Margarita Womack
Founder & CEO, Latin Goodness Foods (dba MasPanadas)

Margarita Womack is a scientist-turned-entrepreneur whose career reflects a rare blend of
rigorous academic training and hands-on business leadership. She holds a Bachelor of Science
from Tulane University, a Doctorate from Princeton University, and an Executive MBA from
Georgetown University.

Before founding her company, Margarita built a career grounded in science education and
research. She taught at the K-12 level, led a non-profit organization promoting science
education in her home country of Colombia, and conducted primary research at Princeton
University. That foundation in education and community leadership continues to shape how she
runs her business today.

Margarita is the Founder and CEO of Latin Goodness Foods, doing business as MasPanadas
— a Maryland-based food manufacturing company specializing in frozen, Latin-inspired
empanadas. Her mission has been to make authentic South American street food accessible to
people with busy lifestyles, without compromising on quality or flavor. Under her leadership,
MasPanadas has grown from a small business concept into a recognized brand available
through major retail channels, including Walmart. She has guided the company through key
milestones in manufacturing, operations, product development, food safety, and market
expansion.

Beyond the business itself, Margarita is a passionate advocate for diverse entrepreneurship,
local manufacturing, workforce development, and cultural representation through food. She is
also the driving force behind the Latin Goodness Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to
empowering vulnerable women and building stronger communities.
Margarita’s work has earned national recognition. In 2022, she was named Small Business
Leader of the Year in the Washington Business Journal’s CEOs of the Year Awards and
received the EY Entrepreneur Of The YearTM award for the Mid-Atlantic region. In 2019, her
company was recognized by Poets & Quants as one of the Most Disruptive MBA Startups, and
her story was featured in Forbes Magazine. In 2018, she was featured on BBC Stories.
Through her vision, resilience, and commitment to excellence, Margarita continues to grow
MasPanadas while inspiring other entrepreneurs to pursue their goals and make a lasting
impact in their communities.