Gabriela “Gabby” Chavez-Lopez '09 is the inaugural Executive Director of the Latina Coalition of Silicon Valley, Latina Coalition develops and empowers Latina women to grow in their civic and professional leadership and exists to solve economic and political disparities for Latinas in our region. Hence, fostering a Latina leadership pipeline with a culturally intelligent lens to meet the needs of a growing community and workforce.
In 2021, Gabriela was named an Influential Woman of Silicon Valley by the Silicon Valley Business Journal. She was also honored as an Extraordinary Woman of Santa Clara County by the Commission on the Status of Women for her extensive community involvement and impact. She is also an appointed Commissioner of the Santa Clara County Planning Commission where she reviews, advises and acts on land-use and development applications and policy matters throughout the county.
She is a proud graduate of Eastside Union High School District and a 2009 graduate of Santa Clara University, with a B.S. in Political Science. She has also received continuing education and been a selected participant in Harvard Business School’s Young American Leaders Program and USC’s Jesse M. Unruh’s Institute of Politics.
At her core, Gabby is a community catalyst passionate about uplifting and championing women and communities that are often unseen and unheard. She is committed to closing the massive Latina wage gap and fostering a more equitable and inclusive community – a place that values and acknowledges the contributions of women and supports and cultivates their overall success.