Celebrating Leadership: Blanca Castro Recognized Among Central America's Most Influential Women
We are thrilled to share that Blanca María Castro Gutiérrez, IWCA Executive Director, has recently been recognized in two major regional publications for her leadership, vision, and impact in the coffee sector and beyond.
Blanca was featured in El Economista in their special February edition highlighting influential voices across Central America. The article focused on her work with IWCA and the challenges—and opportunities—of driving equity and inclusion in the coffee value chain. Blanca emphasized the importance of creativity, resilience, and shared leadership, especially in resource-limited nonprofit spaces.
“The organizational strengthening of these groups is vital,” she shared in the interview. “We must be creative and resilient.”
Shortly after, Forbes Centroamérica named Blanca one of the Most Powerful Women in Central America 2025, recognizing her among a distinguished group of leaders shaping the future of the region. You can see the full Forbes list here:
Forbes Centroamérica 2025 – Mujeres Poderosas
A Shared Honor
While Blanca’s individual recognition is cause for celebration, she’s quick to remind us that this is a reflection of something greater:
“I feel truly honored by this recognition, but I want to be clear that it is not mine alone. It is only possible because of the incredible team effort behind everything we do at IWCA. This includes our dedicated Board of Directors, our tireless and talented staff, the 36 IWCA chapters and their thousands of committed members, and the many organizations and individuals around the world who believe in and support our mission. Together, we are building something powerful—something rooted in equity, community, and collective leadership. Thank you all for being part of this journey.”
At IWCA, we know that every milestone we reach is thanks to the dedication of our global community—our chapter leaders, volunteers, staff, partners, and supporters. Together, we are building a more inclusive and equitable coffee industry.
Please join us in celebrating Blanca, and in celebrating all the women in coffee whose leadership, resilience, and vision continue to inspire change across the globe.