In this inspiring episode of Así Las Cosas, Ferraiuoli’s podcast series hosted by hosted by Maristella Collazo-Soto, Capital Member and Co-Chair of the Intellectual Property Practice Group, we explore a story of dedication, service, and unwavering commitment to Puerto Rico’s economic future. Margaret Ramírez Báez, President of the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce, shares her remarkable journey from university student discovering her passion for business advocacy to leading the island’s oldest and most influential business organization through unprecedented challenges.
The Foundation: A Leader Who Shows Up Every Day
Margaret Ramírez Báez describes herself with refreshing honesty: “I’m a fajona—someone who wakes up early and goes to bed late.” This isn’t a complaint; it’s a statement of purpose from a woman who believes deeply that opportunities don’t simply appear—they must be created, pursued, and earned through consistent effort, hardworking and preparation.
Her philosophy is rooted in profound faith and practical wisdom: “I firmly believe in God and that opportunities are there for those who prepare themselves and take them. You can’t just wait for someone to knock and open the door for you. You have to create the key and open it yourself.”
When a young professional recently asked Margaret how things seemed to come so easily to her, her response captured the poetry and pragmatism that define her leadership: “This is like a Machado poem: golpe a golpe, verso a verso—blow by blow, verse by verse. It happens through tremendous effort, but also by seizing moments, because life continues in the interim. You have to enjoy the journey too.”
Watch the full episode in Spanish on Ferraiuoli’s podcast series
The Unexpected Path: From Journalism Dreams to Legal Expertise
Margaret’s career trajectory wasn’t predetermined. As a child, she dreamed of becoming a journalist—before she could even read, she would hold up newspapers and pretend to deliver the news. Anyone wearing a suit and tie looked like either a politician or a lawyer to young Margaret’s imagination.
But life had different plans. Her father, who studied economics in his youth and later pursued law as an adult, became an unexpected mentor. Margaret became his “official reader,” transcribing legal documents on a typewriter and absorbing the structure and language of legal practice before she was even fourteen years old.
This early exposure planted seeds that would eventually bloom into a legal career. However, Margaret took a strategic detour first. Understanding that law school required an undergraduate foundation, she pursued business administration and marketing—fields that aligned with her natural entrepreneurial spirit.
After earning her bachelor’s degree, Margaret still felt drawn to numbers and business strategy, completing a master’s in finance. But the legal calling persisted. “The truth is that the legal vein was always there,” she reflects. This combination—law, business administration, marketing, and finance—would prove to be the perfect foundation for her future leadership role.
A Destiny Written on a Bulletin Board: Discovering the Chamber
Margaret’s connection to the Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce began twenty years ago with a simple act of curiosity. As a student at Universidad del Sagrado Corazón, she noticed a paper on a bulletin board advertising an opportunity to help create a university chapter of the Chamber. She took the number, called, and immersed herself in helping establish that chapter.
That experience changed everything. “I helped finish creating that chapter, and we became immersed in this different and unknown world,” Margaret recalls. “It was a world where academic matters were important, but not the only plane. There was another dimension—the external world of labor markets, business, and the real world where things actually happen.“
The Puerto Rico Chamber of Commerce it’s the island’s oldest business organization, with more than 200 years of history defending the voice and actions of the private sector.
The Chamber has been instrumental in transforming Puerto Rico’s business landscape. In recent memory alone, the organization played a crucial role in eliminating the “closing law” that restricted business hours, establishing the foundation for what became the Department of Economic Development and even the Economic Development Bank.
The Philosophy of Leadership: Come to Give, Not Just to Receive
Margaret’s development as a leader within the Chamber reflects a fundamental philosophy about service and contribution. “Many people come to the Chamber to seek,” she observes. “But I tell them, if you only come to the Chamber to seek, then you’re not in the right place.”
Her approach inverts conventional networking wisdom: “You come to receive and to give, but the receiving comes after the giving. Receiving emerges naturally. And when I say receiving, it’s because you acquire contacts and relationships that convert into business opportunities, partnerships, and even friendships. But you come to contribute to Puerto Rico.”
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Five Pillars: A Vision for Puerto Rico’s Future
Margaret’s presidential work plan rests on five strategic pillars, and notably, economic development isn’t first on the list.
Pillar 1: Education
“I’m not talking about economic development or infrastructure first,” Margaret explains. “Those are important pillars in my work plan because there are critical needs in Puerto Rico, and without them, we can’t talk about economic development. But the main thing is education.”
Margaret sees this moral foundation as essential to everything else: “If you’re a merchant and you’re a trickster, it means your value scales are on the floor. Everything is reflected in that education—not just knowing the equation, though that’s important, but there’s one before that, which is supposed to be received at home and reinforced in schools: morals and ethics. That’s where the greatest work one can do lies.”
Pillar 2: Infrastructure
Infrastructure encompasses far more than roads and buildings. “We’re talking about water and electricity,” Margaret emphasizes, addressing Puerto Rico’s most persistent challenges. “Here in Puerto Rico, there’s an outstanding assignment.”
The urgency is real: “The problem is that people get used to everything. We can’t get used to living in a mess. We have to know that there’s something better. It can’t be that a wind blows and suddenly 200,000 subscribers don’t have service. Imagine if God forbid a hurricane comes, because we’re not in conditions to withstand anything. The PTSD from María is real—both personally and commercially.”
Pillar 3: Regionalization
Through the Chambers of Commerce of the South and West, the organization has maintained regional presence. But Margaret is expanding this reach: “Last June, we began forming what is a North area session, and we’re developing a session for the East area. In Puerto Rico, we are the Chamber of Commerce of Puerto Rico. Therefore, being the Chamber of Puerto Rico, we need to have presence throughout all of Puerto Rico.”
Pillar 4: International Partnerships
“We’re embracing ties with external peers,” Margaret explains, referring to Chambers of Commerce throughout Latin America and the United States. “They’re different, but their operations relate to Puerto Rico. We embrace that need to work together.”
These partnerships facilitate exports, trade missions, professional development, and experience sharing. The Chamber is organizing Puerto Rico’s first inter-chamber conference for February, bringing together chambers from multiple countries.
Pillar 5: Legislative and Advocacy Affairs
The Chamber manages advocacy through two committees: Legislative Affairs and Lobbying, and FACES (federal affairs). Recent priorities have been clear and consistent: eliminating the inventory tax, addressing NAP to SNAP conversion issues, energy concerns, health matters, and reshoring/nearshoring opportunities.
“The line is marked and should be well known by every legislator in Puerto Rico,” Margaret states firmly. “At the Chamber of Commerce, we know, we understand, and we recommend. The inventory tax must be eliminated.”
Advice for the Next Generation
When Maristella asks what advice Margaret would give her younger self and young professionals today, the response is both practical and profound:
- Create a Plan
- Trust in God
- Pursue Education
- Find Your Passion
- Enjoy the Journey
Ferraiuoli’s Commitment to Puerto Rico’s Business Community
Margaret’s leadership journey and her long relationship with the Chamber of Commerce reflect broader themes in Ferraiuoli’s practice. As one of Puerto Rico’s premier full-service law firms, Ferraiuoli serves clients across the private sector spectrum that Margaret champions—from startups to multinational corporations, from family businesses to major employers.
The firm’s attorneys regularly collaborate with the Chamber and other business organizations on policy advocacy, legislative analysis, and initiatives that strengthen Puerto Rico’s business climate.
Watch and Learn More
Experience Margaret’s complete story, including her poetry references, personal anecdotes, and passionate advocacy for Puerto Rico, by watching the full episode in Spanish on Ferraiuoli’s podcast series. Her candid reflections on leadership, faith, education, and economic development offer valuable perspectives for business professionals, aspiring leaders, policymakers, educators, and anyone invested in Puerto Rico’s future.
Related Resources
YouTube Channel: Así las cosas, por Ferraiuoli
