June 4, 2026

#42 - Andrea Cristancho

Show Notes

As a young American girl living in Colombia, with little understanding of what it meant to be from the United States, Andrea Cristancho had a firsthand brush with grassroots U.S. soft power — and it may have changed her life. One thing is certain: When, years later, the roles were reversed, and she was the American helping to implement development programs overseas, the impact was every bit as profound.

Andrea Cristancho has spent over a decade working in international development and diplomacy, including as a U.S. Foreign Service Officer. In the private and public sector, she helped shape USAID programs, teaming up with government agencies, global partners, and international organizations to make meaningful change. Her journey started with the Peace Corps in Romania, where she not only served her community but also earned an art degree from the Art School of Targu Jiu, a proud and unexpected milestone. Andrea's work has always focused on bringing people together, solving problems, and making systems work better across borders. In 2025, she was among a group of 10 individuals who received the William R. Rivkin Award for Constructive Dissent from the American Foreign Service Association (AFSA).

Since relocating to Colorado, she's turned gratitude into action by running the Colfax Marathon to raise money for the International Career Advancement Program (ICAP).