Colombian journalist Breaks the glass ceiling as a leading voice in sport
Maria Fernanda Franco Luna is making history as one of Colombia’s leading female sports broadcasters and inspiring other Latin American women to pursue sport-related paths. After attaining a bachelor’s degree in social communication with an emphasis in audio visual production from Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Maria decided to pursue a master’s degree in sports journalism from the Universidad CEU san Pablo in Spain. She put her knowledge of sport and communication to use by founding “Matchday Woman’’, a sports broadcasting company which aims to promote women’s sports by providing increased coverage and analysis. So far, the organization has covered numerous major sporting events, including the Clausura 2022 final of the Liga MC Femenil de Mexico, the Copa América Femenina, the Liga Femenina de Colombia, and FIFA Women’s World Cup 2023. Currently, Maria serves as a sports journalist and executive commentator for the Canal Capital in Bogota. In July, transmitting the Copa América Femenina Colombia, Maria became the first woman ever to commentate on a soccer match on Colombian television.
At the GSMP, Maria hopes to devise an action plan that will strengthen the communication skills of girls and women in Colombia. She also plans to learn more about budgeting and financing a sustainable business model for her existing broadcasting network and action plan. Maria looks forward to creating connections with other female leaders in sport and hopes to establish mutually beneficial strategic alliances with her GSMP peers.
Maria will be mentored by Maria Soares, Senior Vice President, Production and Content Strategy, and her team at ESPN in Bristol, Connecticut.
