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MASSACHUSETTS INSTITUTE OF TECHNOLOGY Legatum Center for Development & Entrepreneurship

Entrepreneurs

The Legatum Center supports entrepreneurs all around the world through the Fellowships and Grants

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Martha Belden

Barr 2013 - 2014
Alumni
Legatum Fellow
From:
Mexico
Sector:
Education
Location:
Mexico
Degree:
MBA Sloan School of Management

Martha Belden grew up in Mexico surrounded by the effects of economic inequality and social injustice. She became increasingly involved in social service projects. Today, her personal interests in contributing to social and economic development have become her professional calling. Her vision is for her company, Mio, to open childcare centers in Mexico that will change the lives of many working mothers and their children as well as create a work-life balance for employers. Mio represents a new trend in childcare designed to address the needs of mid- and low-income working mothers in Mexico. Mio’s centers are built with the highest safety standards and are located conveniently. They provide a nurturing learning environment for infants, a flexible schedule for mothers, and an opportunity for companies to attract and retain talent.

In Mexico, if you are a workingwoman and you become pregnant, you have a problem. Current options are either low quality, insufficient, or unaffordable for the masses. Without a convenient alternative women have to quit working, stop earning an income and stop growing professionally when they have children.

During her four years at Inter-American Development Bank (IDB), working on projects, events, and research on market-based approaches to development, Martha managed relations with top executives and experts in development. This experience gave her an understanding of the complexities of social development and the urgent need to improve the conditions for girls and women. During January 2013, Martha did an internship at Advenio, a high-end corporate day care startup that seeks to provide childcare services for Mexican women executives.

Prior to entering MIT, Martha received a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from ITESM in Mexico. Currently, she is an MBA candidate at the MIT Sloan School of Business.

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