Beatriz A. Puga

ASA Alimentaria (Alianza para la Seguridad Alimentaria) is a grassroots alliance transforming the food system in Baja California Sur, Mexico, by integrating community-driven solutions, agroecology, and sustainable development. ASA builds bridges between producers, consumers, and institutions to create resilient food ecosystems rooted in food sovereignty, environmental justice, and local knowledge. As Grants and Community Philanthropy Officer, I led resource mobilization, fundraising strategy, and donor engagement, aligning ASA’s mission with the priorities of high-net-worth individuals, foundations, and strategic partners. Key contributions: - Coordinated the successful proposal and grant management process with national and international donors, including a flagship partnership with Fundación X focused on community-led food recovery and climate resilience. - Designed and launched Guardianes del Sistema Alimentario, ASA’s first structured donor program, securing long-term individual contributions through segmented giving tiers, tailored incentives, and narrative-based engagement strategies. - Strengthened ASA’s visibility and positioning by co-leading the production of strategic communication materials, including donor reports, impact stories, and multi-platform campaigns aligned with ASA’s brand and values. - Fostered cross-sector alliances with chefs, agroecological producers, community kitchens, and local governments to support system-wide food transformation initiatives and reduce food loss across the supply chain. During my time at ASA, I applied a systems-thinking approach to mobilize funds, co-create projects, and unite diverse actors under a shared vision for food justice and sustainability. This role solidified my belief in the power of local action, strategic partnerships, and community storytelling as vehicles for systemic change.

UNICEF is the agency of the United Nations dedicated to providing humanitarian and developmental aid to children worldwide. Its Regional Advisory Office in Latin America and the Caribbean (LACRO) offers crucial technical support to Country Offices and programs throughout the region. Within the Partnerships and Fundraising Services hub, I took a leading role in developing "Social Champions", an Emerging Community Engagement and Fundraising Mechanism (1st inter-agency recruitment program dedicated to mobilizing People-Powered fundraising campaigns for UNICEF through a United Nations Volunteer subsidy). Key contributions: - Successfully expanded Social Champions across LAC, implementing it in Mexico and Panama and providing support to its scale-up stage in its piloting country, Ecuador. - Spearheaded the initiative's growth, collaborating with Local Managers and deploying over 90 volunteers, who acquired 2,652 new campaign supporters within the first few months of operations. - Enhanced fundraising capacity by cultivating strategic partnerships, introducing innovative recruitment methods, and optimizing the overall stakeholder experience. - Collaborated with Team Leaders and Program Managers of 14 Country Offices driving the implementation of global toolkits and operative models to improve campaign outreach. Delivered strategic support to the Global Fundraising Office: - Organized first virtual Workshop for the UNICEF canvassing teams, a 2-week global virtual experience that united Top-Down and Grassroots Fundraising and People Powered Giving stakeholders. This event fostered multicultural collaboration and knowledge sharing among 700+ participants and 27 speakers from 40+ countries. - Led Global Engaging Tools, including the first Gamified-Omnichannel experience for frontline fundraisers. This tool incorporated operational skills, best practices, and UNICEF values, ensuring the delivery of a unique UNICEF campaign experience for stakeholders and donors.

Progressive International is an international movement uniting and mobilizing progressive activists and organizations. During my collaboration as a Consultant for Digital Organizing & People-Powered Giving Campaigns, I played a key role in mobilizing digital engagement campaign actions, establishing new SaaS vendor relationships, and developing the first Digital Organizing volunteer network. Highlights: - Pioneered innovative approaches for community building and digital engagement with advocacy groups through the mobilization of E-WOM strategies, Email Marketing, Community Blogs, Newsletters, and various other digital media tools. - Designed and executed high-impact community engagement campaigns while establishing a novel organizational funding framework. - Successfully implemented the organization's first CRM system, contributing to regulatory compliance and improved daily operations. - Founded the organization's inaugural community of Digital Organizers. This volunteer global network comprised young activists from 11 countries, orchestrating impactful digital actions and mobilizing global campaigns that resonated across borders. My role in this venture allowed me to develop and refine skills in digital engagement strategies, community building, vendor relations and CRM implementation, contributing to the overall success of Progressive International's mission.

UNICEF operates in over 190 countries and territories, reaching children and young people in the world's toughest places. As a Consultant for Community Engagement and Fundraising Campaigns at UNICEF Perú, I played a pivotal role within the Private Partnerships and Fundraising Services hub working closely with key stakeholders; national program manager, operational and recruitment vendors, partnerships team, frontline fundraisers, and training hubs. Highlights: - Provided active support to the People-Powered Giving Program Manager and Team Leaders, enhancing accountability throughout the full fundraising campaign cycle. - Revitalized on-boarding processes and enhanced donor prospecting efforts to ensure a superior partnership experience. - Delivered tailored training portfolios to empower local teams with the necessary skills and strategies for effective learning and development. - Collaborated with the private partnership teams to provide localized guidance, facilitating strategic partnerships with universities, private entities, and local strategic offices, resulting in heightened campaign leadership and visibility. Additionally, I gained valuable consultancy experience at the Mexico Country Office, serving as Officer-in-Charge for the National Donor Officer during an eight-month tenure. Notably, I led the design of structural changes to key People-Powered Giving Campaigns within the organizational structure, including the restructuring of the Face-to-Face (F2F) team. I also initiated the deployment of a recruitment interagency program (UNV-UNICEF) to establish the first-ever In-House team for Telemarketing Campaigns. Throughout these experiences, I developed and applied skills in campaign management, grassroots engagement, strategic partnership development, and multicultural team leadership, contributing to the success of UNICEF's mission and fundraising efforts in Peru and Mexico.

DialogueDirect is a Certified B Corps Fundraising agency specializing in Face-to-Face fundraising, marketing, and monthly donor acquisition. The agency represents some of the most impactful International Organization across 5 countries. During my tenure as National Client Manager, I oversaw and coordinated key accounts and campaigns, ensuring engaged and long-term stakeholders contributed to the revenue growth of incumbent Clients' Programs (UNICEF, Greenpeace, Save the Children, and Children International). Highlights: - Coordinated key campaign accounts - UNICEF, Greenpeace, Save the Children and Children International - Led negotiations, forecasts, and budget capacity for partner organizations, successfully closing partnerships of significant financial value with 5 International Organizations and over 40 private sites. - Provided exceptional client services, significantly enhancing customer satisfaction and leading to a 40% reduction in average resolution time. - Served as direct line manager overseeing strategic areas (administration & finance, recruitment, private partnerships), improving scale opportunities and opening 2 new national offices. Throughout my tenure at DialogueDirect, I developed and applied skills in strategic management, partnership building, and financial negotiations. My efforts played a crucial role in fostering the growth and success of national campaigns, establishing DialogueDirect as a leader in face-to-face fundraising for impactful international causes.

During my role with DialogueDirect, I actively contributed to the organization's success through strategic relationship-building and campaign management. During my role with DialogueDirect, I actively contributed to the organization's success through strategic relationship-building and campaign management. Key contributions: - Developed and nurtured relationships with strategic private sites and governmental offices, ensuring smooth field operations, enhancing leadership presence, and maximizing campaign visibility. - Designed and implemented training resources and best practices toolkits, aimed at strengthening field operation strategies and fostering the development of innovative fundraising solutions. - Co-managed high-value private partnerships, with a focus on ensuring optimal campaign visibility and success. In this capacity, my efforts were geared towards establishing and maintaining strong connections with key stakeholders, both in the private and governmental sectors. Additionally, my involvement in training and toolkit development aimed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of field operations, contributing to the overall success of DialogueDirect's fundraising initiatives in the region.

During my internship with Rare, I had the opportunity to work closely with the Capacity Building Director. Key contributions: - Collaborated with the Capacity Building Director to implement training and learning portfolios focused on Nature Based Solutions and Fisheries. This involved working with three cohorts of local focal points in Latin America, promoting knowledge transfer and skill development. - Provided support in the coordination of national and international workshops and summits, ensuring the seamless execution of events aimed at fostering collaboration and sharing insights within the field. This experience allowed me to actively contribute to the capacity building initiatives of Rare, particularly in the context of Nature Based Solutions and Fisheries. Working on the ground and supporting workshops and summits broadened my understanding of environmental conservation efforts and the importance of knowledge dissemination for sustainable practices.

During my temporary role as a Hostess and in Customer Services at Walt Disney World, I had the opportunity to contribute to delivering exceptional guest service at Magic Kingdom Park, the most visited theme park in the world. Key contributions: - Ensuring a positive and memorable experience for visitors by providing excellent customer service in alignment with Disney's commitment to creating magical moments for guests. - Managing guest interactions and inquiries to enhance their overall enjoyment of the park. This experience not only allowed me to actively participate in delivering outstanding customer service but also provided insights into the intricacies of managing guest interactions in a high-profile and dynamic setting like Magic Kingdom.

This program plays a pivotal role in shaping my understanding and skills in addressing global challenges through sustainable practices. Throughout the program, I have delved into the trans-disciplinary aspects of sustainable development, exploring the environmental, social, and economic dimensions. The curriculum provides a comprehensive overview of the latest research, theories, and practical applications in the field. This immersive experience fosters critical thinking, analytical skills, and nurtures a holistic perspective on sustainability issues beyond the mainstream approaches. The University of Sussex, known for been named best in the world for Development Studies in the QS World University Rankings by Subject 2023 for the seventh year in a row, has taken me through a transformative academic journey that has empowered me to play a significant role in shaping a sustainable and just future.

This academic journey at one of Mexico's leading institutions provided me with a solid foundation in the field of international relations. The program offered a comprehensive exploration of diplomatic, political, economic, and social aspects of global relations. Through a combination of theoretical studies and practical experiences, I gained insights into the complexities of international affairs and developed analytical skills to understand and navigate the dynamics of the global landscape. Tecnológico de Monterrey's commitment to academic excellence and its emphasis on real-world applications allowed me to acquire a diverse set of skills, including cross-cultural communication, negotiation, and diplomatic strategies. The education received during this period has been instrumental in shaping my perspective on global issues and has been a valuable asset in my professional journey.

Studying the six-month program on Asian Studies at Lingnan University in Hong Kong was an invaluable experience that profoundly impacted my personal and academic growth. Immersed in the vibrant culture of Hong Kong, I had the opportunity to delve deep into the rich historical contexts of the region, fostering a nuanced understanding of its diverse societies. Through rigorous academic inquiry, I honed my critical thinking skills, learning to analyze complex issues from multiple perspectives. Moreover, engaging with scholars and peers from diverse backgrounds broadened my multicultural sense, enabling me to appreciate and navigate the intricacies of intercultural communication. This transformative experience not only deepened my knowledge of Asian history but also equipped me with the tools for systemic analysis, essential for comprehending the intricate socio-political dynamics shaping the world.