Hector G.
Earth Day Employee Spotlight: Supporting Climate Entrepreneurship in Mexico
The world is becoming increasingly shaped by data and technology. Individuals like Hector are demonstrating how their skills can be harnessed for meaningful environmental impact.
Armed with a double degree in Economics and Applied Math, Hector is a seasoned professional with a background in fintech and data. Reflecting on his journey, he shares, "Ever since I was in college, I was interested in working on data-related projects that could help society in one way or another."
When the opportunity to participate in the hackathon event, hosted by CIFAR Alliance arose, Hector saw it as a "no-brainer" for his expertise and aspirations. "I was a bit skeptical at first as I didn’t know anyone nor any details of the process."
He quickly found and created a dynamic team with Daniela, Cris, and Patricio, entrepreneurs from Chile and Mexico who enrolled in the CIFAR hackathon to explore climate technology opportunities as part of CIFAR’s Triggering Exponential Climate Action (TECA) initiative.
Daniela and Patricio brought firsthand experience from their initiatives for mangrove conservation in Mexico, while Cris had successfully developed a recycling app in Chile. "Talking with them, we learned of the challenges they had faced on their journeys, which led us to DONNA," Hector says.
Together, the team came up with the concept for DONNA, a fintech-enabled platform designed to empower ecological entrepreneurs to raise funds by leveraging the power of social media and connecting with potential partners.
Despite lacking direct experience in sustainable projects, Hector says, "My experience with data, coupled with my time in PayPal, allowed me to highlight some areas of opportunity and potential pitfalls in the conceptual design of DONNA.”
(The team: Hector, Daniela, Patricio, and Cris)
Hector's involvement in Community Impact volunteerism opportunities like the CIFAR hackathon illustrate how PayPal employees can have a big impact on environmental stewardship and help create the conditions for new small businesses to grow and thrive in our communities across the globe.
How to Get Involved in Community Impact: Visit the PayPal Community Impact hub to explore opportunities to strengthen your local community, or sign up for your local Community Impact team to help shape
About Climate Action at PayPal: PayPal has pledged to reach net-zero emissions by 2040 and is making measurable progress toward its greenhouse gas emissions targets, including maintaining 100% renewable energy across the company’s global data center operations since 2021. Read the latest Global Impact Report to learn more about PayPal’s environmental sustainability achievements and overall positive impacts.
About the CIFAR Alliance: The CIFAR Alliance spearheads actionable solutions for inclusive climate finance in emerging markets through initiatives like the Climate SMART Innovation Hub and Triggering Exponential Climate Action (TECA) initiatives. PayPal is a member of CIFAR, which has engaged nearly 700 entrepreneurs and small businesses across diverse markets in Africa, Asia, and Latin America.