My name is Gabriela Romero, and I’m an executive transitions strategist who draws on my Kañari and Western upbringing to architect pathways for some of the most challenging organizational shifts.

An advisor and C-Suite professional with grounded expertise and adaptive skills. I am precise and pragmatic; turning complexity into clarity and uncertainty into focused action.

Current Works

  • Published Work

    June 2025

    Published on Swamphen, a journal of cultural ecology of the University of Sydney, Australia

    Keynote Essay : Indigenous Embassy

    As Indigenous Peoples, we are afflicted in modernity by the barriers and borders of transgressive cultures and imperial bullies. Our own orientation to boundaries is incompatible with these oppressive constructs because, for us, borders are dynamic, semipermeable sites of relational increase. We will share this orientation from our unique experience of emergent embassy rituals between Cañari and Kara::Kichwa of the Andes::Amazon and Bama/Murri of Australia’s northeast (see Jacobs & Narváez; Yunkaporta).

  • Embassy in Process

    2023-Present

    Cross-cultural and intellectual partnerships that are shaping my perspectives and work.

    Tyson Yunkaporta Embassy

    Role: Embassy Collaborator

    I've been engaged in meaningful embassy with author and dear friend, Tyson Yunkaporta since 2023. This collaboration, which originated through the Indigenous Knowledge Systems Lab, has evolved into a journey of ceremonial practice and lateral thinking. Our work has created rich webs of exchange and mutual learning through patient and deliberate engagement, informing contemporary challenges through cross-oceanic dialogue.

  • President & Executive Director

    2023- Present

    La Fundación Biocorredores Amazónicos

    Co-led the establishment of la Fundación Biocorredores Amazonicos (BioAm) in Ecuador, successfully securing legal status in 2023. Post securing our initial seed funding a united a diverse board of directors comprising Indigenous leaders, urban professionals, and community advocates came to from the board.

    We intentionally anchored our work in Andean modalities, ceremony, and development as the foundation for all initiatives.

    Our current focus is on elevating Indigenous voices in academia and creating "Corredores Silvestres" / "Wild Corridors" - establishing strategic connectivity sanctuaries throughout the Andes.

  • UK published Emergence Magazine

    Upcoming

    Spring 2026

    Emergence Magazine V.7

    “Seeds and Structures”

    By Tyson Yunkaporta, Gabriela Romero, and Stephanie Beck

    Emergence’s seventh print volumewill explore the role of seeds and structures in bridging the worlds and sowing a future where we embody an ontology of spiritual ecology. Central to this inquiry will be an examination of ancient and existing ways humans work with seeds and structures—spanning physical, cosmological and spiritual, and ecological knowledge systems that honor our sacred relationship with the Earth.

Practices and Systems

Education & Experience

  • Cañar Ecuador 1970's

    Education

    M.A., Political Science; Policy & Development

    City University of New York; Brooklyn College (2013)

    B.A., Political Science; International Relations

    Trinity College, CT (2010)

    My education began at home, guided by my family, teachings and the movements of my Kañari grandparents.

  • 2021-2024

    Executive Director

    The Andes —Amazon Conservancy

    Ecuador, S.A

    Led a $3M p/y connectivity conservation program engaging 175+ communities across four Amazon Indigenous nations, overseeing all aspects of implementation, resource allocation, and Indigenous Nation engagement.

    Created operational frameworks integrating Andean practices with goals while ensuring legal compliance across nations and the state.

    Invited to communities, over 6 months of field engagement, building relationships and overseeing programs across multiple nations.

    Implemented Ministry-approved emotional intelligence policy program enhancing leadership and nation-building capacity.

    Cultivated partnerships and diplomatic ties for program support.

  • 2017-2021

    Founder & Systems Consulting

    NY & Massachusetts

    Crafted Hybrid and Andean modalities in curriculum creation, governance, and systems structuring, integrating traditional wisdom with modern frameworks for culturally-responsive results.

    Secured funding to design and develop transitional educational initiatives showcasing the value of traditional knowledge systems in public and private education.

    Successfully designed and implemented a 30-week program across Massachusetts schools, engaging more than 100 students.

  • 2007, 2011- 2015

    Investment Recovery Coordinator

    The Grow America Fund

    NYC

    Streamlined a $3-4 million fund recovery process, liaised with the US Federal Reserve.

    Achieved 98% recovery rate with systematic fund management.

    Prepared portfolios for secondary markets sales.

    Developed archived and recovery protocols for 300+ portfolios, over $50M.

    Led documentation architecture, database design and file systems.

Some hard-won lessons navigating complex power dynamics and transformation

Without sugarcoating it—this work surfaces difficult truths about leadership, organizational culture, and resistance.

“If I had an hour to solve a problem I'd spend 55 minutes thinking about the problem and 5 minutes thinking about solutions.” ―Albert Einstein

Organizational outreach and relationship-building efforts includes complex interactions between cultures, communities, historical contexts, and traumas. These experiences are frameworks within:

  1. natural cycles referred to as "Begen-endings" (The constant mark of some - thing, as End-ing. And the Begin-ing of something else.) (From Maestra Therese Jornlin); appreciating the change it takes.

  2. lived-processes to establish appropriate protocols for engagement between non-Western communities and women, Indigenous, and rural leadership; also known as proper (embassy) protocols.

  • date: 2022-2024

    key take away: The importance to continue to sit and invite into (challenging) ethical spaces.

    When allies in attempts to collaborate with those experienced and at the eye of systemic inequities, often fail to develop functional, truly representative-led enterprises or projects.

    Working with Indigenous Peoples and other groups requires the unpacking of inherited power imbalances and aggressions.

    These dynamics require thoughtful, respectful processes to ensure outcomes and above all prevent perpetuating harmful actions. Individuals in positions of privilege must demonstrate advanced emotional intelligence and a willingness to examine their biases, particularly as traditional power structures are reconfigured within their own organism.

    Key learnings from this project: recognizing early pitfalls of tokenism, establishing appropriate cross-cultural communication protocols, calling out knowledge extraction, implementing transparent financial agreements, and cultivating resilience.

    the indigenous commons project, usa.

    this project has since rebranded to provide its leadership as indigenous in public facing events.

  • date: 2021-2024

    key take away: center relationship and ceremony as organizational intent.

    This project operated in both the United States and specific regions of Ecuador. As director and CEO, this initiative successfully scaled achieving both financial sustainability within one year and wide community and nation impact within two years.

    A project meant to transition to an Ecuadorian NGO was not completed. Today the project has reduced over half of is work in the Amazon region. Significant challenges encountered across general accountability frameworks, board of directors law, appropriate financial governance, and administrative protocols.

    Critical insights gained from this initiative underscore the importance of establishing robust accountability mechanisms and meticulously addressing international diplomatic protocols when developing cross-border collaborative partnerships.

    the andes amazon conservancy, usa.

  • 2023- Continuous

    The essential nature and necessary functioning of a nucleus, as in any organism that wishes to survive- requires a clean, clear and kind communication stream with all its components. Non-cooperative struggles impact the whole and delay systems and created emotionally charged backlogs. Crafting time for ceremony, ritual and community labor is necessary to a core board formation, as well as ritual conflict enactments and Elder supervision.

This framework is an analytical perspective from work in the field. Great work and deep case studies are by Algoma University (Canada) and Deakin University (Australia): "Protocols for Non-Indigenous People Working with Indigenous Knowledge."

Conversations and actions that prompts new systems- in finance, governance and nature’s rights- requires innovative networks and compelling new narratives about access, resources, and our place within the world.

Yupaychani! (thank you!)

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