A group of young professionals with experience in social intervention, international cooperation, and research came together in Cartagena, Colombia, united by a mission: to address the urgent need for access to basic services in vulnerable communities and explore how social technologies could be the key to transforming lives.
As a result of this commitment, TIERRA GRATA was born in April 2016—an organization dedicated to promoting development and productivity among rural families by providing access to essential services. We firmly believe that the basics should never be a privilege: what’s essential belongs to everyone.
Laia is the Global Human Resources Director at Reckitt, leading the Hygiene headquarters and all corporate functions within this business unit. She holds a degree in Business Administration and Management from ESADE Business School and a Master’s in Human Resources. Laia joined Reckitt in Barcelona, Spain, in 2013 and has successfully held various local and global roles across the UK, Germany, and the Netherlands, including positions in compensation and benefits, as well as talent management. A strong advocate for diversity and inclusion (D&I), she has actively supported initiatives in this space throughout her career, including serving as a member of the LEAD Network Committee. She is also a One Young World Ambassador and a mentor for various Lead 2030 initiatives, including “Tierra Grata” and “Eko Group” in Colombia.
She has served as a trainer, facilitator, and project director at Cewas since its founding in 2010. With 18 years of experience and academic credentials including a degree in Chemical Engineering, a Master’s in Environmental Engineering, a Certificate in Development Cooperation, and an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, she has played a key role in developing training packages and workshops on Sustainable Sanitation and Water Management (SSWM), business development in water and sanitation, and Resource Recovery and Safe Reuse (RRR). She also contributes as a trainer for Cewas programs in Willisau, Switzerland, and has led in-person incubation programs in Zambia, Tanzania, South Africa, Uganda, India, and Peru, as well as online programs for Latin America and the Middle East. Leonelha coaches entrepreneurs around the world, with a focus on startups in Latin America. She is also a senior partner at the Swiss consulting firm Seecon, where she serves as a Board Member and Deputy Executive Director.
Christian is an expert in entrepreneurship and green technologies. He currently supports entrepreneurs around the world by implementing startup acceleration programs focused on climate solutions. His work connects founders with valuable resources, mentors, experts, funding, and investment opportunities—all aimed at creating greater climate impact. With over four years of experience designing and delivering entrepreneurship and mentorship programs across various regions, Christian also serves as a strategic and business mentor. Over the past seven years, he has worked closely with successful social entrepreneurs, particularly in Latin America, the Philippines, Myanmar, Tanzania, and South Africa. Previously, he was an account executive for German SMEs at Hewlett-Packard, where he managed business relationships for several years. A frequent traveler, Christian has visited more than 35 countries across all continents, learning from their cultures and traditions.
Director of Development and full-time Ambassador for One Young World, the world’s largest community of young leaders. Passionate about sustainable development, he discovered early on that social entrepreneurship—and empowering it through youth—was his true calling, shaping the course of his life.
Luego de graduarse como ingeniero industrial de la Universidad de los Andes, Gereda conectó con causas como la de la Red Colombiana de Jóvenes, dirigida a potenciar a través de herramientas tangibles a las nuevas generaciones que buscan transformar su entorno, y la de ID Social, una plataforma de contacto entre
el sector empresarial e iniciativas filantrópicas. Tras dirigir la estrategia de OYW en Latinoamérica y culminar sus estudios de maestría en Empresas Sociales y Emprendimiento en The London School of Economics (LSE), Gereda asumió en 2022 la Dirección de Desarrollo de la organización con la convicción de seguir garantizando puentes entre los grandes líderes y las ambiciones de -ahora- los jóvenes de cinco continentes. Los méritos de Gereda en ese camino lo han hecho acreedor de reconocimientos
como el premio TOYP (The Outstanding Young Persons) en la categoría “Liderazgo y Logros Académicos”, en 2016; y la DRSU (Distinción a la Responsabilidad Social Universitaria), conferida por la Decanatura de Estudiantes
de la Universidad de Los Andes, en 2010.
