Last year, the Center for Inclusive and Sustainable Leadership (CELIS) of INCAE Business School launched the EMPRO program, a revolutionary initiative that was born with the objective of fostering the entrepreneurial spirit of Guatemalan women and providing them with the necessary tools to make their dreams come true. Through a rigorous selection process, 80 women entrepreneurs were chosen in different departments of the country:
| Guatemala | 44 |
| Quetzaltenango | 10 |
| Sacatepéquez | 4 |
| Huehuetenango | 4 |
| Chimaltenango | 3 |
| Escuintla | 2 |
| Cobán, Alta Verapaz | 4 |
| San Pedro Sacatepéquez, San Marcos | 2 |
| Nebaj, Quiché | 1 |
| Barberena, Santa Rosa | 1 |
| Esquipulas, Chiquimula | 1 |
| El Estor, Izabal | 1 |
| Totonicapán | 1 |
| Mazatenango, Suchitepéquez | 1 |
| Flores, Petén | 1 |
"Finance has always been my Achilles heel. However, Empro made it an easy subject to digest and understand, to the Grade that I am excited to put this topic into practice in new projects within the company. They changed my way of thinking and seeing problems, they helped me grow not only professionally but also as a leader. I feel much more prepared to face situations in the company that seemed impossible. EMPRO has been a great support", expressed Flor de María Duarte, owner of Café Don Vicente.
The entrepreneurs are already benefiting from the EMPRO program, which is promoted by the Aspen Network of Entrepreneurs for Development(ANDE), the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) in partnership with the companies: Cargill, MasterCard and PriceSmart Foundation.
Of the 80 scholarship recipients of the program, a wide variety of industries stand out, such as food, restaurants, agriculture, commerce, education, tourism, construction, technology and textiles; these women have demonstrated their ability to innovate, lead and make a significant difference in their communities. Of the total number of beneficiaries, 85% are Ladino women and 15% are indigenous, of which 73% have university degrees.
"We are always in constant innovation and until now we did not know how to establish a strategic creation process that was optimal and that really had effectiveness, until this process of INCAE. We are giving a new business twist and expanding our catalog, definitely this structuring has helped us a lot. I would not have learned the knowledge they have given me anywhere else. EMPRO has been an important ally in my growth", concluded Maria Orellana, owner of Makia Cosmetics in Guatemala.
