Miami Music Project Achieves Gender Parity on its Board of Trustees
In a bold move towards gender equality in the non-profit sector, the Miami Music Project commits to doubling its impact by doubling the presence of women on its Board of Trustees by Spring. Journalist and communicator Marcela Sarmiento, senior multinational executive Isabella Otero, and attorney Michelle Genet Bernstein join the board to finally achieve a 50-50 presence among male and female strategists and fiduciaries of the organization. Their combined expertise and dedication will undoubtedly propel the Miami Music Project toward its growth objectives, as the organization celebrate its 15th anniversary during the current season.
In the words of President Anna Klimala: “Women today make up 75% of workers in the non-profit sector, but this statistic is hardly ever represented in the boardrooms. We are thrilled to acknowledge women's valuable contribution to social enterprises by offering these skilled professionals a means to express their commitment through our mission. The combined expertise and dedication of our new Trustees will undoubtedly help take the Miami Music Project’s impact to the next level.”
Born in Barranquilla, Colombia, Marcela Sarmiento is a dynamic journalist and producer at TELEVISA UNIVISION. She hosts and directs interview programs at the most successful morning show in Spanish in the US, Despierta América. She has been a ubiquitous and highly versatile opinion leader on prestigious Spanish-speaking television and radio networks in Latin America and Spain. Her professional journey has been dedicated to portraying and uplifting Latino women, culture, and lifestyle by presenting stories of these exemplary community builders and changemakers on television, radio, printed press, and digital media. Her experience in fundraising is most noticeable at the annual Teletón (Telethon), a television broadcast event designed to raise funds for the construction of facilities for children with special needs. The Miami Music Project represents her first contribution to ensuring free after-school musical education to Miami’s under-resourced youth.
Marcela Sarmiento expresses her views on joining the board thus: “Few things in life bring together a community like music does. It is a real privilege to be part of a group of people who transform the lives of hundreds of children through music. This is the most unique and important work I can do as a professional and woman.”
Dr. Isabella Otero is an accomplished senior executive, entrepreneur, international business consultant, and academic. With her unique breadth of experience and academic expertise, she offers tailored solutions to companies seeking to navigate challenges and seize opportunities properly. As Co-founder and Principal of Valora, a full-service valuation, performance management, and Fund accounting services provider in Miami, the Dominican Republic, and the Cayman Islands, she has driven the company’s remarkable international growth trajectory. Dr. Isabella’s passion for education has led her to teach finance and ESG courses to future business leaders. Joining the Miami Music Project boards gives unique expression to her passions as she expresses:
“I am eager to be part of this transformative journey, where music becomes a vehicle for positive change and empowerment. In joining Miami Music Project, I saw the opportunity to merge my passions, leverage my experience, and work alongside like-minded individuals who share a common purpose of creating a brighter future through music and education.”
Michelle is an experienced commercial litigator licensed to practice in New York and Florida. Raised in Miami Beach, she attended the Rabbi Alexander S. Gross Hebrew Academy. She earned her undergraduate degree in Politics from New York University and a J.D. from Fordham University School of Law. Michelle worked in big law in New York from 2010 through 2020. Upon moving back to Miami, Michelle joined the boutique litigation firm Mark Migdal & Hayden as a partner from 2021 through 2023. Michelle is currently consulting for Kasowitz Benson Torres and is working with a long-standing private equity firm client to prepare a trial scheduled to commence in the second half of 2024. Michelle has a history of volunteering her legal skills, including helping asylum seekers and working with the Legal Aid Society’s juvenile rights division. Her links to the Miami Music Project run deep: her father-in-law, Alan Bernstein, served on the board of trustees for over a decade; her father, Michael Genet, applied himself to community improvement, especially for the children of the Hebrew Academy. Michelle aims to continue her family legacy:
"As a Miami native and parent to two young children, the Miami Music Project’s mission of empowering children and supporting them in achieving their full potential resonates with me on a deeply personal level. I had the privilege of visiting the Little Havana Chapter and witnessing the staff's incredible passion and the students' extraordinary dedication. I am honored to join the Board of Trustees alongside these distinguished and inspiring women. I am energized to contribute to the continued success of the Miami Music Project and its tremendous impact on our community.”
For more information on the Miami Music Project and its Board of Trustees, visit www.miamimusicproject.org.