Natalie Ipsen

I've been working in accounting for 16 years, starting in Colombia in 2011 and continuing for the past 10 years here in the United States. Even though accounting is how I sustain my life financially, my main purpose has always been to create social impact. Right after university, I didn't just find a job - I created a nonprofit in Colombia and became an independent accountant with 5 to 6 small company clients. Through that nonprofit, I landed two government projects in public health impact, which ignited my passion for social work. When I realized I needed English to access international resources for social impact, I took the risk of leaving everything behind and moved to Dublin, Ireland for 18 months to learn the language. After Ireland, I came to the U.S. and worked for 5 years at Flowers, the company that makes bread for 8 states, and then joined Carta, an equity-focused startup, as a project manager. I hold a master's degree in project management from 2015, which complements my accounting background. Three years ago, I moved to Colorado where I currently work as a project accountant, combining both my abilities. A year ago, I started my own social venture connecting people learning Spanish here in the U.S. with women in South America who are rebuilding their lives after cancer. I understand the struggle of learning a language - even after high school, college, university courses, and my time in Ireland, I didn't speak fluent English until I started practicing in real conversations. My venture creates that practice space for Spanish learners while providing income opportunities for vulnerable women who often lose their jobs after cancer. My career hasn't been easy, but creating companies that solve real social and environmental problems is my mission and purpose.