Honoree 2017, Karina Barbieri was born in Venezuela, daughter of doctors and the youngest of six. She is married to the love of her life, Carlos Barbieri, an Italian petroleum engineer graduated from the University of Texas at Austin and with an MBA from MIT. They have been married for over twenty years. Barbieri is the mother of their three wonderful children: Alberto, Paola and Roberto, two graduated from the University of Texas at Austin, the youngest still in university. Their daughter continued on to law school.
Barbieri is a passionate philanthropist from a very young age and is well known for her generosity. She studied psychology at the Andres Bello Catholic University in Venezuela.
Barbieri is an entrepreneur as a vice-president of Mediplus Panama.
Barbieri is a former prima ballerina, and participated in several international tours. Later she became a ballet teacher in several studios.
When she came to Houston from the Netherlands she was inspired to help those less fortunate. She has been involved in philanthropic efforts in the Houston community by raising money and donating her time and resources to several charitable foundations such as: March of Dimes, Houston Ballet, Houston Symphony, Latin Women’s Initiative, Institute of Hispanic Culture of Houston, UNICEF, Cancerforward, Virtuosi of Houston, Recipe for Success, The Women’s home, among others. In addition, Barbieri is very passionate about fashion and has been recognized as one of Houston’s most stylish women, voted by Culturemap readers as the winner of Houston’s Stylemaker in 2015.
She served in the boards of Latin Women’s Initiative and the Hispanic Institute of Culture of Houston.
She received recognition for the Greater Women Houston Chamber of Commerce Hall of Fame. She was also named the 2017 role model for the Board of Directors of the Greater Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce.
She chaired events including: Latin Women’s Initiative special events for several years, the Houston Center for Contemporary Craft’s Margarita Madness 15th anniversary, the 20th anniversary gala of Virtuosi of Houston to benefit Young Artist’s Chamber Orchestra, the 15th anniversary of the Latin Women’s Initiative luncheon and fashion show, the 51st Las Noche de Las Americas gala, to benefit the Hispanic Institute of Culture of Houston, and the Delicious Alchemy Banquet to benefit the Recipe for Success Foundation. The Woman’s Hospital of Texas Labor Day Luncheon to benefit The March of Dimes.
Barbieri is already dedicated to 2018 charity activities: as the chair in the UNICEF gala.
Karina Barbieri, Vice President, Mediplus Panama, S.A. & Philanthropist
