Tatiana Baena
Tatiana Baena is a dedicated public servant, entrepreneur, and community leader based in Central Falls, Rhode Island. With a strong focus on expanding opportunity across finance, government, and community, she serves as a City Councilor at-large, currently in her third term, and is actively running for re-election. Tatiana’s career path has been diverse, beginning in Congressman David Cicilline’s office, then moving into education administration where she directed enrichment programs and managed grants for the Central Falls School District. She has also held roles at the Rhode Island Department of Education, applying her expertise in finance and systems to support schools and districts.
Beyond her public service, Tatiana is the founder and president of Mundialito, a volunteer-run nonprofit established in 2015. Mundialito uses soccer as a cultural and intergenerational bridge, hosting tournaments and leadership programming that promote education, inclusion, and community engagement. Under her leadership, the organization has grown to serve hundreds of youths and families, raising approximately $20,000 in scholarships and creating opportunities for students to gain experience in coaching, refereeing, and event management. Tatiana also runs Better Perspective Consulting, where she provides grant writing, financial planning, and strategic consulting to schools, nonprofits, and small businesses.
Tatiana holds a B.S. in Business with an accounting focus from the University of Rhode Island. Her professional philosophy emphasizes transparency, accountability, and stakeholder engagement, whether in government, nonprofit leadership, or consulting. As a mother, councilwoman, and entrepreneur, she balances her commitment to family with a deep dedication to community-building, ensuring that every initiative she leads—from local governance to educational programs and community sports—is designed to empower individuals, strengthen systems, and create meaningful, lasting impact.
• Life insurance license
• University of Rhode Island - College of Business- Bachelor's
• New Leaders Council
• Millennial Rhode Island
• Central Falls Alumni Association
• Cicilline for Congress Central Falls Leadership Team
• The Colombian American Cultural Society of Rhode Island, Inc.
• Project GOAL Inc.
• Millennial RI
• Pawtucket Storm
• Mundialito
• CENTRAL FALLS ALUMNI ASSOCIATION
• New Leaders Council
What do you attribute your success to?
I would say that the belief from my family has been huge. My mom and my dad have always been really supportive. But also just the determination, right? I never really had a clear path where I knew exactly where I was going, like some people who say 'I'm going to get X degree and work at X place.' My path has been sort of nonlinear, but I'm just very determined. I'm very determined to learn, to help, to better myself, to be an example. I also have belief in God. I am a God-fearing woman, and I have faith that everything will work out in the way that it's supposed to. I'm a lifelong learner, and I'm someone who is constantly learning and likes to grow. I'm someone who doesn't like to stay idle or just let life pass me by. I like to keep busy.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say it's going to work out. Believe in yourself. Take everything in and learn as much as you can, because you never know when you're going to use those things. Also, don't burn bridges. Obviously value yourself, but you never know when you might encounter people later on in life, so make sure that you treat everyone with respect, including yourself. Know your value and your worth.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One challenge is sexism, which is definitely something women in general face. For people of color, and I'm Latina, racism plays a role sometimes. Support systems are also a challenge. I've encountered many women who are very supportive of other women, as we should be, but I've also unfortunately encountered some women who put others down. That's a challenge I see more and more as I grow in my field. Sometimes people, or some women, like being the first or the only. Not all women, but we need more women who are empowering younger women. So I would say it's an opportunity for more women to be mentors or serve as mentors to younger women. Another challenge that goes hand in hand with sexism is being a working mom. I've noticed people have frowned upon me being a working mom. There have been people who have said stuff to me like, 'before you continue growing in your career, you need to make sure that you're taking care of your husband and that you're a good mom,' and I'm like, but I am already doing these things. Why are you telling me this? I do feel like I'm a good mom and I'm a good partner to my husband. I think social media has something to do with that, because people see when you post about attending events or working on things, but I'm not necessarily posting about taking my child to the park or going on vacation with my family. It was very surprising to me, especially to hear from other women, older women telling me this. More and more it's like people saying make sure you're not leaving your kid behind.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Personally, family is most important to me, along with honesty and commitment. Professionally, I would say transparency, accountability, being ethical, and doing things with integrity are the values that matter most to me.