Sonia Arenaza is a Senior Financial Sector Specialist Consultant at CGAP, where she advises the Policy and Investment teams. She has extensive experience in strategy, product management, and policy development across digital finance, blockchain, digital assets, and AI-powered innovations, working across sectors with big tech firms, global financial institutions, startups, venture investors, government agencies, and international organizations.
Prior to joining CGAP, Sonia worked at Bank of New York Mellon, Meta, and United Nations agencies, including the Better Than Cash Alliance, the International Telecommunication Union, and the Internet Governance Forum, as well as Accion International. She has engaged closely with regulators, policymakers, and private sector leaders to advance financial innovation and inclusion. In addition to her work with CGAP, Sonia advises women-led ventures and leads Inclusive Innovations, a boutique advisory firm.
She holds a Chief Product Officer certificate from MIT and a master’s degree from Syracuse University and a computer science degree from the National Engineering University in Peru.