Check Out Gabriela Matute’s Story

Today we’d like to introduce you to Gabriela Matute.

Hi Gabriela, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
My professional journey began in journalism. I built an award-winning career in television, working in both Venezuela and the United States, including several formative years at CNN en Español. Journalism shaped me profoundly—it taught me how to listen deeply, communicate with clarity, and understand the real challenges facing our communities. It also gave me a platform to tell stories that matter.

Over time, I felt called to move from telling stories to helping shape them. That desire to serve more directly led me into the nonprofit sector and, ultimately, to the Georgia Hispanic Construction Association (GHCA), where I became Executive Director in October 2023. Since then, I’ve had the privilege of leading an organization that supports more than 1,000 Hispanic-owned construction businesses each year, strengthening them through education, advocacy, leadership development, and strategic partnerships.

Today, I see my work as a continuation of my earlier career—still rooted in communication and representation, but now focused on building systems of opportunity. As a proud Latina, I’m deeply committed to ensuring that Hispanic contractors and women in construction are not only included in the industry, but positioned to lead and thrive. For me, leadership is about service, and strong communities are built when opportunity and representation come together with purpose.

Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
It has not been a smooth road, but it has been a meaningful one.

The biggest challenges have been internal. Transitioning from journalism into leading a construction trade association required me to reinvent myself. I had to step into an industry where I didn’t initially have technical knowledge, and that was intimidating. There were moments when I questioned whether the learning curve would be too steep or, to use the language of the industry, whether the structure I was trying to build was too complex to construct.

Construction is still, though less each year, a male-dominated space. Walking into rooms where few people look like you -as a woman, as a Latina- can test your confidence. I had to confront my own fear of not knowing enough and replace it with the willingness to learn, ask questions, and lean into leadership anyway.

What I discovered along the way were skills I didn’t know I had: the ability to translate complex industry issues into vision, to build bridges between sectors, and to lead with both conviction and empathy. Confidence didn’t arrive all at once; it was built, layer by layer, through action.

So no, it hasn’t been smooth. But growth rarely is. And every challenge has reinforced my belief that leadership is not about knowing everything, it’s about being willing to learn, to serve, and to build something bigger than yourself.

Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
At GHCA, I lead with one clear purpose: to strengthen, connect, and elevate Hispanic-owned construction businesses across Georgia. My work focuses on creating real opportunities -through education, strategic partnerships, advocacy, and leadership development- so our members don’t just participate in the industry but lead within it.

I’m most proud of helping build a stronger, more united organization, one that brings members together, facilitates meaningful business opportunities, and clearly demonstrates the powerful impact our Hispanic community has on Georgia’s economy. I’m especially committed to amplifying the voice of Latinas in construction, ensuring they are visible, supported, and positioned to thrive in a space that is still evolving.

What sets me apart is how I engage: I lead with honesty and heart. I listen carefully, speak candidly, and work to be a connector who turns conversations into solutions. I believe professionalism and humanity are not opposites, they are the foundation of lasting leadership.

Who else deserves credit in your story?
Absolutely. I’ve been fortunate to have many mentors, supporters, and advocates throughout my career and life, starting at home. From family who instilled resilience and a sense of purpose, to colleagues and industry peers who offered guidance, encouragement, and constructive challenge, each has shaped my journey in meaningful ways. They’ve helped me see possibilities I might not have recognized, offered perspective when challenges felt overwhelming, and reminded me that leadership is about collaboration, trust, and lifting others as you climb. Their support has been invaluable in helping me grow into the leader I am today.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.georgiahca.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/weareghca/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SOMOSGHCA/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/georgia-hispanic-construction-association/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC1b7dHqe3aL4dhyjsLFe4ng

Image Credits
Georgia Hispanic Construction Association