About
The builder, and the human.
Vanessa Santos started her first business at 13. She has not stopped building since.
The daughter of Dominican and Ecuadorian immigrants, she is first-generation everything. She didn't wait to be chosen — she chose herself.
Her career is a study in scale, built with teams, not alone. She co-led Gilt's global expansion to more than 120 countries and inked its first and largest brand partnership. She spent six years driving global product innovation at Mastercard, including a co-developed API that reached 12 million students across six Latin American markets and a CES 2017 Innovation Award. She led #WeAllGrow Latina, the world's largest community for Latina entrepreneurs, through its acquisition: over $20 million in economic impact and more than 30,000 professional pathways. She keynoted Forbes' Most Powerful Women of Latin America and was named Inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Nationwide, presented at the Kennedy Center.
01 The human
I’m not one thing.
- Writer of Letters from the In-Between
- Founder of Build The Dream
- First-gen Dominicana & Ecuatoriana — NYC born & raised
- Reflector in Human Design — my sensitivity is my superpower
- Two fur babies: Elvis & Teddy
- At my creative peak in nature — mountains, water, slow mornings
- I light up when I speak — but I'm selective with my energy
- When I win, I share the notes
- Queer. Multifaceted. Uncategorizable. I'm not one thing — and that's my power.
In 2026 alone
200+
founders & creators mentored — business-coached, supported, and guided
Across two decades
120+
countries scaled
12M+
students reached
$20M+
economic impact
30,000+
pathways created
I didn’t wait to be chosen.
I chose myself.
02 The receipts
The proof, on the record.
- 01Led #WeAllGrow Latina, the world's largest community for Latina entrepreneurs, through acquisition
- 02Co-led a transformation contributing $20M+ in economic impact and 30,000+ professional pathways
- 03CES 2017 Innovation Award at Mastercard (IoT shopping app)
- 04Co-developed a digital API platform serving 12M students across 6 Latin American markets (Mastercard)
- 05Inked the first and largest multi-million-dollar brand partnership at Gilt.com
- 06Co-led global expansion to 120+ countries (Gilt.com)
- 07Inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year — Hispanic Heritage Foundation × Nationwide, presented at the Kennedy Center
- 08Keynoted Forbes' Most Powerful Women of Latin America
- 09Board Member, Wellness For The People Foundation
- 10Mentored 200+ founders and creators in 2026 alone
What drives me
Researching connection, women's circles, and collective power
Fierce advocacy for queer rights, women's rights, and economic empowerment
Teaching women that wanting wealth isn't toxic — but building it by erasing yourself is
Backing what’s next
I back women building what’s next.
- Nopalera
- Bloomi
- Lil' Libros
- Agua Bonita
- Earth Rides
FAQ
The questions I get asked most.
- Who is Vanessa Santos?
- She builds worlds. She is a keynote speaker on AI, culture, and power, the founder and CEO of Build The Dream, and private counsel to a small number of CEOs and founders building at the highest level. She started her first business at 13 and has not stopped building since.
- What does Vanessa Santos speak about?
- AI, culture, and power. Her keynotes are proof-led and built to expand the room, from global stages to leadership offsites.
- How do I book Vanessa to speak?
- Use the inquiry form on the speaking page with your event, date, audience, format, and budget range, or reach her team directly at jennifer@camilacreative.com.
- What is Build The Dream?
- One of the worlds Vanessa builds. It is her company for women founders, with its own name, its own doors, and rooms the old ones never offered. It lives at buildthedream.co.
- What is private counsel?
- A small practice for CEOs and the people building at the highest level. Vanessa comes into the room the way a CEO trusts a chief of staff, to see what's right and build what's next, and to help turn a fortune into legacy, purpose, and impact. She builds what the wealth stands for. She never touches, moves, or manages the money. By introduction only.
- What are Vanessa's credentials?
- She co-led Gilt's global expansion to more than 120 countries, spent six years driving global product innovation at Mastercard including a CES 2017 Innovation Award, and led #WeAllGrow Latina, the world's largest community for Latina entrepreneurs, through its acquisition. She keynoted Forbes' Most Powerful Women of Latin America and was named Inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Nationwide, presented at the Kennedy Center.
You don't have to break apart to prove you're worthy.
You don't have to be loyal to who you were when you can choose who you're becoming.
I'm building it — in real time, with 20+ years of proof that I know how to build, and the audacity to do it without self-erasure.
Vanessa
Letters from the In-Between