Patricia Funegra is the Founder and President of Global Development Advisors (GDA), headquartered in Richmond, VA. GDA uses the power of impact investment to create economic growth in developing countries providing technical assistance and capital to entrepreneurs that propose creative solutions to global development challenges alongside a financial return to investors. Miss Funegra and GDA are helping transform developing communities around the world by creating profitable businesses that are aligned with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. As a hybrid nonprofit and for-profit consulting firm, GDA fosters economic development through social impact investing. 

As a Speaker for the US Department of State’s Bureau of International Information Program in 2018, Miss Funegra traveled to developing countries to promote economic development through workforce and entrepreneurship and was able to build global economic impact in communities in Honduras, Brazil, Bolivia, Iraq, and Equatorial Guinea. This work in supporting social entrepreneurs, particularly in Central America, prompted Miss Funegra to establish GDA. 

Miss Funegra is also the Founder and CEO of La Cocina VA, headquartered in Arlington, Virginia. With the vision to tackle global social issues such as food insecurity, food waste, and obesity, her organization offers vocational and technical education to members of the local Hispanic community supporting regional workforce and small business development strategies. She has worked tirelessly to educate and empower women, immigrants, and minorities by building a comprehensive support network to assure their success. Miss Funegra has built and expanded La Cocina VA, to become a nationally and internationally recognized institution. 

By investing in others, Miss Funegra can mobilize financial, human, and technical capital to social entrepreneurs, companies, and organizations to address social and or environmental impact, alongside achieving profitable returns and surpassing milestones. With her unique abilities and skill set as a visionary leader, Miss Funegra evangelizes social causes and generates social awareness and engagement to cultivate partnerships and lead stakeholders to soaring heights.