Analisa Balares (PC 92-94) is Founder and CEO of WomensphereTM, where she leads the development of media, content, online communities, and global awards to inspire and empower women who are leading, creating, and making a difference around the world.  Analisa is also Founder of Huckleberry Interactive Technologies, a New York-based high tech startup which develops online media, social media, and mobile technologies for communities. She is the author of books on inspiring leaders, to be published in the Fall this year.

 

In 1999, Analisa founded The Lyons Network, a volunteer organisation of professional women and students dedicated to advancing women’s opportunities for leadership and career success across different industries. Since then, Analisa has led the organisation of The Lyons Network’s annual New England Undergraduate Women’s Conferences on Careers, Leadership, and Global Finance, as well as regional women’s conferences on entrepreneurship and innovation. She is Co-Chair of this year’s annual New England Women’s Global Leadership Conference.

 

Analisa has also worked at MSN Spaces/Windows Live Spaces (Microsoft’s blogging and social networking product) as Global Marketing Manager; Goldman Sachs as an Analyst in the High Technology Investment Banking group; and Milestone Capital Management as Director of Development & New Ventures.

 

In 2005, Analisa received her MBA from Harvard Business School. At HBS, she co-founded and led the Global Entrepreneurship Network (GEN). Working with a global team of Harvard alumni, students, and professionals around the world, Analisa and Co-CEO Yeng Felipe incorporated GEN as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that cultivates successful global entrepreneurs from developing countries.  Analisa received a BA in Economics and Mathematics from Mount Holyoke College where she discovered “a passion for pure mathematics and for the economics of innovation and development” while on full scholarship from the school. 

 

“I would describe myself as an entrepreneur and innovator. As a child, I was troubled by poverty and environmental issues, and believed science and technology were key to solving these problems. When I was 14, I started working on pilot projects in finding alternative energy sources like methane and ethanol, and systems for pollution reduction and recycling waste. I represented the Philippines at youth science conferences in Singapore and Japan and it was a big eye-opener to see how much more advanced those countries were.   I was always a big believer in using science and technology to improve the future for the Philippines and Filipinos,” states Analisa. 

 

“I became aware of the UWC scholarship at my high school. My guidance counselor suggested that I apply as she thought I would be a good Ambassador, would represent the Philippines well and would be interested.  And she was right.”

 

“In the Philippines, the UWC is presented to us as a post-high school, pre-college program. I had already been accepted into two universities in the Philippines, and here I was being presented with another amazing opportunity.  It was attractive to me as I had done some travelling and wanted to explore more of the world and make friends with more people from other countries.  I loved the philosophy of the UWC. I was enthused about studying at Pearson College – being in the middle of the forest, living with your classmates – the facilities and opportunities were amazing. But then when I arrived, I didn’t know what to expect. There was a level of anxiety – but I think the excitement overcame the anxiety.”

 

“What I remember most from those early days is the long conversations that would go deep into the night – regardless of the 08:00am class the next morning. We were young people from different countries doing great things side by side: We sang in an international choir. We read poetry by the bay before dawn. We taught each other dances and songs. We did deep-sky astrophotography and peered at galaxies beyond midnight. We watched over rivers to protect salmons while they were laying eggs. We climbed mountains. We laughed and cried together. It was the best two years.”

 

“There are three key areas where the UWC has made an enormous impact on my life – my relationships with people, the way I approach life and the world, and my vision for my business and my life work.

 

“My relationships with people are definitely enriched by my UWC experience. I feel I have a deeper level of understanding for the complexities of relationships with different people.  It is easy to be friends with lots of people, but so much more difficult to really understand and get to know them.  UWC allows us that time and space to realise that we have so much in common with each other.  We all laugh, love, despair, want to be successful, and want to be happy.”

 

“We all have perceptions of ourselves. The UWC encouraged me to question myself and think deeply about my beliefs and about what I really stand for.  The experience made us think more critically. The UWC enabled us to ask those questions of ourselves and each other, and to strive to answer them honestly and openly in a supportive environment.”

 

“I have always intended to return to the Philippines to help change my country. The UWC experience inspired me to want to have a positive impact on the whole world.  I deferred going back home to study and work in the US.  After 10 years, I am fulfilling that aspiration.”

 

“I aspire for my life work and for the companies I build to connect the world and bring people together; to help build countries like the Philippines; to bring a piece of the UWC experience to everyone; to show and bring the best in people.”

 

“Through entrepreneurship and innovation, I hope to inspire and empower people around the world, and to invest in our world and our future together.”