Maria Otero

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Maria Otero, Esq, is President and Founder of the Women’s Venture Fund. An attorney for 12 years, Maria Otero got her inspiration volunteering at Latinas for Economic Empowerment and Development, the Women’s Center, and The Women’s Building, where she advised women from disadvantaged communities. She soon developed a passion for microenterprise - the concept of overcoming poverty by fostering the entrepreneurial ventures of low-income and minority people.

Maria Otero has served as a judge for Baruch College 's Business Competition, the NYC Small Business Awards program, and, most recently, the Forbes Magazine Small Business Competition. In 2002 the Mayor of New York City, Michael Bloomberg, appointed Ms. Otero to the Commission on Women’s Issues.

Furthermore in 2005 Ms. Otero was honored by the Financial Women’s Association and the US Women’s Chamber of Commerce for her efforts in developing women small businesses. She sits on the Board of Directors for the Cabrini Medical Center.