Marisa Rivera is the President of Mpowerment Works, a consulting rm designed to impact global change by empowering people and communities. Her special focus is empowering the majority: “Women”. Mpowerment Works, LLC, provides unique domestic and international seminars, keynote presentations, and innovative programs; all designed to empower people to become agents of social change. Marisa Rivera is a Social Entrepreneur. Currently she is producing Latina Voices: Leadership Journeys, an educational video showcasing Latina leaders sharing their secrets to success.
Her extensive work experience in the nonprofit, government and private sectors have always been used to resolve justice and equality issues facing the world today. Ms. Rivera has over 30 years of combined educational, consulting, international, and community development, leadership development experience. Prior to starting Mpowerment Works, Ms. Rivera was President of the National Hispana Leadership Institute (NHLI), the top leadership program for Latinas in the country.
Before leading NHLI, Ms. Rivera worked in higher education as the Special Assistant to the President for Diversity and Community Relations at Black Hawk College in Illinois and at Western Illinois University managing the Hispanic Program for Educational Advancement as well as the Learning to Lead Program for Hispanic students.
Her work experience also includes several assignments overseas, including working for the U.S. Information Agency, the U.S. Embassy in Panama and as a consultant in organizational development in Spain. She has been invited as a U.S. State Department speaker to Peru, Ecuador, Argentina, Colombia, Mexico, and Curaçao; and teleconferencing on programs on women’s empowerment in Bolivia. She served as as an international elections observer in Honduras. Ms. Rivera has also participated in a fellowship to Israel and Puerto Rico with the American Jewish Committee and Project Interchange. She recently traveled to Africa to work with Women’s groups in Kenya and Rwanda with the World Pulse Organization.
Ms. Rivera is originally from San Juan, Puerto Rico. She has a Bachelor of Arts in Communications from American University and a Master’s degree in Education Administration from Western Illinois University. She is also a graduate of the Harvard University JFK School of Government Executive Program, the Center for Creative Leadership Institute, the Gallup StrengthsFinder Coaching Program, the Gallup Leadership Institute, the Empowerment Institue, the HACR Harvard Business Executive Program on Corporate Governance, and the Mexican American Solidarity Foundation.
She is the recipient of the Cesar Chavez Community Service Award given by the US Hispanic Leadership Institute, and she was awarded as one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century by Women’s eNews. She is also the recipient of the “Huesped Ilustre Medal from the city of Ayacucho, Peru, The Women Helping Women Award by the Hispanic Professional Women’s Association, The Trailblazer Award by Latina Style Magazine, the Global Impact Leadership Award from the Hispanic Women’s Corporation, the Superior Honor Award from the State Department, the Administrative Excellence In Promoting Multiculturalism Award from Western Illinois University, and the Illumination Award from the City Club of the Quad Cities.
Ms. Rivera has been featured in Hispanic Magazine, the Woman MBA Magazine, the TV show Hispanics Today, Lifetime Television for Women, Champions of Change, LatinaStyle Magazine, Monster.com and the Soy Latina, Soy Unica SAMHSA website.
Ms. Rivera has extensive community service and volunteering experience. She served on the Board of the U.S. Committee for United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM). Currently she is on the board of World Pulse, a nonpro t organization that addresses global issues through women’s eyes. She was appointed by Governor Mark Warner of Virginia to the Commission on the Status of Women and was a Board member for Habitat for Humanity in Northern Virginia, has volunteered for many Latina Youth groups, the Red Cross of America, the Hispanic Heritage Foundation, The Girls Scouts of America, the Make a Difference National Project, the March of Dimes, the Boys and Girls Club, the Read Aloud Program, the Quad Cities Minority Achievement Project, Quad Cities Mentoring Program, Quad Cities Chamber of Commerce Leadership, the Civil Institute for Women of Color.
Ms. Rivera is a dynamic keynote speaker who will energize your audience and inspire them to achieve their dreams. She is a strong advocate for Latina leadership, youth empowerment, women entrepreneurship and global activism. Her areas of expertise include; leadership training; empowerment and inspiration for personal development, management experience in national and international programs development, non-pro t governance, Hispanic marketing, diversity training, and fundraising.
