Isabela earned a BA in International Affairs from Saint Anselm College and a Masters in International Affairs focusing on Economic and Political Development from SIPA-Columbia University. After SIPA, Isabela returned to Colombia to contribute to its social and economic development, working in various executive roles across NGOs, public, and private sectors. She has focused her career on fostering economic growth through entrepreneurship and innovation. As the Entrepreneurship and Innovation Director at the Cali Chamber of Commerce, she supported over 3000 entrepreneurs and launched the local ecosystem, elevating Cali’s startup scene to rank among Latin America’s top ecosystems. During the pandemic, she and her husband traveled over 4000KM while working remotely connecting with Colombia’s biodiversity. Joining IDB Lab in June 2022, she now oversees a $20M portfolio supporting climate, impact-oriented startups, innovation finance and outcomes based financing projects in Latin America. In her free time, Isabela enjoys yoga, dancing, gardening, scuba diving, volunteering in environmental conservation, and spending time with her husband, friends, and dogs Mango and René.
Isabela Echeverry Penon
Senior Discovery Officer
IDB Lab
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