Elizabeth Vazquez

CEO & Co-Founder

WEConnect International

Elizabeth A. Vazquez is the CEO and Co-Founder of WEConnect International, a global non-profit that educates and connects women-owned businesses to qualified buyers around the world in person and online.

She is a world leader in women’s economic empowerment and global supplier diversity and inclusion and was recognized in 2023 as a Forbes 50 Over 50 Impact Changemaker. WEConnect International identifies, educates, registers, and certifies women's business enterprises that are at least 51% owned, managed, and controlled by one or more women, and then connects them with member buyers. WEConnect International supports and promotes women-owned businesses in 135+ countries, including local support and certification in 60+ countries.

The organization also helps to develop the capacity of large buyers with over $4 trillion in annual purchasing power to source more products and services from women-owned businesses. Ms. Vazquez is the co-author of the book, “Buying for Impact: How to Buy from Women and Change Our World.”

She “rang the bell” at the New York Stock Exchange in support of women business owners globally, is an annual Business20 and Women20 Representative to advance G20 commitments.

She is a member of the P&G Supplier Diversity Advocacy Council and served as a member of the UN Secretary-General’s High-Level Panel on Women’s Economic Empowerment. Ms. Vazquez is an advisor to corporate, government and multilateral leaders, and served as a guest trainer and lecturer at universities such as American University, ASU Honours College, Brown University, Georgetown University, George Washington University, Harvard University, MIT, Oxford University, Tufts University, University of Johannesburg, University of Ottawa, and has been a featured speaker at events hosted by the UN, World Bank Group, World Economic Forum, G20, OECD, APEC, etc.

She was born in Mexico, has a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University.