Get to know us
At Global Visionary Minds, we believe that behind every grassroots idea is a spark that can light up communities. Whether you're a local changemaker, a passionate entrepreneur, or part of a volunteer group with a dream—we see you, we hear you, and we’re here to walk beside you. From tools and mentorship to real-world connections, we’re all about supporting your ideas grow into something powerful.
Our mission
We’re here for the doers—the confident ones who care deeply and act locally. Our mission is simple: support grassroots organizations and individuals with unique ideas in fighting inequality, protecting the planet, preserving culture to reimagining education. We help you tap into your potential with the resources, coaching, and platforms you need to make a lasting impact.
Our vision
We dream of a world where people like you—those rooted in their communities—can lead with compassion, break barriers, and open doors for others. A world that’s fairer, more creative, and full of opportunity.
Our team
Andrés González Rodríguez
Founder of Global Visionary Minds | Champion of International Development | Social Innovation
Shqipe Malushi
Founder of Global Visionary Minds | Poet of Possibility | Architect of Empowerment
Manal Eid
CO-Founder of Global Visionary Minds
Andrés González Rodríguez
Andrés González Rodríguez is a dynamic and visionary leader with almost 30 years of experience across the international development and humanitarian sectors. His work has taken him to some of the world’s most complex and diverse contexts—including Syria, Iraq, Lebanon, Afghanistan, the Balkans, and multiple countries in Africa—where he has led large-scale, high-impact programs focused on displacement, protection, education, health and recovery.
Andrés is the founder of Global Visionary Minds, a platform that supports organizations and individuals who are pushing the boundaries of traditional aid and development work. Through strategic advice, creative thinking, and deep field knowledge, he helps turn bold ideas into practical, high-impact solutions—especially in places and sectors that are often overlooked.
His entrepreneurial spirit also led him to co-found Damascus Gin, a premium craft spirit rooted in Levantine culture. Combining Middle Eastern botanicals with refined presentation, the project is more than a beverage—it’s a story of resilience, identity, and connection.
Whether working with grassroots NGOs or building a global brand from scratch, Andrés brings the same commitment: to create value, empower people, and leave a positive, lasting mark.
Shqipe Malushi
Shqipe Malushi is a poet, writer, performer, public speaker, gender adviser, producer, empowerment coach, and transformative leadership trainer whose voice rises at the crossroads of creativity, resilience, and global healing. As the visionary founder of Global Visionary Minds (GVM), she harnesses the timeless power of storytelling to awaken consciousness, cultivate leadership, and bridge divides across cultures and generations.
Born in Kosovo and shaped by the tides of displacement, Shqipe journeyed from immigrant to world citizen—her path marked not by borders, but by bridges. Through the written word and spoken truth, she has touched lives in Afghanistan, Lebanon, Iraq, India, Kosovo, Albania, and the United States, empowering women and youth in places where hope was once a whisper.
Her poetry has been published internationally, and her performances echo with the power of love, healing, and the sacred right to dream. With courage and compassion, Shqipe leads humanitarian initiatives that dissolve barriers of race, religion, and gender, fostering unity where division once stood. Whether on stage or in the classroom, her voice inspires transformation.
Her extraordinary work has earned her global recognition, including:
Laureate of Women’s Rights, Kosovo 2024
Women of Excellence Award by the President of Albania (2016)
Iconic Women’s Leadership Award by the Women’s Economic Forum, India (2016)
Paul Harris Fellow by Rotary International (2008) for peacebuilding
Woman of the Year, Refugee Women’s Network, USA (2003)
Ambassador for Peace, Interreligious & International Federation for World Peace (2003)
NATO Medal for Kosovo Peacekeeping (1999)
… and many more, each a reflection of her unwavering commitment to love in action.
Through Global Visionary Minds, Shqipe continues to light the way for young changemakers—educating, inspiring, and empowering emerging leaders to rise beyond limitation and build a just, compassionate world.
She lives by one truth:
“When stories are spoken with love, they do not just heal. They ignite change.”
Manal Eid
Manal Eid is a visionary force in the field of child rights, whose commitment over the past 18 years has transformed the lives of thousands of children across Lebanon and conflict-affected areas of the MENA region. A fierce advocate for justice, protection, and healing. Manal works at the intersection of compassion and innovation to safeguard childhoods fractured by war, displacement, and systemic neglect.
As Vice President of the Board for Global Visionary Minds and Defensefor Children International (DCI) MENA, and Director of Connect ChildrenNow Lebanon, she leads with purpose and commitment, designing and implementing solutions that shield children from violence, exploitation, and the deep psychological scars of trauma. In divided communities where trust is fragile, Manal builds bridges—restoring resilience, dignity, and hope.
Manal’s approach is deeply rooted in the power of community. She
champions cost-effective, grassroots interventions that prioritize the
leadership of local actors and honor the cultural fabric of each
setting. Her belief in inclusive, sustainable systems has made her a
trusted voice in efforts to rebuild social cohesion and promote healing
in places fractured by conflict. A founding member of War Child Holland in Lebanon, Manal helped shape its mission from the ground up. Her impact expanded through her work with Save the Children, where she guided programs that rebuilt safe environments for children amid the ruins of war. In 2015, she pioneered Incredible Me—a groundbreaking psychosocial support methodology that fuses movement, art, and emotional expression to support children’s recovery from trauma. Scalable and rooted in community, this program continues to empower grassroots groups to bring
healing where it is most needed. Manal believes that every child has a voice worth hearing and a future worth fighting for. Her work is a testament to the idea that when children are nurtured, included, and empowered, they become the architects of peace and transformation—not only for their communities, but for the world.
