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. She expanded Gilt.com to 120+ countries. She spent six years at Mastercard driving global product innovation, including the CES 2017 Innovation Award at Mastercard and a co-developed digital API that reached 12 million students across six Latin American markets. She led #WeAllGrow Latina, the world's largest community for Latina entrepreneurs, through acquisition, generating over $20 million in economic impact and creating 30,000+ professional pathways for the Latina community. 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
The investor
I back women building what’s next.
- Bloomi
- Nopalera
- Lil' Libros
- Agua Bonita
- Earth Rides
FAQ
The questions I get asked most.
- What does Vanessa Santos speak about?
- AI, culture, and the women's economy. Her signature keynotes cover women and ambition and the systems that hold them back, AI and human connection, building without self-erasure, and multidimensional leadership. Every talk is proof-led and built to expand the room.
- How do I book Vanessa to speak?
- Use the inquiry form on the speaking page with your event, date, audience, and format (keynote, workshop, panel, or virtual), and her team will follow up.
- Who is Vanessa Santos Leon?
- The founder of Build The Dream, a keynote speaker, and an investor. She started her first business at 13, scaled Gilt.com to 120+ countries, spent six years at Mastercard, and led #WeAllGrow Latina, the world's largest community for Latina entrepreneurs, through acquisition.
- What is Build The Dream?
- The media and lifestyle company Vanessa founded at the intersection of the women's economy, technology, and culture. It's where women build wealth and power together, with the community, capital, and culture the old rooms never offered.
- What are Vanessa's credentials?
- She keynoted Forbes' Most Powerful Women of Latin America, was named Inaugural Entrepreneur of the Year by the Hispanic Heritage Foundation and Nationwide, presented at the Kennedy Center, and won the CES 2017 Innovation Award at Mastercard. In 2026 alone she has mentored 200+ founders and creators.
- Does Vanessa invest or advise founders?
- She invests in women-owned companies and advises founders through the pivots and transitions that don't have a playbook. Advisory is inquiry-only: reach out at hello@buildthedream.co.
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