We’re past simple solutions.

One-track approaches no longer solve the kinds of ESG problems organizations face today.

You need nuanced, well-rounded, battle-tested strategies.

That’s where I come in

Navigate challenges around climate change, socio-political impact, and profitability.
Apply my behavioral expertise and venture know-how to elevate your ESG initiatives, and become part of the solution.

We’re past simple solutions.

One-track approaches no longer solve the kinds of ESG problems organizations face today.

You need nuanced, well-rounded, battle-tested strategies.

That’s where I come in.

Navigate challenges around climate change, socio-political impact, and profitability
Apply my behavioral expertise and venture know-how to elevate your ESG initiatives, and become part of the solution.
Margarita’s ability to cut to the emotional heart of the matter and the underlying dynamics between team members complements her business savvy and strong understanding of markets and business models. Her global vision and concern for the broader context is refreshing.
Sameer Bhatia
CEO of Octane Technologies

I’m no stranger to big firsts.

I was the first person in my working-class Mexican-American family to go to college.

In my high school, I was the first person to graduate in 3 years, and the first Stanford University attendee.

I was Stanford’s first Hispanic petroleum engineering graduate.

I was also the first Hispanic woman to take a directorial position in a renowned venture capital company.

My life has been a series of interesting first steps. I get the challenges of being at the forefront of change.

I am Yaqui – Native American on my father’s side. My lived experiences as a woman of colour lend me the lens to navigate cultures and systems, and notice hidden yet pressing problem spaces in organizations.

As a social entrepreneur, I’ve seen why companies with big ideas fail: It boils down to not understanding how capital and systems work.

Policy-makers and leaders need to understand the role of entrepreneurial change and the opportunities available to them through macro and micro-level system change.

And I’m here to show them how.

I highly recommend her for any sort of project requiring a systems approach to problem solving, especially where there is a human dimension in addition to engineering or policy challenges.
Dave Miller
University of Central Florida

I’ve led and collaborated with:

Official Bio

Margarita Quihuis is the CEO of PeaceX Ventures, the first venture studio dedicated to building ESG-native companies from the ground up.

She is the Executive Director of the Peace Innovation Lab (PIL) at Stanford and the Peace Innovation Institute at The Hague.

Margarita launched Astia, the first technology incubator for women entrepreneurs, and raised $67M in venture funding within 18 months.

As a public speaker on entrepreneurship and social behavior, she has addressed many corporations and institutions on ESG, ethical business, and innovation.

Margarita divides her time between academia and corporate engagements. As a research team member at BJ Fogg’s Behaviour Design Lab, she combines behavioral change, persuasive tech, and finance for real-world impact.

At PIL, she researches innovation, mass collaboration, and social technology to reform society. The focal points of her work have included the application of persuasive technology for government innovation, humanitarian relief, and citizen diplomacy.

Honors include:

Margarita has also been an entrepreneurship consultant to the US State Department.

She has been widely quoted in the Asian Venture Capital Report, NewsHour with Jim Lehrer, US News & World Report, Forbes ASAP, CNN, and CBS MarketWatch.