General Outline
Susana Sierra is a Chilean businesswoman and entrepreneur, recognized in the compliance industry for her work and professional experience in integrity, anti-corruption, transparency, development of organizational culture, and implementation and the promotion of good practices within companies.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) recognized her as a Young Global Leader (YGL) in 2020.
Professional Career
She has a Bachelor's degree in Business Administration from the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, where she also obtained her Master's in Business Administration (MBA). She is a partner and CEO of BH Compliance, a pioneer firm that monitors and measures compliance programs for companies. Her experience and knowledge are extensive, having worked with companies in virtually all markets, who were subject or not to economic regulation, both in Chile and abroad, and who has managed to establish the importance of doing things right as a cultural value.
She is a member of multiple boards of directors: since 2016, board member of Chile Transparente, the Chilean chapter of Transparency International, and in 2020 was named president. She was also Co-Chair of a high-level commission, which worked defining the strategy of Transparency International for 2030. Concurrently, since May 2017, she has been part of the board of Correos de Chile SA, putting into practice her knowledge on corporate governance, and enhancing the importance of integrity.
As an entrepreneur, she is the founder and current Chair of Fundación Independízate, an organization whose objective is to provide methodological support to entrepreneurs from different fields, mostly professionals who have decided to become self-employed and who require advice in their business models to overcome the competitive environment and demanding market.
Throughout her professional career, she has had significant recognitions, such as being one of the "100 Women Leaders in 2015" and a "Young Influencer in 2017"; she is also the first Latin American woman to win the Women in Compliance Awards in 2018, in the "Lifetime Achievement for Service to the Compliance Industry" category, an award that recognizes women who have contributed to compliance in the world. In 2018, she was also highlighted as "Women who make a Difference" by the International Women Forum (IWF) in the United States.
One of the most outstanding recognitions she has received was to be elected - in March 2020 - as a Young Global Leaders (YGL) by the World Economic Forum (WEF), which aims to steer young leaders into a sustainable future.
Academic Role
In academia, she was co-director of the Diploma in Compliance and Good Corporate Practices at the Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC) from 2014 to 2020. She continues to instruct as a part-time professor for the Business Administration and the MBA program.
She also lectures:
- Diploma in Fraud, Universidad de Los Andes in Chile.
- Diploma in Fraud, Universidad de Chile.
- Master in Compliance, Universidad Castilla de la Mancha in Spain.
- Executive Program Ethics and Compliance LATAM 2021 in Argentina.
- Professor at the Universidad del Pacífico in Peru.
- Professor at the Universidad Católica in Peru.
She regularly participates in seminars, congresses, and lectures related to compliance, governance, and good practices within companies, both nationally and internationally. She is also a regular columnist for Voces de La Tercera and El Mostrador, through which she shares her opinion on current issues related to corruption and the private sector.
Currently, she is based in the United States and oversees the BH Compliance expansion of its exceptional services, including the diagnostic and monitoring of global compliance programs in transnational companies with subsidiaries in Latin America.
Education
- Babson WIN Growth Lab Venture Accelerator, Miami, FL 2021
- Certificate in Business Excellence, Columbia University in the City of New York, NY 2021
- Master in Business Administration (MBA), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC), Chile 2009
- Bachelor in Business Administration, Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile (PUC), Chile 2004
Publications
She is co-author with Tamara Agnic of the book "Corrupción a la Carta, las malas prácticas sobre la mesa” published in 2017, which describes bad practices in everyday business with more than thirty interviewees, including former presidents Eduardo Frei, Ricardo Lagos, Michelle Bachelet and Sebastián Piñera.
Awards and Recognitions
- "Young Entrepreneur 2015", awarded by Mujeres Empresarias, thanks to her work disseminating and establishing good practice models in companies.
- "100 Women Leaders 2016", an initiative of Revista Sábado de El Mercurio and the Leadership Department of the Adolfo Ibáñez University Business School, which brings together, supports, and showcases the work of women who have stood out in various fields, that have brought changes to their environment and make a difference to make Chile a better country.
- "Young Influencer 2017", recognition was given by Diario Financiero, recognizing the achievements, projections, and influence of professionals under 35 years of age.
- "Women in Compliance Awards 2018" award given by C5, highlighting women who have contributed to the compliance department's role in the world. C5 is an organization that works on business intelligence issues, conformed by The Canadian Institute, American Conference Institute, and C5 Europe.
Relevant Positions
- Board Member of AmCham Chile (Chilean-American Chamber of Commerce). Since 2022 – Present.
- Chair of Chile Transparente, the Chilean chapter of Transparency International. Since 2020 – Present.
- Board member of Chile Transparente. From 2016 – 2020.
- Board member of Correos de Chile S.A. Since 2018 – 2022
- Chair of Independízate Foundation. Since 2011 – Present.