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Washington, D.C.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — WEConnect International, the leading global nonprofit connecting women-owned businesses with corporate, multilateral, and government buyers, today announced a leadership transition. Elizabeth A. Vazquez, CEO, President, and Co-Founder, will step down at the conclusion of her term on December 31, 2026, after 18 years leading the organization. Saritha Venumbaka, currently Chief Operating Officer, will become CEO effective January 1, 2027.
Under Vazquez’s leadership, WEConnect International grew into a global network spanning 135 countries, connecting more than 20,000 women-owned businesses with member buyers representing over $4 trillion in annual purchasing power. The organization’s Board of Directors expressed deep gratitude for her vision and the lasting impact of her tenure.
Following her departure, Vazquez will focus on building a new company designed to make it easier for buyers, capital providers, and partners to discover and engage verified small businesses at global scale.
The Board has appointed Venumbaka, a seasoned global executive with more than two decades of experience across the private, nonprofit, and international development sectors, to succeed her. As COO over the last seven years, Venumbaka has shaped WEConnect International’s strategy, strengthened its financial and operational performance, and built the organizational capacity underpinning its growth to date. Prior to WEConnect International, she held senior roles at the African Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank, and spent 14 years as a Senior Manager at Booz Allen Hamilton.
Over the next six months, Vazquez, Venumbaka, the Board, and the WEConnect International team will work closely together to ensure a thoughtful and seamless transition.
WEConnect International’s mission, its commitment to its community, and its support for its network of women-owned businesses will remain unchanged. With Venumbaka’s leadership and the continued dedication of the organization’s global team and partners, WEConnect International is well positioned for its next era of growth and impact.
More information on the transition will be shared in the months ahead.
About Elizabeth A. Vazquez
Elizabeth A. Vazquez is the President, CEO, and Co-Founder of WEConnect International. A world leader in small business development, impact sourcing, and global value chains, she is a 2026 Forbes EQ Contributor, 2023 Forbes 50 Over 50 Impact Changemaker, 2024 Finance Leaders Fellow of the Aspen Institute, and 2024 World Commerce & Contracting Inspiring Women Awardee. She is co-author of Buying for Impact: How to Buy from Women and Change Our World and has represented the organization before the World Bank Group, World Economic Forum, the UN, G20, OECD, and APEC, among others. She holds a Master of Arts in Law and Diplomacy from the Fletcher School at Tufts University and a B.A. in Political Science from Arizona State University Honors College.
About Saritha Venumbaka
Saritha Venumbaka is a seasoned global executive with more than two decades of leadership across the nonprofit, international financial institution, and management consulting sectors. As Chief Operating Officer of WEConnect International, she has scaled the organization’s reach to women-owned businesses in over 135 countries across six global regions and secured a portfolio of multi-year grants from corporate, government, and philanthropic funders. She previously served as Senior Advisor to Corporate Services at the African Development Bank and Chief of Corporate Procurement at the Inter-American Development Bank, and spent 14 years as a Senior Manager at Booz Allen Hamilton. She holds a Master of Science from Johns Hopkins University, an MBA from Wright State University, and a Bachelor’s and Master’s in Commerce from Osmania University. She is a Certified Public Accountant (CPA), PMP, and SHRM-SCP.
About WEConnect International
WEConnect International is the leading global non-profit dedicated to driving money into the hands of women business owners by connecting them with large corporate, multilateral, and government buyers around the world. Its 180+ member buyers represent more than $4 trillion in annual purchasing power and are committed to sourcing from women-owned businesses in over 135 countries. WEConnect International identifies, educates, registers, and certifies businesses that are at least 51% women-owned, managed, and controlled, providing Women’s Business Enterprise Certification in over 60 countries. With a global network of 20,000+ women-owned businesses, WEConnect International is committed to unleashing the full economic potential of women-owned businesses worldwide.
