Leading with Intention: Valeria Olave on Her Leadership NM Experience

By WESST | January 21, 2026

With nearly a decade of experience in the banking industry, Valeria Olave joined WESST in 2023 as Program Director of our Albuquerque Women’s Business Center (WBC). Under her leadership, WESST’s Albuquerque WBC earned the 2025 National Certificate of Excellence from the Association of Women’s Business Centers (AWBC) and was featured in the first ever AWBC Media Spotlight tour in August 2025. 

Valeria recently graduated from Leadership New Mexico’s Connect Class of 2025. Leadership New Mexico’s Connect New Mexico is a five-month program focused on leadership skill development, identifying current and emerging leaders throughout our state, enhancing their leadership skills, and deepening their knowledge of the challenges and opportunities facing our state.  

“Participating in Leadership New Mexico’s Connect Class of 2025 deepened my understanding of leadership beyond roles or titles. The program helped me solidify what I want my leadership to stand for: empathy, integrity, courage, and purpose, while challenging me to be more intentional about lifting others and advocating for myself,” Valeria shared. 

“The program also gave me insights into how interconnected New Mexico’s challenges and opportunities are across key industries, including economic development, education, healthcare, public safety, energy, agriculture, and workforce development. Learning directly from leaders across these sectors reinforced the importance of collaboration, long-term thinking, and cross-sector leadership in building a resilient and inclusive economy for all New Mexicans. 

These lessons directly impact my work at WESST and the Albuquerque Women’s Business Center. Every day, we support entrepreneurs who are navigating complex systems as they build and grow their businesses. Leadership New Mexico strengthened my commitment to leading with intention; ensuring our programs are practical, inclusive, and responsive to the needs of our community.”