Zonia Bezara de Atencio

EY World Entrepreneur Of The Year™ 2026 finalist, Venezuela
President, ZOOM

Zonia Bezara de Atencio is proving that logistics can create order from disruption.

Zonia Bezara de Atencio is a visionary leader in Venezuela’s logistics and services sector, driven by a simple but demanding idea: progress depends on efficiency and trust. Fifty years ago, she cofounded ZOOM as a small international courier. Under her leadership, it evolved into a regional multiservice ecosystem that integrates logistics, remittances, and financial and fintech solutions across more than 10 countries.

In the 1980s, Zonia recognized that logistics in Venezuela was not a convenience but essential infrastructure. Rather than improvising around disruption, she built systems designed to function through it — choosing order, process and formality where volatility was the norm.

Zonia’s vision expanded beyond transportation. She pioneered international locker systems, led the country’s first electronic remittance in partnership with Western Union, and developed financial services that connected families, entrepreneurs and small businesses to the global economy.

Equally important is her human-centered leadership. Grupo ZOOM has been repeatedly recognized as a Great Place to Work®, reflecting a culture of meritocracy, continuous learning and belonging. In a male-dominated industry, Zonia has championed female leadership, showing that diversity strengthens execution.