Based in Sololá, Guatemala, Marta Julia is an indigenous woman of the Maya-Kaqchikel ethnic group. Prior to joining Beneficial Returns, she spent 16 years at Friendship Bridge where she worked on women’s empowerment programs including microfinance, education, and preventive health services.  As the organization’s liaison between Guatemala and the US, Marta Julia was also responsible for developing long-term relationships with donors, investors and volunteers.

At Beneficial Returns, Marta Julia is responsible for the Reciprocity Fund, our pool of capital earmarked exclusively for social enterprises that benefit indigenous communities in Latin America and Southeast Asia.  She is passionate about the social and economic development of indigenous people along with the preservation of indigenous culture and knowledge.   Marta Julia has a degree in business administration and she has an MBA from Universidad Mariano Gálvez.

Marta Julia sits on the Board of Maia, a non-profit leadership and development program for indigenous girls in Guatemala.  Marta Julia speaks Kaqchikel, Spanish and English and has a desire to learn another language.