Bringing over two decades of experience working at the intersection of business transformation, global expansion, and community building. Maria Dominguez is currently focused on strengthening the eMerge Americas’ year-round strategy, programming, and partnerships to support entrepreneurs and drive innovation across the Americas by serving as Strategic Advisor.
Prior to her current role with eMerge, Maria was part of the senior leadership team at CIC, where she led the development of global innovation programs and worked across four continents to build partnerships that helped startups and governments think beyond borders. Along the way, she also served as General Manager of CIC Miami, supported the launch CIC’s Berlin campus and helped shape public-private innovation partnerships that were critical to scaling the organization’s international business.
Before CIC, Maria ran a successful event production firm, creating large-scale experiences for cultural and culinary brands. What started as a creative hustlebecame a crash course in operations, leadership, and learning how to move fast without losing sight of people in the process.
Whether advising senior leaders, mentoring early-stage founders, or rolling up her sleeves on new initiatives, Maria is known forasking smart questions, pushing for clarity, and making sure no one forgets the “why” behind the work.
Born in Colombia and raised in Miami, Maria’s worldview has always been shaped by the desire to build meaningful, trusted relationships that contribute to the overall growth and success of the communities she’s been a part of. She’s served on nonprofit boards, led grassroots disaster relief efforts, and remains deeply invested in building ecosystems that are inclusive, bold, and built to last.
She currently lives between Florida and California and still carves out time for the things that matter most—family, service, movement, and a really good meal shared with interesting people.
