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Andrea Zanon

 

Entrepreneurship, Sustainability,

& Impact Investment

About Andrea Zanon

Operating out of Washington, D.C., Andrea Zanon is an experienced, skilled, multi-talented professional with more than 25 years of experience within the financial services industry. Fluent in Italian (native), English, French, Portuguese, and Spanish, Andrea has received international acclaim for his work around the globe. He holds the 2009 Clean Tech award from the President of Italy, he was an awarded Project Manager at the World Bank in 2012, and he was awarded in Big Data Analytics in 2016 from the World Bank. 

Building on a quarter-century of experience, Andrea Zanon is currently serving as the CEO of WeEmpower Capital, which he founded in January 2018. With expertise in business development, entrepreneurship, sustainability and ESG. Empower is a specialized advisory firm focused on building trust and partnerships with clients to close the knowledge gap in green-growth and entrepreneurship.

As an entrepreneur himself, Andrea Zanon knows how important it can be to have mentors and some assistance throughout the process the first time you set out to create a business. That’s why he was one of the first to start a accelerating women led enterprises. He founded the We Empower Cities Foundation in 2017 to provide female entrepreneurs around the globe with early-stage capital, training, professional networking, and mentorship that can help them better succeed. With partnerships with over a hundred global investors and the World Bank, Andrea operates the Foundation in 14 countries, working with more than ten thousand women entrepreneurs. Investing in the success and futures of women is one of the best ways to help your business – and your country – strengthen and grow. 

Throughout his career, Andrea has consistently demonstrated his business acumen and insights through multiple businesses he’s created and grown to success. In 1996, he began his entrepreneurial career in Venice, Italy, when he founded Gimmy-Lee Co, serving as the fashion startup’s Vice President of Sales. Within just three years, he expanded the business to Japan, China, and South Korea, resulting in a 350% sales growth in that short span of time. Additionally, Andrea Zanon founded Aroma Italia Food Consulting – which he operated for five years – and Earth Council Italia, where he’s been the Vice President since 2003. In 2023, Andrea Andrea founded Confidente, and empowerment platform across Football, Finance, Fashion, and Food.

Andrea continues to advise numerous international companies across finance, sustainable development, education and security. He is also writes for several international newspapers on climate, entrepreneurship and sports and he serves as Advisor to Global Policy Institute, ICT4Peace, ASTRADYNE, DaVinci Film Festival, FattE-Bikes and Earth Council.

Andrea Zanon holds his Bachelor’s degree in and Master’s degrees in Philosophy from the University of Bologna. Andrea also earned his Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) from Georgetown University in Washington D.C. 

Learn more insights about entrepreneurship from Andrea Zanon by visiting his blog page and checking out his business website

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Andrea Zanon’s Experience

 

Founder and CEO

EMPOWER CAPITAL

Washington, D.C
Jan 2018-Current
  • Established consulting firm to advise client and international organization on sustainability, resilience and entrepreneurship 
  • Devising resilience, ESG, and access to grants strategies for financial institutions, and global foundations

Resilience Head, Middle East and North Africa

WORLD BANK GROUP

Addis Ababa and Washington, D.C.
March 2007-Sep 2016
  • Developed resilience strategies for 11 countries resulting in stronger preparedness and disaster risk management readiness 
  • Co-led the Horn of Africa drought crisis in 2011 and managed first drought damage and needs assessment across Africa 
  • Led multi-agencies post-conflict/disaster needs assessment in Yemen and West Bank & Gaza in the MENA region for $70mn

Founder, and Chief Operations Officer

AROMA ITALIA FOOD CONSULTING

Granada, Spain
Jan 1999-May 2004
  • Established and ran business operations Italian food/beverage firm driving $450k in the first year and $1-1.7mn by the fourth year
  • Downsized company during crisis maintaining profitability, reducing staff by 20% and costs by 10%

Founder and Chairman

WE EMPOWER CITIES FOUNDATION

Washington, D.C.
Sept 2017-Current
  • Established an acceleration program powered by a consortium of public and private organizations to provide training, mentorship, professional networking, and grants to female entrepreneurs
  • Partnered with the World Bank and over 100 global partners and philanthropist and launched the program in 14 countries working with over 10,000 women entrepreneurs.
  • Provided training for over 2000 women-inclusive businesses since 2018 and facilitated access to partners and donors.

Founder and Vice President

EARTH COUNCIL ITALIA

Denver, USA
Sept 2003-Present
  • Developed grant myopization strategy for climate change adaptation and partnered with the United Nations
  • Founded and designed climate change strategy, and secured donors support through the Earth Council Alliance

President and Head of Crisis Unit

AMSTERDAM STRATEGIC ADVISORS

Washington, D.C.
Oct 2016-Dec 2018
  • Led crisis management for the firm, built a team of 10 across three countries, devised risk management strategies for global corporations and sovereigns such as Panama, and Dupont Risk Management who sought to establish long term resilience and ESG plans and strategies.
  • Secured eight clients within the first year of operations expanding the business practice into the smart cities, as well as digital transformation and access to finance platforms.
  • Organized advocacy and roundtables for policymakers and global tech companies on crisis management and resilience to increase capacity and to enable public-private partnership in the Middle East

Investment Officer

ALBRIGHT CAPITAL MANAGEMENT

Washington, D.C.
Jun 2006-Aug 2008
  • Provided climate change and energy efficiency analyses and advise to the principals.
  • Assessed business climate and advised the consulting firm managers on business readiness for national oil companies.
  • Provided market forecasts and reports by performing market research, analysis, and interpretation of data

Awards

 

Education

 
  • Clean Tech (Italy President, 2009)
  • Project Manager (World Bank, 2012)
  • Big Data Analytics (World Bank 2016)

GEORGETOWN UNIVERSITY Washington, D.C.
Master of Science in Foreign Service (MSFS) May 2007

 

UNIV. OF BOLOGNA, Italy
Bachelor and Master in Philosophy

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Recent Blogs

 
Unveiling the Seductive Secrets of Italy’s Finest Tomatoes

Unveiling the Seductive Secrets of Italy’s Finest Tomatoes

Italy is the third-largest processed tomato producer globally (after the United States and China), accounting for approximately 14.8 percent of global production and 56.5 percent of Europe’s production, with revenue reaching nearly $5.4 billion in 2022 (Anicav). In...