Corporate Volunteering: A Powerful Catalyst for Inclusive Economies
Corporate Volunteering: A Powerful Catalyst for Inclusive Economies
July 10,2025 | Lina Valbuena
Recently we experienced the true power of corporate volunteering — a space where connection, purpose, and impact came to life.
Thanks to our partnership with the Nasdaq Foundation, four inspiring women entrepreneurs from our SER – Sabias, Empresarias, Resilientes program had the opportunity to pitch their businesses to a group of Nasdaq employees. With generosity and curiosity, these professionals offered their time, insight, and thoughtful feedback to help our entrepreneurs refine their business narratives.
For many of these women, it was their very first time pitching in front of an international corporate audience. Were they nervous? Absolutely. But they showed up prepared, courageous, and fully committed to growing.
Take Diana Pabón, for example, founder of Semilla de Mostaza — a sustainable fashion brand that creates women's pajamas from recycled PET. After the session, she reflected on how the experience helped her completely reframe her story:
“I realized I was missing opportunities to show the real impact of what we do. This experience gave me clarity and confidence.”
That’s what these sessions are about: not just learning how to pitch, but building bridges, sharing stories, and gaining perspective.
But the learning flowed both ways. Many Nasdaq employees expressed how moved they were by the stories of resilience, creativity, and innovation they heard. Their smiles and reflections said it all. These moments bring to life the true meaning of inclusive economies. They also build a more human-centered work culture — one where purpose becomes part of the job.
Despite the miles between Colombia and the U.S., this experience proved we share a common goal: strengthening entrepreneurship and advancing economic inclusion.
Thanks to the continued support of the Nasdaq Foundation, the SER program has already reached hundreds of women entrepreneurs across Colombia, helping them improve their business skills and connect with new markets.
And this is just the beginning.
At BuMa, we believe in the ripple effect: when one entrepreneur grows, entire communities benefit.
There are thousands of businesses like Diana’s in our network — eager to strengthen their skills in marketing, digital tools, soft skills, and even AI for business, among others. That’s why we’re building a community of mentors: professionals like you, who want to give back and turn their knowledge into long-term impact.
Maybe the skill you share will help a business thrive, increase income, and create jobs that change lives.
We’re excited to keep growing this mentor community — and we’d love for you to be part of it.
Want to become a BuMa Mentor for small business leadersColombia? Sign up here!
For more information email: valbuena@buildingmarkets.org
