At the fourth edition of the GLI Forum LatAm, Pro Mujer is proud to share the publication of She Ventures: Stories of Latin American Women, the organization’s first book. Announced at the GLI Forum LatAm 2023, She Ventures pays tribute to some of the 2.5 million women Pro Mujer has worked with over the past 33 years. The book shares the stories of 16 women entrepreneurs from the region, who invite us into their worlds and encourage us to immerse ourselves in an exciting journey through the landscapes and colors of Latin America in all of its cultural richness and diverse traditions.
We were pleased to welcome Colombian entrepreneur María del Pilar, one of the women featured in the book, onto the stage at the GLI Forum LatAm 2023, where she shared her story with the audience and participated in a session alongside Carmen Correa, María Noel Vaeza, and Gema Sacristán.
Nine years ago, María del Pilar Dacosta Chavez, a native of Cali, Colombia, completely changed her life when she decided to start a business alongside her husband. A zootechnician and a mother of two, María del Pilar used a loan to purchase a small plot of land where she launched her natural products business, including selling eggs from her chickens and food from her garden.
Now, she’s a leader in her family. “I like to teach my children to go for their dreams and to be disciplined when it comes to entrepreneurship,” she said. “Many people will say you can’t do it, that it’s too difficult at your age, with your family. But you have to learn not to let what other people say affect you.”
María del Pilar was eager to thank Pro Mujer for the training she received, which helped her boost her business and make it profitable. She learned about various tools that allowed her to increase sales, expand her client list, and take advantage of social networks. “Some people don’t see the benefit of [participating in] training and learning. I participated in the Pro Mujer trainings and it was spectacular.”
Stories like Maria del Pilar’s demonstrate the power of Latin American women. With persistence and courage, they have faced multiple challenges and overcome barriers to become leaders in building a more egalitarian and equitable future for the next generations. Their businesses change their lives, their families’ lives, and their communities’ lives and help create a better future for the region.
This book is the result of months of interdisciplinary work with different organizations and teams. We’re proud to share the stories of these women entrepreneurs, who are clear examples of the fundamental role entrepreneurs play in society and the importance of gender lens investing as a catalyst for women’s prosperity. This joint initiative reminds us that working together makes us stronger and that supporting women is a call to action that transcends borders. We invite you to explore each woman’s story, and we hope this book will help open the door to a more just and egalitarian future.