The heart of Pro Mujer is the more than 2.5 million women whose lives have been changed over our 33 years of operations in Latin America. At the GLI Forum LatAm 2023, we were proud to welcome some of these women to the stage to share their stories with the partners and ecosystem leaders assembled at the event, a powerful reminder of the real impact that gender lens investing can have on women’s lives.
The participating women entrepreneurs, all part of the Emprende Pro Mujer network, had the opportunity to promote their products in front of more than 550 people, connect with incredible mentors, and learn about the most relevant trends in gender, investing, and entrepreneurship. But most importantly, they touched the hearts of hundreds of people by sharing their life stories and proving that, when given the right opportunities, women are powerful agents of change.
One of these women was María del Pilar, a zootechnician from Colombia who received training through Emprende Pro Mujer. Her story was featured in the book She Ventures: Stories of Latin American Women, presented at the event.
“When you set out to do something, you have to be disciplined, and building your skills is very important,” said María during her session with Pro Mujer CEO Carmen Correa. “Unfortunately, not everyone sees the benefit of learning new things, but every time you learn new things, you gain new perspectives. I am very grateful to Pro Mujer. The training they gave us was spectacular. It was an incredible experience.”
The GLI Forum LatAm 2023 also featured a small business fair featuring six Colombian women who graduated from the Emprende Pro Mujer program and were invited to market their products. The participating entrepreneurs were Beatriz Vergara, who has a small ecological and natural product business; Gina Guaje, CEO of Guaje Accesorios and Porcenalicron SAS; Angy Viviana, who runs a handmade jewelry business; Luisa Fernanda, creator of a scented candle business; Tania Vanessa, an entrepreneur with a pet accessories business; and Laura Valencia, owner of a handmade jewelry business.
“For me, Emprende Pro Mujer represents training. It provides information and opportunities for us to overcome and progress and to support other women entrepreneurs,” said Tania Vanessa.
As part of Pro Mujer’s work focused on rural and Indigenous women in Southeast Mexico, four women entrepreneurs were selected as recipients of a grant to cover all expenses associated with attending the GLI Forum LatAm in Medellín, Colombia. The chosen entrepreneurs were Aracely Caamal, Magdalena Guzman Dominguez, Fidelia Abigail Ek Gongora, and Magdalena Caamal Castillo. Each woman had the opportunity to share information about their businesses and their stories while connecting with their peers and potential funders and strengthening their support networks.
“Pro Mujer has helped me a lot. The workshops are a great support,” shared Fidelia, an entrepreneur who weaves traditional textiles. “They’ve helped me increase my sales, I’ve learned to budget well, and I feel confident in the value of what I offer. I know what my work is worth, and these workshops help me communicate it.”
Pro Mujer is committed to supporting Latin American women and demonstrating to partners, donors, and leaders in the ecosystem that women entrepreneurs in the region have enormous potential and are just waiting for an opportunity to shine and boost economic growth.
