, and funders. Under her leadership, Root Capital has proven that gender-inclusive businesses are:

• More stable and profitable;
• Less likely to experience significant revenue dips;
• Less likely to default; and
• More likely to secure new sources of financing

Leo’s gender equity expertise has been featured in Agri Investor, Philanthropy News Digest, and more. 

As the Executive Director of Vital Voices Costa Rica from 2018 to 2020, she played a pivotal role in providing strategic consultancy and mentoring to local and international corporations striving for gender equality. Her work with Vital Voices Global Partnership, an international non-profit organization based in Washington, D.C., focused on empowering women leaders in the areas of economic empowerment, women's political participation, and human rights. Her diverse leadership experience has equipped her with valuable insights and a comprehensive understanding of the challenges faced by women worldwide.