Edgar R. Olivo
Co-Founder & Board Member
Edgar Rafael Olivo is a leading bilingual business educator, international trainer, magazine editor and speaker whose work is regularly featured on Univision and many other media platforms across the country. He founded Compass CBS, a private development firm that delivers innovative leadership and training solutions to top businesses in North and Latin America to create strong leaders, strong teams, and strong results.
An advocate for economic development, environmental sustainability, diversity, equity and inclusion, Edgar also founded the Compass CBS Foundation with the mission to deliver online business readiness programs and resources for multilingual communities. He has invested much of his philanthropic efforts as an executive board member for grant-giving organizations, social-arts focused charter schools, financial advisory boards, and social justice projects.
In 2012, Mayor Greg Stanton honored Edgar with the Key to the City of Phoenix for his work on the H.E.R.O. Veterans Initiative and is the recipient of the 2015 Hispanic Business Salute Award bestowed by Telemundo Arizona and the Arizona Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. In 2016, he was recognized by the EVHCC with the Community Leader Award and the United States Hispanic Chamber of Commerce recognized his company at their National Annual Convention.
In 2018, the Compass CBS Foundation was established to continue to better serve and meet the needs of minority entrepreneurs and small business owners. The Compass CBS Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that focuses on developing resources to help strengthen a diverse, inclusive, and sustainable entrepreneurial ecosystem in Arizona. Edgar is a member of the Aspen Institute’s Latino and Society national cohort to advance equitable economic recovery for Latino businesses and has working relationships with top economic development organizations in Arizona.
In addition, Edgar hosts a weekly social media show called “Hablemos de Negocios con Edgar Olivo” or “Let’s Talk Business with Edgar Olivo” with Univision Arizona and produces segments in Los Angeles and New York to help Spanish-speaking professionals successfully grow their entrepreneurial careers. He is also the Spanish editor for En Negocios Magazine, the bilingual section of one of Phoenix, Arizona’s leading magazines for business executives called InBusiness Magazine.
Edgar is certified in business, finance, data analytics, adult learning, and executive coaching. He holds a business communication degree and applied business data analytics certificate from the W.P Carey School of Business at Arizona State University.
Edgar is the first-generation son of Mexican immigrants and is the eldest of eleven siblings.
When he is not working, you can find Edgar on his ranch in Northern Arizona searching for fossils and assisting his husband build his natural history museum.