Unser Team
Bei Fundación Avanzar arbeiten Menschen mit unterschiedlichen Hintergründen, Erfahrungen und Talenten zusammen – vereint durch eine gemeinsame Vision: unterprivilegierten Frauen, Jugendlichen und Kindern echte Chancen und Perspektiven zu eröffnen.
Unsere Teammitglieder bringen Fachwissen aus Bereichen wie Bildung, Sozialarbeit, Gesundheit, Verwaltung und Projektmanagement ein. Sie arbeiten vor Ort in Ecuador und in der Schweiz zusammen, um nachhaltige Programme zu entwickeln, umzusetzen und kontinuierlich weiterzuentwickeln.
Wir glauben an Engagement, Integrität, Zusammenarbeit und Transparenz – sowohl im Team als auch in der Arbeit mit unseren Partnern und der Community.
Mehr über unsere Werte und Ziele erfahren: Zur Mission
Gemeinsam für eine gerechtere Zukunft
Avanzar Association Switzerland
Board of Directors
Elizabeth Scagnetti Kühne
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Elizabeth is Ecuadorian, with Colombian and Swiss roots. She has been living in Zurich since 1986. In 1996, she started working in the compliance departments of several international banks. She currently works at one of the largest Swiss banks.
Julia Scheider
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Julia joined the Board of Directors in 2024.
She is German and moved to Switzerland in 2022. Before that, she lived in Germany, Italy and France.
She holds a degree in business administrations and worked in marketing for various companies.
In the last years, she supported several non-profit organizations in Stuttgart/Germany.
Margarita Heredia Forster
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Margarita (1971) is Ecuadorian and has been living in Zurich since her marriage to Pascal Forster in 1995. She has a professional background in Marketing and Human Resources in both Ecuador and Switzerland.
She is responsible for defining the organisation’s strategic vision and overall direction. Based in Switzerland, she leads Avanzar’s work while closely overseeing operations in Ecuador, including team leadership, quality standards, financial oversight and long-term planning.
Margarita also leads the development of partnerships and alliances in Switzerland and Ecuador, working with foundations, corporate partners, donors, volunteers and institutions. Through her regular visits to Ecuador, she works directly with the local team and visits programmes, partners and beneficiaries, ensuring strong alignment between strategy, implementation and impact.
Monika Kern-Glauser
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Monika Kern joined the Board of AVANZAR in November 2012 and has served as President of Avanzar since 2026. Within Avanzar, Monika actively supports the organisation in the areas of communication, donor relations, quality standards, partnership development and fundraising, contributing her professional expertise, strategic perspective and international experience.
In addition to her role at Avanzar, she is also involved in two other non-profit associations.
Monika is Swiss and has lived in Switzerland as well as in England, the United States, Germany and Geneva before settling in the Zurich area. She graduated from the Dolmetscherschule Zürich in 1992 with degrees in translation and conference interpretation. Since then, she has worked as a freelance conference interpreter and translator for a wide range of companies and organisations across various sectors.
Advisory Board
Alexandra Gerecke
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Alexandra Shirin Gerecke joined the Advisory Board of AVANZAR in September 2017.
Alexandra holds a degree in business administration from the Fachhochschule Düsseldorf, which she deepened during a further education program at Harvard University. Born in Germany, she lived in France, the U.S., and the U.K. before moving to Switzerland in 2006 with her husband and two daughters.
Alexandra started her career at Karl Lagerfeld in Paris and worked in various marketing roles for The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. and Clinique International in New York and London. Today, she pursues several entrepreneurial opportunities in fashion and works with a range of charitable programs for the Order of Malta (SHOMS). She has actively supported ATELIER AVANZAR in Sales since 2010.
Angelica Hernandez Dorendorf
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Angelika is a multilingual entrepreneur and global executive with extensive experience in over 20 countries in wealth management, business development, fundraising, and impact investing at top financial institutions including UBS and Credit Suisse. Her passion to use “Finance as a Force For Good” and the sustainable development goals, including SDG4 and SDG17, is evident through her frequent appearances as a speaker and moderator on these topics including CNN and BBC. Her commitment to empower women in Latin America has led her to launch Women International Network (WIN) at Credit Suisse, as well as found a non-profit Misses4peace.
Claudia Mitchell
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Claudia Mitchell is a scientist-entrepreneur with extensive global experience in biopharma spanning the United States, Europe, and Asia. Her career bridges academia, nonprofit organizations, biotech startups, large pharmaceutical companies, and venture capital, giving her a uniquely broad perspective on innovation and commercialization.
She is currently CEO of Savantia, a biotech strategy and consulting firm, and serves on the boards of multiple biotech companies, including as Chair of Cellerys (Switzerland) and Cellertz (US/Brazil), and as a board member of Gubra (Denmark) and Coave Therapeutics (France).
Previously, Claudia was Senior Vice President of Portfolio Strategy at Astellas Pharma in Tokyo, where she led global portfolio decision-making. Prior to that, she was CEO and co-founder of Universal Cells, a U.S.-based biotech company acquired in 2019, and co-founder and Chief Scientific Officer of Halo-Bio RNAi Therapeutics. Earlier in her career, she held research leadership roles at INSERM in Paris and at the LGMD2I Research Fund, a U.S.-based nonprofit.
Claudia holds a PhD in Molecular Biology from the University of Paris and an MBA in International Management from École des Ponts Business School. In 2018, she was named EY Entrepreneur of the Year in Life Sciences for the Pacific Northwest, USA.
Gisela Andrade
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Gia joined the Advisory Board in 2024. As a seasoned, passionate and committed Product Manager she specializes in innovative solutions and digital products and strategies for consumers. Gia is an expert in leading customer-facing ecosystems and delivering high-value services and solutions across various business domains. At Avanzar, she will support us with her consulting expertise for startups on business and innovation strategies and devise courses for our audience in Ecuador.
Melina Ammann
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Melina was born and raised in Zurich, Switzerland. Her passion for justice and sense of equality has led her to study law at the University of Zurich. In addition to joining the Swiss Army as a medical soldier, Melina has joined the advisory board of Avanzar, striving to take a more active role in achieving gender equality. In 2019, she completed a voluntary service in Ecuador in a hospital, a project created by Avanzar. As her senior thesis in high school, she has developed and funded in collaboration with Avanzar a series of workshops aimed at promoting young women’s empowerment and providing sexual education. The goal was to equip these young individuals with information and skills that would empower them to make informed choices about their bodies and lives. As a member of the advisory board of Avanzar she wants to create an energetic community of young women who support each other and feel empowered.
Naoko Felder-Kuzu
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Naoko joined the Advisory Board of AVANZAR in November 2012.
Naoko is an advisor, lecturer, and author in the areas of impact investments (microfinance, social entrepreneurship), and philanthropy. Her passion lies in promoting innovative social/business models that provide sustainable solutions to tackle poverty and to increase the effectiveness of resources utilized.
Naoko serves on the Board of the Frey Charitable Foundation. Prior to her specialization in impact investments, she worked for 16 years in the financial industry. Born in Japan and raised in El Salvador and Guatemala, Naoko has been living near Zurich since 1988.
Naoko supports AVANZAR in all aspects and in particular by advising on their projects.
Pascal Forster
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Pascal is Margarita’s husband and the co-founder of Avanzar. He is one of Europe’s leading Executive Search Consultants next to recruiting board members and CEOs for his clients Pascal has a passion for supporting and mentoring truly talented entrepreneurs from the early stages of their journeys on, often being the first outside investor. Several companies have successfully excited to strategic investors (eg. to Axel Springer, Klett, Deutsche Börse) as well as achieved unicorn status.
Vivian Lacroix
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Vivian has been working with AVANZAR as a volunteer almost since its beginning and has been on AVANZAR’s board since 2007. Her main function is the design, programming, and maintenance of AVANZAR’s homepage.
Vivian is half Swiss, half Ecuadorian. After graduating as a graphic designer in Ecuador, she moved to Switzerland in 1991 to work and study to become a multimedia producer. She currently works as a freelancer, is married, and has 3 children.
Fundación Avanzar Ecuador
Catalina Morocho
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My name is Catalina Morocho, and I have worked with FUNDACION AVANZAR since January 2016. I am in charge of accounting and tax matters. I have been working in this profession for 21 years; I like it and am passionate about it. Along the way, I have been accompanied by my husband and my three children, whom I love very much. For me, to work with the Foundation is not only a professional challenge, but it also gives me great satisfaction to see how this institution and the people working for it contribute to helping so many women achieve their own economic and personal goals through their work.
Daniela Tepàn
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I graduated from school with a degree in Accounting and Auditing in 2011 and have been working at the FUNDACION AVANZAR since June 2017. Previously, I worked for a private company active in the field of marketing.
I have a 9-year-old daughter, her name is Melanie and she is my motivation and guide to move on in life.
Working for FUNDACION AVANZAR is a challenge and a great opportunity for me to enlarge my know-how in the profession. Being able to help people makes me very happy.
Karina Mejía
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I came to the Atelier in 2011 to learn to knit. I was looking for a trade to help me work while taking care of my 3 children and I was expecting my fourth.
I had tried to start several businesses, such as beauty, bakery, etc., but because of a lack of money, I failed several times.
At the Foundation, in addition to a trade, I learned to manage my finances, generate savings, and be able to reinvest in my business.
In the Atelier, I am in charge of keeping control of the weavings that are assigned to the ladies to make sure that the work complies with the production standards and to guarantee that the handbags are sent in optimal conditions to Switzerland. With the weavers, we are one big family; we share beautiful moments and also hard moments, which, at the end of the day, help us to be better human beings.
Katty Orellana
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I have a degree in communication and audiovisual production.
I am an entrepreneur and have experienced from the inside the fears, anxieties, and challenges that women entrepreneurs face every day.
With Fundación Avanzar, our challenge is to help women overcome these fears that paralyze them. We work together with the teachers so that, in addition to providing technical knowledge, the students develop their communication and sales skills and all the soft skills they need to overcome their fears and become entrepreneurs.
Luisa Naranjo
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Luisa Naranjo leitet derzeit ein Team von vier Kursbetreuerinnen, die für die Begleitung der Schulungsprogramme von Avanzar verantwortlich sind.
Ihr Weg bei Avanzar begann am 23. April 2019, als sie dem Atelier Avanzar beitrat. Seitdem hat sie mehrere Kurse abgeschlossen, darunter Konditorei & Bäckerei, Pflegeassistenz und Seniorenbetreuung. Derzeit nimmt sie an einem Computerkurs teil.
Später begann sie, die Bildungsprogramme der Stiftung als Kursbetreuerin zu unterstützen, lernte nach und nach das Betreuungssystem kennen – bis sie schliesslich die Koordination des gesamten Teams übernahm.
Marcela Castillo
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Marcela started working for AVANZAR in August 2012 as Director of AVANZAR Ecuador. She runs the foundation, creates and executes project work plans, and manages the day-to-day operational aspects of the several projects AVANZAR has initiated.
Mireya Cortez Campoverde
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Ich habe einen Abschluss in Familienberatung und studiere einen Master in Psychopädagogik, um die emotionalen und pädagogischen Bedürfnisse von Kindern – besonders im Krankenhaus – besser zu verstehen. Mein Ansatz ist humanistisch und beratend, mit Fokus auf Würde, emotionale Unterstützung und ein empathisches Umfeld.
Rosa Casajoana de Heredia
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Rosa is Margarita’s mum and lives in Cuenca. She is the legal representative of AVANZAR in Ecuador as well as the local administrator of AVANZAR’s funds.
Since her retirement from her former activities in 2015, she meets with AVANZAR’s team several times a week and visits regularly the people involved in the programs.
Rosa is married, has 3 children and 4 grandchildren. She works for AVANZAR as a volunteer and has supported several charity projects and initiatives in the past.
Mercedes, Matilde, Lorena, Laurita
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Laurita, Mercedes, Matilde und Lorena kamen zunächst als Weberinnen zum Atelier Avanzar. Im Laufe der Jahre nahmen sie an mehreren Schulungskursen der Stiftung teil, wodurch sie eigene unternehmerische Tätigkeiten entwickeln konnten.
Engagement mit Herz
Unser Team wäre ohne die Unterstützung von freiwilligen Helfer:innen, Mentor:innen und Partnern nicht vollständig. Viele Menschen bringen ihre Zeit, Kompetenzen und Leidenschaft ein und bereichern unsere Arbeit nachhaltig.
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Ehrenamtliche Mitarbeit
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