Human RightsMars, Incorporated
Heidi Koester Oliveira is a human rights and sustainability professional with 12 years of experience at the intersection of business growth and societal benefit.
As the program lead for Human Rights and Sustainable Sourcing at Mars, Heidi stewards approaches to advance human rights across key agricultural supply chains. Previously, she worked with teams around the world on programs and policy development at The Coca-Cola Company, including youth and women’s economic empowerment, smallholder farmer development, child labor in sugarcane harvesting and the enhancement of health delivery systems in 10 African countries.
Heidi worked in international development with the U.S. Peace Corps in rural Costa Rica, focused on economic development and rural tourism in a coffee-farming community. She’s taught English as a Second Language for more than 12 years and began her career at National Geographic Adventure magazine.
Heidi has a Bachelor of Science in Journalism from Northwestern University and a Master in Sustainable Development and Corporate Responsibility from Escuela Organización Industrial in Madrid, Spain. She was selected as an Aspen Institute First Mover Fellow in 2016, recognizing her business acumen and integration of profits and purpose. While her roots are in Iowa, Heidi has lived in Brazil, Chile, Costa Rica and Spain. She is fluent in Spanish and Portuguese.