Introducing Leading Women Dominican Republic’s first class of honorees

We are pleased to announce the inaugural honorees of Leading Women Dominican Republic, awards organized by Ad Age and Adlatina, in partnership with the Association of Commercial Communication Companies (ADECC). This is the first country in the Caribbean to join the Leading Women program, an honorific started by Ad Age 28 years ago. Ad Age welcomes this outstanding group of Dominican executives to join the hundreds of women all over the world who have been recognized as Leading Women. The awards honor female executives leaving their mark in the media, advertising, marketing and communications industry. Adlatina holds events for Leading Women in Argentina, Mexico, Ecuador and Chile, and this year is hosting one in the Dominican Republic with the help of the ADECC. On Tuesday, March 18, Adlatina will host the first Leading Women Dominican Republic event, in alliance with Ad Age and in partnership with the ADECC. Taking place at the Hotel El Embajador, the March 18 luncheon will be attended by company executives, agencies, colleagues and collaborators, journalists, family members and other women in the industry. Those who wish to attend the lunch should contact Agustín Basile at abasile@adlatina.com and Claudia Montás at claudiam@adecc.com.do. CESARINA BENAVIDES President and general manager, Teamwork Creativo Before founding Teamwork in 1999, Benavides served as chargé d’affaires at the Dominican Republic Embassy in Taiwan for six years. She also worked at Young & Rubicam Damaris, managing clients including Colgate, Nestlé, Quala, Frito-Lay and KFC. Benavides is deeply involved in the industry and has been vice president of the Dominican League of Advertising Agencies (LIDAP), now the ADECC, and a member of the Effie advisory committee, the Renaissance Executive Forum and the Spanish Chamber of Commerce. In 2020 she started a podcast about her search for life’s purpose called “Mi Camino Positivo” (“My Positive Path”) and published her first book, also called “Mi Camino Positivo.” Benavides is currently working on “Growth,” a new project focused on human depth, personal growth and core values. THELMA CASTÁN FRANJUL VP of operations, MullenLowe Interamerica A business administration graduate of APEC University with a major in advertising management from Stetson University, Castán Franjul has over four decades of experience in the industry. She played a key role in the evolution and consolidation of MullenLowe Interamerica as one of the leading agencies in the market. During her career, she has led communication and marketing strategies for brands including Unilever, Bayer, Verizon, Claro, Grupo SID, MercaSID and Induveca, driving high-impact campaigns in the Dominican Republic and the region. She has held leadership positions in media, accounts, new business and planning. She is a jury member for Effie Latam and Effie RD, and serves as president of the advisory board at Miami Ad School Punta Cana. Her approach focuses on efficiency, creativity and adaptability in an ever-changing environment. NONORA ELMÚDESI CEO, Ogilvy Dominican Republic As a co-founder of Ogilvy RD, Elmúdesi has led the agency since 1994, positioning it among the top three in the country in just three years, competing with well-established international agencies. Her “always becoming” philosophy has driven continuous evolution. After working at Young & Rubicam RD, she earned a master’s degree in advertising sciences from Northwestern University and worked at DDB Chicago on the launch of Corona beer in the U.S. Upon returning to the Dominican Republic, she joined McCann Erickson as VP and account service director and later co-founded Ogilvy RD, where she has served as CEO since its inception. Elmúdesi has built a strong client portfolio, many of which have remained with the agency for over two decades, while continuously attracting new and exciting business opportunities. As a former president of ADECC, she is a champion of the value of creative work in the industry. LIL M. ESTEVA PANIAGUA Executive VP, Induveca S.A Esteva has been the executive VP of Induveca S.A. since 2015 and a member of Grupo SID's executive committee since 2007. Recognized as an inspiring leader with a passion for innovation, she drives strategic growth, portfolio expansion and operational efficiency while fostering creativity to meet evolving market demands. With over 35 years of experience, Esteva is celebrated for her ability to turn ideas into impactful strategies, empower teams and deliver sustainable results. Her dedication to community development is evident in initiatives such as EducaSID and ReforestaSID, reflecting her commitment to creating opportunities and driving progress. JOAN PATRICIA LANDOLFI Marketing director, Grupo Carol Landolfi has more than 20 years of experience in brand creation and positioning, as well as in the production of TV programs, events and campaigns. She has worked with major consumer brands in the Dominican Republic, developing new products and implementing value-driven strategies that have strengthened brand positioning in the sector. As marketing director of Grupo Carol, she develops and oversees advertising and marketing strategies for the Carol brand. Landolfi holds a degree in advertising as well as a master’s in integrated marketing and another in marketing finance and digital marketing strategies. CHRISTY LUCIANO VP of corporate communications and sustainability, Grupo Universal A results-driven professional, Luciano has over 20 years of experience managing corporate reputation, cultural transformation and change management. In her current role, she leads sustainability and strategic relationship initiatives that align with Grupo Universal’s mission. She is actively engaged in industry associations, NGOs and alliances and contributes to organizations including Ecored, ARISE, Copardom, Conep, Cadoar, Creso, Sanar una Nación, Fondo Agua Santo Domingo and Movimiento B in the Dominican Republic. Luciano holds a degree in advertising as well as master’s degrees in corporate communications and sustainability and has specialized training in negotiation, digital mindset and GRI reporting. She is married and has one son, and enjoys music, sports and traveling with her family. Check out the latest Ad Age events and award programs MADELYN MARTÍNEZ VP of marketing and financial retail, Centro Cuesta Nacional A distinguished professional in the marketing industry, Martínez holds a degree in marketing, an MBA specializing in strategic planning and a master’s in digital marketing and data analysis. Her career has been marked by notable achievements, including leading major projects such as “Soy Dominicano” and “Dominicano Soy.” She was instrumental in launching and positioning the Jumbo brand in the Dominican market and currently directs the marketing strategy for Supermercados Nacional, Casa Cuesta and the new format Merca Jumbo. Martínez’s influence extends beyond national borders—she served as a jury member for the Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity in 2024. ROSA OLGA MEDRANO COSME President, Groupo Medrano and president, Dominican Association of Broadcasters (ADORA) Medrano Cosme is a prominent Dominican businesswoman in the broadcasting sector. As president of Grupo Medrano, based in La Vega, and the Dominican Association of Broadcasters (ADORA), she has played a pivotal role in the industry. She holds a degree in business administration and has diplomas in marketing and finance; she began working in the family business at just 12 years old. In 2019, she assumed the presidency of Grupo Medrano after serving as commercial VP, leading the company through modernization and significant growth. At ADORA, she has focused on regulating the radio spectrum and combating illegal stations. PATRICIA MEJÍA VALDÉZ Director of communications, marketing and corporate affairs, Nestlé for the Latin Caribbean With a master’s degree in marketing, communications and corporate reputation, Mejía Valdéz has over 15 years of experience at multinational food and beverage companies. She has held key positions in communications, marketing and public and corporate affairs, focusing on protecting corporate reputation, supporting brand development, ensuring long-term sustainability and reinforcing corporate vision. Mejía Valdéz joined Nestlé in 2010 and has since held various high-value roles within the company, including manager of the nutrition, health and wellness department and corporate communications manager. She briefly worked at The Coca-Cola Co. as manager of public affairs, communications and sustainability before returning to Nestlé in her current leadership position, overseeing the Latin Caribbean region. GISELLE MORENO VP of marketing, Banco Popular Dominicano With over 20 years of experience in the banking industry, Moreno leads the marketing strategy for one of the sector’s most admired brands. She has spearheaded transformational projects, including advanced segmentation, the redefinition of service models and the optimization of digital marketing. Alongside her team, she develops innovative products, services and platforms, as well as commercial communication and data management strategies to enhance customer experience and solidify the brand as a market leader. Moreno holds a specialization in digital marketing from Columbia University, where she also completed the CMO program. She earned an executive MBA from Barna Management School and master’s degrees in marketing management and international marketing from Barna in Barcelona. Additionally, she is certified in design thinking by MIT and IDEO U. She has experience as a faculty member. DIOMARES MUSA FIALLO VP of market development, products and channels, Humano Seguros Musa Fiallo has over 30 years of leadership experience across various industries and deep knowledge of marketing, strategy, digital transformation and innovation. Throughout her career, she has led strategic processes at the local and international level. In recent years she has driven the corporate innovation program and the transformation of business models, achieving high-impact results. Musa Fiallo holds a bachelor’s degree in business administration, an MBA and a master’s in marketing, as well as a post-graduate degree in digital transformation and a certification in sustainability. She also has executive training from U.S. universities and local programs. MILAGROS DE ORTEGA CEO, Advanced Media Center, co-founder, Partners Ogilvy and president, Novazul Entertainment A marketing and media trading professional with over 40 years of experience, de Ortega has held management positions at international agencies including FCB and McCann since she was 17. Her strategic expertise in media planning and strategy has earned her numerous local and international awards. At 32, she co-founded Partners Ogilvy with Nonora de Martínez and later established Advanced Media Center, a media agency affiliated with GroupM Worldwide, where she served as CEO for 17 years. CAROLINA PANTALEÓN GARCÍA Marketing and new business director, innovation and R&D leader, Helados Bon Grupo Nutresa With over 30 years of experience in developing and positioning one of the most iconic brands in the Dominican Republic, Pantaleón García has also played a crucial role in expanding the most successful franchise chain in Latin America. She holds a master’s in marketing, an executive MBA from Barna Management School and a specialization in marketing from Northwestern University’s Kellogg School of Management. Passionate about innovation and talent development, Pantaleón García has dedicated her career to transforming businesses and inspiring new generations of professionals. Her leadership is driven by creativity, strategy and the ability to build strong, visionary teams. As a mother, wife and daughter, she is deeply committed to women’s empowerment and the professional growth of future generations, guiding them in their pursuit of purpose and fulfillment. She firmly believes in education, solidarity and purpose-driven leadership as the foundation of both her personal and professional life. YVONNE PATXOT General manager, Outstanding Results Advertising With over 30 years of experience in business development and brand positioning, Patxot is a recognized expert in consumer goods and corporate communication. Her career includes leadership roles at Unilever in the Dominican Republic and Mexico, where she directed strategic initiatives across markets including Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Central America, Argentina and the Caribbean. In her home country, she spearheaded the brand growth of leading companies CCN and Grupo SID, key players in the consumer packaged goods and retail sectors. Currently, at Outstanding Results Advertising—Banreservas’ lead advertising partner—Patxot integrates strategic vision with creative excellence to deliver effective business outcomes. Passionate about human capital development, she is dedicated to empowering young talent and fostering future leadership.

Introducing Leading Women Dominican Republic’s first class of honorees

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