Rebeca Vargas is the new leader behind Girl Scouts of the USA’s marketing efforts. As the organization’s new Chief Marketing Officer, Vargas will be responsible for promoting the Girl Scouts’ mission of empowering girls with courage, confidence, and character.
Career at the Intersection of Finance and Community
With degrees from ITAM in Mexico, Tulane University, Columbia Business School, and Harvard Business School, Vargas brings a wealth of experience to the role. Currently serving as a panel member on the National Advertising Review Board, Vargas has dedicated her career to the intersection of community service and financial services marketing. Her extensive experience in the financial industry includes leadership roles at JPMorgan Chase & Co., Citi, and BBVA in Mexico. Most recently, Vargas held the position of Head of Marketing for Consumer Segments at Wells Fargo , where she spearheaded Wells Fargo’s sponsorship of the Mexican national soccer teams. The sponsorship highlighted the sport’s significance for Latinos in the United States and its role in fostering a sense of cultural identity. “Soccer is the number one sport for Latinos in the United States, and for Mexican Americans, the Mexican national team exemplifies the deep pride in their rich cultural heritage.”
Beyond her corporate career, Vargas has been a passionate advocate for community initiatives, serving as President and CEO of both the U.S.-Mexico Leaders Network and the US-Mexico Foundation. Vargas’s career trajectory has uniquely prepared her to empower young girls. Her dedication to helping others is evident in her work, as she has consistently sought to create opportunities for marginalized communities. In a 2017 interview with Viceversa Magazine, Vargas shared her experience of working to improve financial inclusion for Latin Americans. She explained, “I knew that many Latin Americans didn’t have bank accounts, which was a huge barrier to accessing credit. So, I set out to change that.” Rebeca Vargas’s philanthropic endeavors also include her work with the US-Mexico Foundation, where she focused on empowering Mexican youth through educational programs. She emphasized the importance of connecting the Mexican diaspora to their homeland, stating, “We believe it’s essential for young people to know Mexico and have a place for our country in their hearts and minds.”
Girl Scout Cookies
The Girl Scout activity most familiar to the general public may be the annual sale of Girl Scout Cookies, which started in 1917 as a money-earning opportunity for councils and troops. During an average selling season (usually January through April), more than one million girls sell over 200 million packages of cookies and raise over $800 million. The program funds the offering to girls important experiences in entrepreneurship, leadership, business, and finance from an early age, as well as provide girls and Girl Scout councils with the funding necessary for activities and programs throughout the troop year.
