Karla Reyes
Karla Reyes is a native New Yorker and current undergraduate at the University of St Andrews in Scotland, pursuing a joint degree in French and Management. Born to immigrant parents from Guatemala and the Philippines, Karla has a strong interest in international development and economic empowerment. Having been an active microfinance supporter as a Kiva lender and ACCION fundraiser, Karla joined ACHIK in 2014 as one of its first four members. ACHIK, or ‘Dream’ in K’iche’, is a student-led social enterprise that provides micro-loans to textile producers in Guatemala, buys back their products at a fair price and sells them in international markets. In an effort to bridge cultural gaps and provide people with the opportunity to appreciate the skill and beauty of indigenous handcrafted goods, ACHIK has gained tremendous support in the US and UK. The ACHIK team hopes to sustainably grow the business and launch long-term education initiatives in the communities of their local partners.
Outside her involvement in ACHIK, Karla advocates women in tech initiatives as Campus Ambassador for Code First: Girls, a London-based startup that offers free computer science courses to female university students and recent graduates. She is also an MIT GSW 2014 Scholar.
Karla hopes to combine her passions for technology, travel and sustainability in business in her pursuits after graduation.
