Karla Espinoza is a results-driven operations and strategy leader with extensive experience driving global initiatives, fostering public–private partnerships, and leading cross-functional teams. At the SME Finance Forum, she played a pivotal role in securing a strategic partnership with the Global Finance and Technology Network (GFTN). She co-led the design and planning of the Global SME Finance Forum 2025, an official side event of the G20 South Africa Presidency, building on her leadership of the Forum’s flagship events in Brazil (2024), India (2023), and Cambodia (2022).
Karla also spearheaded strategic growth initiatives, including expanding the Forum’s market presence in Latin America. Previously, at the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), she served as Project Coordinator and Economic Consultant, where she led a $10.9M technical cooperation program and produced influential knowledge products that informed policy and practice.
In the private sector, Karla held C-level roles at Club Med, Mexicana Airlines, and Aeromexico Airlines, where she achieved substantial revenue growth and strengthened operational efficiency.
She holds a Master’s in Economics and a Bachelor’s in Business Administration from the Monterrey Institute of Technology and Higher Education (ITESM) in Mexico, as well as a specialization in International Business from Pompeu Fabra University in Barcelona, Spain.
Based in Virginia with her husband and two children, Karla is also deeply committed to advocating for social causes.