Her Story
About María
María Constanza Herrera is an Industrial Engineer from the Universidad de Chile and is currently pursuing her MBA at the Babson F.W. Olin Graduate School of Business, where she is completing her second year as a member of the Class of 2027. With a concentration in finance and a strong interest in entrepreneurship, innovation, sustainability, and climate technology, María Constanza combines analytical expertise with a purpose-driven mindset focused on creating meaningful and scalable impact. She currently serves as President of the Babson Women in Business Club, where she leads initiatives that connect women across the entrepreneurial and professional community while completing her MBA.
Prior to graduate school, María Constanza spent five years at a boutique innovation consulting firm, working with organizations across diverse industries including healthcare, energy, mining, and emerging ventures. Her experience includes supporting COVID-related healthcare innovation initiatives, developing new business models and logistics opportunities within the energy sector, addressing sustainability challenges related to water and food in arid mining regions, contributing to M&A-related projects, and validating early-stage ventures through venture-building and vendor-studio approaches. Throughout her career, she has focused on bridging the gap between large corporations, startups, and entrepreneurs to accelerate innovation and create long-term value.
María Constanza is passionate about building solutions that address complex global challenges through collaboration, entrepreneurship, and responsible investment. Her leadership philosophy is grounded in growth, transparency, trust, purpose, significance, and optimism. In addition to her role at Babson, she is a member of the Influential Woman Network and was selected as part of the Influential Women 2026 feature, recognizing her commitment to leadership, innovation, and empowering others. Through her work in venture capital, sustainability, and entrepreneurship, she continues to inspire collaboration and drive positive change across industries and communities.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with María
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to maintaining an optimistic mindset and trusting the process, even during times of uncertainty. I believe that every challenge presents an opportunity to learn, grow, and become more resilient. By staying positive, remaining focused on my goals, and having confidence that consistent effort will lead to meaningful results, I have been able to navigate obstacles and continue moving forward both personally and professionally.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I have ever received is that my choices are not definitive, and I always have the ability to change my path and continue building my career along the way. This perspective has allowed me to embrace growth, remain open to new opportunities, and understand that career journeys are not always linear. By being adaptable and willing to learn, I have been able to make intentional decisions, evolve professionally, and create a path that aligns with my goals and values.
03What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that are most important to me in both my work and personal life are growth, trust, and purpose. I believe continuous growth allows me to learn, adapt, and become the best version of myself while embracing new opportunities and challenges. Trust is the foundation of meaningful relationships, collaboration, and success, as it creates an environment built on respect and authenticity. Most importantly, having a sense of purpose guides my decisions and motivates me to make a positive impact through the work I do and the connections I build.
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