MIAMI LEADER:
Cristina Mas is a native Miami girl and a Miami leader passionate about transforming the city in the way, which will inspire future generation to participate in improving it further.

WHY MIAMI?
I was born and raised here so I don’t really even see this as a question. It would take something BIG to make me leave. Miami is still a very young city and every day a new project is happening to put us on the map as a new place for innovation. I see how my work, my friends and colleagues work are transforming this city. I want to be a part of the renaissance that we are currently experiencing. I want to participate in creating the city, which my future children and grand children will love as much as I do and will also want to invest in it.

WHAT IS THE MOST PRESSING ISSUE TO SOLVE ON YOUR LIST? WHY?
We need to focus on better urban planning. Government and the private sector are currently collaborating on residential and commercial projects that will put higher demands on our transportation infrastructure. This area is improving, but still needs a lot of help.

On the one hand, all parties have to come together to continue to address the issues tied to improved transportation. That process has begun, as billions of dollars have been spent on a hub at Miami Airport that will connect Metrorail, Trirail, buses and rental cars to one of the most sophisticated transportation networks in the world. Billions more are being spent on expanding roads, and government is approving projects along major thoroughfares and trains like Metrorail. But more has to be done to promote that type of development or decades of visionary planning and investment will go to waste.

HOW CAN WE SOLVE IT?
We can try to tackle this problem by assisting organizations like The Underline. I’m currently in the process of creating a Young Professional group for them to try and garner more support for an amazing project that will transform Miami and ultimately put us on the global map for yet another incredible reason.