Vanessa Angulo

About Vanessa Angulo

Vanessa Angulo Retana – A Socially-Driven Entrepreneur with a Strategic Mind

Passionate about social causes, women’s empowerment, and the world of business, Vanessa Angulo Retana has defied all odds to achieve every goal she has set for herself. At 39, she is a clear example of perseverance, heart, and determination.

Born on October 4, 1982, in San José, Costa Rica, Vanessa completed her primary studies at Elías Jiménez Castro School and secondary at Gamboa High School. A natural self-learner, she developed skills in business administration and worked as an administrative assistant, all through practical experience.

She began working at a young age — first as a sales clerk and cashier at a bookstore in San José, a role she held for four years. She then advanced as a sales associate at Tiendas Carrión for five more years and later worked as a receptionist at Channel 7 for eight years.

Her strong sense of empathy and passion for social impact led her to work for a year in the administration of a daycare center for at-risk children in Desamparados. That experience shaped her compassionate view of the world and deepened her desire to contribute to humanitarian causes.

In 2016, love brought her to Jacó to join her husband, who had relocated years earlier to launch a business and explore new opportunities. Starting from scratch in a new town was a major challenge, but Vanessa took it on with resilience.

Her early roles in the Pacific beach town included working as a spa esthetician, tour host, hotel receptionist, and teacher assistant at a bilingual school. Though she had no formal background in entrepreneurship, her husband — a natural-born entrepreneur and co-founder of two successful real estate and property management companies in Costa Rica’s Central Pacific — inspired her to enter the business world.

She leveraged her prior experience in sales and administration to contribute meaningfully to the Salazar brothers’ ventures: Jaco Real Estate CR and Costa Rica Holiday Rentals.

A major inspiration in her journey was her father-in-law, Luis Gerardo Salazar, a well-known local businessman who started out as a door-to-door salesman and, despite having no formal education, built a successful family business legacy passed on to his sons Christian and Daniel Salazar. Like their father, they earned respect in the business world and are now widely recognized as local real estate experts.

Vanessa believes it’s never too late to learn. She continues to expand her skills through self-study and applies her knowledge daily to support the family business. Passionate about her work, she finds the greatest satisfaction in helping people find their dream home and improving their quality of life.

In the short term, Vanessa is focused on growing both professionally and personally. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their two-year-old daughter, listening to audiobooks, going to the gym, and singing along to her favorite songs.

In the near future, she hopes to help empower other women to enter the business world and collaborate with foundations that support abandoned street animals — giving them a chance at a loving home.

“It’s your decisions, not your conditions, that determine your destiny.”

This quote by Tony Robbins perfectly represents Vanessa’s journey — one built through dedication, self-learning, and steady effort, always moving forward with purpose and determination.