Maria Fernanda Sierra

Senior Programs Manager

Maria Fernanda Sierra is a Senior Program Manager leading the oversight, and execution of initiatives under the Educational Fund designed to support Hispanic and small business communities. She supports high-impact programs and partners collaborations focused on expanding capital, building organizational capacity, and fostering strategic connections that drive sustainable growth.

She served as the lead for federal grants, including the $5M SBA Community Navigator Pilot Program and the $3M MBDA Capital Readiness Program. She directed program operations, coordinated with Spokes and contractors, and advanced targeted outreach efforts connecting underserved businesses to critical resources and support to help them recover and grow post COVID-19.

Prior to working with USHCC, Maria Fernanda was as Project Manager with ME&A, a woman-owned international development firm, where she managed USAID-funded projects in Armenia, El Salvador, Georgia, Rwanda, and Tanzania. She oversaw the day-to-day operational, contractual, and financial management across complex, multi-country initiatives.

She also contributed to mission-driven work in Mexico with Uniaquatech and Puebla Food Bank in Mexico, supporting research, data analysis, and process optimization efforts that helped track progress for a water purification technology prototype and improve food distribution systems serving thousands of families.

Outside of work, Maria Fernanda enjoys playing soccer, training for marathons, traveling, and spending time with friends and family. She holds a B.S. in Industrial Engineering from Instituto Tecnológico de Monterrey in Mexico City, and is bilingual in Spanish and English.