Madrigal began her career in conservation working under
Spencer Beebe for
The Nature Conservancy (TNC). She became director of TNC's Costa Rica program and worked with the National Parks Foundation of Costa Rica where she helped establish and manage some of Costa Rica's most renowned parks - notably,
Manuel Antonio National Park. She later left TNC to become a founding member of
Conservation International (CI) where she was director of the Costa Rica and Panama programs. In 1996, Madrigal co-founded the Amazon Conservation Team (ACT) with Dr. Mark Plotkin. Both Madrigal and Plotkin felt that partnering closely with indigenous colleagues to protect indigenous lands represented an extraordinary conservation opportunity. Today, Madrigal oversees all program initiatives executed by ACT. She frequently visits South America to work with ACT's staff, indigenous colleagues, and partners. Madrigal focuses most heavily on Colombia where she played a vital role in the establishment of UMIYAC, the Union of
Yagé Healers of Colombia. Madrigal also oversees some aspects of ACT-supported efforts in both Brazil and Suriname. She takes special interest in advancing human rights of women throughout Amazonia and drives several of ACT's women's projects. ==Awards and honors==