Maricela Regalado Garcia on her move to RiskSphere

After several years in financial institutions in her native Mexico and more recently the Netherlands, Maricela Regalado Garcia received a warm welcome to the team at boutique consultancy firm RiskSphere, where she joined as sustainability consultant starting at the beginning of July.

Putting to work her previous experience, including with the Mexican Ministry of Finance and a major Mexican bank, Maricela is now excited to work with RiskSphere in supporting projects like, for example, advising finance ministries on integrating ESG criteria.

“What motivated me to join RiskSphere is that it perfectly matches my experience and interests. I was particularly drawn to RiskSphere’s focus on projects that sit at the intersection of finance and sustainability, a space I find super interesting,” says Maricela.

Based in Utrecht in the Netherlands, RiskSphere is known for their advisory services related to change management, especially in projects having to do with sustainability and climate change. That includes scenario analysis and ESG dashboards and reporting.

Past experience

Maricela’s work experience spans a range of institutions and roles, all within the world of finance. Her career began at the Ministry of Finance, where she helped coordinate government funding in international markets through global notes.

“I then worked at a credit rating agency, where I was responsible for more than 140 credit ratings, and the first sustainable rating in the Mexican housing sector, a milestone I’m proud of. In banking I focused on regulatory risk, coordinating the risk committee, managing regulatory compliance risks, successfully avoiding fines or sanctions while also being involved in the provisioning process,” Maricela explains.

Maricela also got crucial experience in consulting while working with Solid Professionals. In that role, her first in the Netherlands, she worked with both Dutch and international clients on sustainability-related projects.

“What I really value of consulting is the opportunity to collaborate closely with clients, understand their needs and deliver results in complex and fast-moving environments,” says Maricela.

But her interests go beyond just finance and consulting – in between these various roles she explored entrepreneurship and founded an ecofriendly online store, which she ran for two years.

Passion for sustainability

A focus on sustainability has been part of Maricela’s career path since she began her journey.

“My passion for sustainability comes from a strong personal drive to contribute, even in small ways, to make the world a better place,” Maricela explains.

“I’m motivated by the idea that the work I do can have a positive, tangible impact. When I’m involved in sustainability related projects, I feel more fulfilled and energized, and I find that it brings out the best in both my mindset and the quality of my work.”

Asked about her dream project in the financial services sector, Maricela says it would be one that involves multiple Sustainable Development Goals, aimed at creating broad, high-impact outcomes.

“Ideally, it would focus on sustainable financing because I believe banks and financial institutions have a powerful role to play in driving the climate transition. By directing capital toward responsible and forward-thinking initiatives, the financial sector can be a real catalyst for systemic change,” she adds.

The Hup

Both RiskSphere and Solid Professionals, where Maricela previously worked, are both part of the larger organization The Hup, a collective of Dutch companies.

“What I appreciate most about The Hup is its relaxed and friendly culture, which has been a refreshing change from the more traditional corporate environments I’ve worked in,” says Maricela.

“There’s a sense of community, and there are always fun activities being organized to connect outside of work. I also really value the international atmosphere which brings diverse perspectives and makes collaboration more enriching. The company also offers a lot of flexibility, which supports a healthy work life balance, which I find very important.”