Ms. María Blair specifies that talking about Rockefeller Foundation work in innovation, talks about accelerating innovation for development. She describes the Foundation basic task as giving granted money away for issues that have to do with poverty. The conference focuses on the challenge of leading effective projects and the theory needed to achieve objectives, innovation approaches, lessons the Foundation learned throughout past years and stresses actions that can be done by every individual in the society to help solving social issues.

Ms. María Blair insists on the need of establishing cooperative relations to try to solve problems that are increasingly interconnected, imply multisector and involve expensive global problems that require solutions.

Ms María Blair is currently an Associate Vice President & Managing Director of Rockefeller Foundation, that she joined in 2005. Her work implies providing leadership and strategic direction for select Foundation initiatives. Prior to joining the Foundation, she was an associate principal with McKinsey & Company, where she concentrated on private sector development, microfinance, corporate social responsibility, and strategy development for nonprofits.