Manuela Gil who was a guest on episode 73 returns to introduce Maritza Lopez, a former corporate professional turned eco-entrepreneur from Colombia. Maritza, the CEO of MyEcoHome is working on regenerating the Earth through bio-products extracted from Colombian forests, and explains the importance of maintaining forests for sustainability, creating value from forests, preserving biodiversity, and developing productive forests for future generations. Maritza also explains why she changed career at age 40 as well as addressing why she wants to preserve tropical dry forests in Colombia.

About Maritza Lopez
Maritza is an executive with over 15 years of experience in managing both private and state-owned companies. She is recognised as a prominent leader in entrepreneurship and the development of non-timber forest products from Colombia's forests. Her career spans public and private organisations, where Maritza has consistently demonstrated exceptional skills in strategic management and driving triple bottom line impact initiatives. Her innovative approach and unwavering commitment to sustainability has significantly impacted natural resource conservation and economic development in local communities.

Connect with Maritza Lopez via LinkedIn  and website  

Key Quotes

• “Productive forests are forests that are romantic, poetic but also economical."
• "I think the main challenge for me now is embracing the scarcity."
• “What I'm trying to do is to live my life despite the uncertainty,”.
• "I imagine that we can regenerate 2% of the tropical dry forest in Colombia"
• "I want my daughter to see me as a woman that could follow her heart no matter what"
• “Risk must be taken because the greatest hardship of life is to risk nothing."

Time Stamps
[04:55] Productive forests and incentives.
[08:06] Understanding Colombian forest ecosystems.
[11:45] Preserving tropical rainforest through entrepreneurship.
[19:50] Balancing challenges in bioeconomy.
[24:32] Spiritual evolution in business.
[29:13] Taking risks in life.

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Producer: Sue Stockdale 
Sound Editor: Matias De Ezcurra