The Mexican Maryangel García-Ramos Guadiana is the new leader of the global human rights advocacy organization at the intersection of gender and disability.
By JOSÉ ÁNGEL DE LA PAZ | EGADE BUSINESS SCHOOL
The EGADE Business School alumna and renowned Mexican diversity and inclusion activist, Maryangel García-Ramos Guadiana, was appointed as the new Executive Director of Women Enabled International (WEI), an organization based in Washington, D.C. that advances human rights at the intersection of gender and disability across the world.
García Ramos took the position on October 3, after a year-long interim leadership by Suzannah Phillips, director of Strategy at WEI. The pioneering founder of WEI, Stephanie Ortoleva, retired from the organization on September 30, 2021.
“Women, girls, and non-binary people with disabilities need to keep on being part of the human rights and gender equality conversations and platforms, more than ever. I am humbled and ready to continue the powerful work WEI has done over the past 10 years to advance our rights. I look forward to this new powerful moment in the world where we push a new generation of disabled feminist leadership,” García-Ramos stated in her message.
#ICYMI @WomenEnabled is thrilled to announce that @Maryangel_ has joined Women Enabled International as our next Executive Director. Please join us in welcoming her in the comments below! https://t.co/Rs42grnT6U
— Women Enabled International (@WomenEnabled) October 11, 2022
For her part, Catherine Hyde Townsend, Board President at WEI, commented: “We are very excited about her knowledge, skills and perspective, a unique combination that will guarantee both stability and innovation as Maryangel leads WEI into its second decade.”
Founded in 2012, WEI is the first international organization devoted to advancing the intersectional rights of gender and disability.
García-Ramos assumes her new role at WEI contributing her more than 15 years of experience as a defender of human rights and inclusion advocacy leader.
The EGADE MBA graduate founded the Movement for Mexican Women with Disabilities, and up to her new appointment had been serving as the Leader of the Office of Diversity and Inclusion of Tecnológico de Monterrey’s Center for the Recognition of Human Dignity.
On September 26, she was also named honorary President of the Nuevo León State Council for People with Disabilities.
In 2019, García-Ramos was awarded the Tec Prize for Women, and this year was recognized in the select group of the AACSB Influential Leaders.