Valentina Agudelo Vargas
MBA’24J
Colombian, American, Spanish
I am a Colombian entrepreneur passionate about creating social impact through innovative solutions. As the Founder and CEO of Salva Health, I lead a team focused on developing technologies that address healthcare inequities.
Over the years, I have noticed significant progress in tackling gender dynamics, especially through initiatives aimed at creating a more equal playing field.
Our flagship product, “Julieta,” combines IoT and AI to facilitate early breast cancer detection, impacting thousands of women across underserved communities.
Before Salva, I gained valuable experience working alongside founders and leading transformative projects. At dondoctor, I served as the founder's right hand, driving growth and helping expand operations. As a Business Transformation Intern at PepsiCo, I managed large-scale projects across Colombia and Peru, optimising processes and implementing innovative strategies.
My career reflects a commitment to blending innovation with impact, supported by an MBA from INSEAD and a Bachelor in Business Administration from CESA. Outside work, I am a professional magician, rock climber, and horse show jumper, channelling my creativity and perseverance into every aspect of life.
Have there been any changes in gender dynamics which you have witnessed throughout your career?
Over the years, I have noticed significant progress in tackling gender dynamics, especially through initiatives aimed at creating a more equal playing field.
More programmes now actively tackle these challenges, supporting women in leadership and entrepreneurship. I have been fortunate to participate in some of these efforts, including the Unlock Her Future Prize, which recognises and supports female entrepreneurs, and a mentorship programme offered by Tecnológico de Monterrey University.
These experiences have reinforced the importance of systemic support and encouraged me to advocate for more such initiatives within my industry.
Can you share a moment when you overcame a challenge related to gender expectations and how it shaped you?
There have been instances where external stakeholders, perhaps unconsciously, assumed that male members of my team—such as our CTO—were the leaders, bypassing me entirely in conversations.
Such experiences have shaped me by reinforcing the importance of self-advocacy and composure.
They also highlighted the need to foster cultural awareness and equity in professional environments, which has become a core principle for me and the organisational culture we build at Salva Health.
Are you personally or your organisation currently taking steps to support and advance gender equity?
At Salva Health, advancing gender equity is integral to our mission.
Our AI tech team is predominantly female.
This reflects our intentional effort to recruit and retain talented women engineers to maintain gender balance. Personally, I am excited to begin soon mentoring female entrepreneurs at Tecnológico de Monterrey University, sharing insights from my journey to support and inspire others.
Through these efforts, I aim to contribute to a broader ecosystem where women in tech and leadership thrive.
Can you reflect on the progress made toward gender equity and the work that still needs to be done?
While strides have been made in gender equity, significant work remains.
Despite an increase in gender-specific funds and initiatives, only 10% of startup funding is allocated to female founders—a glaring gap that underscores the systemic barriers women face in accessing capital.
True progress requires greater facilitation of funding opportunities for female entrepreneurs and continued advocacy for equity across all levels of business. While the emergence of gender-specific initiatives is promising, building a more inclusive ecosystem demands sustained effort, collaboration, and accountability.
More information about the programme Valentina attended:
The INSEAD MBA is highly ranked and one of the world's most prestigious programmes for ambitious early to mid-career professionals. The accelerated 10-month curriculum develops successful, thoughtful leaders and entrepreneurs who create value for their organisations and their communities.
Programme benefits:
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