Cidália Luis-Akbar

“Portuguese Women in the United States” 

Building with Vision and Humanity 

Field: Chambers of Commerce; Philanthropy; Human Rights 

 

Arte Institute is pleased to present a lecture with Cidália Luis Akbar (President of M. Luis Construction); Graça Didier (American Chamber of Commerce in Portugal); Donzelina Barroso (Rockefeller Philanthropy Advisors and Portugal-US Chamber of Commerce); Catarina Carvalho (High Level Task Force for ICPD) at Gershwin Hotel, on October 25, 7 pm. Host: Magda Vakil (Consultant)

Cidália Luis Akbar (President of M. Luis Construction)

Cidália Luis-Akbar oversees the M. Luis Construction Company’s $60 million+ internal management, accounting/financial and strategies management, in addition to strategy, development and overall growth of a diverse and growing company. After college she returned to M. Luis, where she was promoted to vice president. In 2000, she left the company to start her own business with Natalia Luis, the today’s M. Luis Construction Company’s Vice-President and Co-owner. In 2008 they sold their company, using its value to acquire M. Luis. Along with her professional accomplishments, she has been widely recognized as a savvy, dedicated business leader and economic contributor receiving numerous awards including in 2013 the Maryland Ernst & Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award and the Women of the Year Award by Enterprising Women Magazine; and in 2010 the Latina Powerhouse Award as well as the Smart CEO 2010 Brava Women in Business Achievement Award. She is a Fulbright-Hayes Scholar and holds a double Master’s degree in Spanish and Latin American Languages and Literatures, and Portuguese and Brazilian Languages and Literatures from the University of California, Santa Barbara. Along with her academic awards and professional accomplishments, Cidália Luis-Akbar is involved with various organizations such as CARE International, and Refugees International. She is a board member of Children’s National Medical Center Foundation, Girl Scouts of Central Maryland and the FBI Washington Field Office Citizens Academy. She is also a member of the Young Presidents Organization.