Ara Carvallo

Ara is a serial entrepreneur who uses her skills to incite change: encouraging sustainability and innovation at the core of every venture she starts. Her postgraduate studies in environmental science have provided her with extensive knowledge for promoting conscious entrepreneurship. She has demonstrated her dedication to green solutions in all of the projects and businesses she has started and advised.

One of her most important ventures is Barra Mexico, which she co-founded. The event, now in its fifth year, is the leading spirits tradeshow in Latin America and the first zero-carbon barshow in the world. Another of her hospitality endeavours, a coffee shop that was the first of its kind because it was powered by 100% green energy, was named Best of Amsterdam.

Ara is a passionate ambassador for Mexican spirits, and she works as a portfolio director at the world's first spirits accelerator, Distill Ventures, working with other entrepreneurs to create brands of the future.

What will you be looking for in The Havana Club Bar Entrepreneur Of The Year?

This year I will be looking for high impact entrepreneurship. In 2020, to be best in class, bar entrepreneurs should not only deliver excellence in execution, but also lead the way in sustainability, innovation, social inclusion and diversity.