Andina

Mattel's Barbie honors Peruvian entrepreneur as role model

16:22 | Lima, Mar. 13.

In celebration of Barbie's 60th anniversary and International Women's Day, Mattel has recognized Peruvian businesswoman Mariana Costa for being a role model who inspires girls.

Costa —along with other 19 women from around the world— has been honored with one-of-a-kind doll in her likeness. 


The Peruvian is the co-founder and CEO at Laboratoria, a social impact startup that is transforming Latin America's tech sector into an example of diversity and inclusion by preparing thousands of women to launch careers in tech.

According to Costa, one of the reasons why there are so few women working on technology is the gender-based differentiation in toys, which is still present in society.

Thus, the CEO lamented that society pushes the idea of separate toys for girls and boys, adding this distinction makes no sense. 

"If I have the opportunity to influence more girls —even a little— so that they can have new mentors who show them they can achieve their dreams, then it is a good idea to do so," she expressed. 

For her work as a social entrepreneur Mariana Costa has received multiple recognitions, including being named one of the world's most influential women by the BBC in 2016

That same year, she was part of a panel at the Global Entrepreneurship Summit along with former U.S. President Barack Obama and Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg

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Published: 3/13/2019