Mercedes Aráoz

Mercedes Aráoz's career is marked by a series of firsts and high offices. She broke a glass ceiling in 2009 by becoming Peru's first female finance minister, a milestone that opened doors for women in economic policymaking. As Second Vice President and Prime Minister, she played a key role in steering the country through political turbulence. Her decision to decline the acting presidency in 2019, despite the legal argument for it, demonstrated a commitment to constitutional order that earned her respect across the political spectrum. Her academic work at Universidad del Pacífico has trained generations of economists, and her international advisory roles extend her influence beyond Peru's borders.