Marketing, event production, communications, agro-industry, technology, food and drink, pharmaceuticals and agriculture are the sectors in which the fifteen Ecuadorian businesswomen who are included in the top 51 Atlas of women-owned enterprisesedition for Central America, Ecuador and Guyana, prepared WeConnect Internationalnonprofit organization.

Elizabeth Vázquez, CEO and co-founder of WeConnect Internationalhe pointed out that companies owned by women represent 33% of all private companies in the world, however, in Latin America they are only 13%.

“If women and men participate equally in the global economy, the global gross domestic product could increase between 2.5 and 5 trillion dollars, according to BGC Consulting,” quoted Vázquez, who highlighted 51 success stories of these inspiring businesswomen.

The United States Embassy in Ecuador’s new program for women business leaders

She emphasized that these women transformed their businesses in order to take advantage of new opportunities despite the many challenges brought by the COVID-19 pandemic. “These female entrepreneurs are even breaking barriers in industries traditionally dominated by male-owned businesses, such as agriculture, manufacturing and technology.”

As in the case Jenny Almeida Altamirano, founder of Agroexportador Viva Fruta del Pacífico, producers and exporters of non-traditional fruits, such as yellow and red pitahaya, tomato tree, sweet cucumber, among others, which are harvested in the farms of Palora, in Morona Santiago.

“We have been successful in participating in international fairs, establishing contact with clients in Asia, the United Arab Emirates,” said Almeida, who pointed out that the most important challenge is to maintain contact with his international clients.

While, Joselyn Del Rosario created Drex, a company that connects developers of renewable energy facilities, small and medium enterprises and those who provide capital for the construction of small and medium renewable energy projects through project financing.

“Drex’s successful approach enables SMEs to access clean energy and achieve up to 20% savings in energy costs without going into debt,” explained the businesswoman.

Another of the business women part of this ranking is María del Pilar Mora, founder of Lupwia company that develops innovative food solutions based on superfoods such as Andean lupine.

Mora recalled that the pandemic forced them to postpone the launch of their beverage product for the international portfolio, but in October 2020 they managed to present Lupwi’s new image. During the pandemic, we managed to stabilize the communities with advance payments and thus prevent the loss of crops, the entrepreneur explained.

Equality and closing the gender gap are also promoted on the stock market

The communication sector is also prominent in ranking. María Dolores Fernández, founder of Taktikee Communications Consultants, is another one of fifteen Ecuadorian companies involved in top 51.

Fernández noted that his company pioneered the response to the transformation of communication and public relations during the pandemic, implementing innovative tactics for its clients through digital public relations strategies.

Another business woman in the field is María Elena Luna, founder of Luna Communications, which started in 2014 in his home with only a computer, a printer, a cell phone and a conventional telephone, he recalled.

Luna was previously in the public sector, working in the Presidency of the Republic, and then she decided to return to her native Manta and start her own agency. He assured that they have currently conducted public relations for around 50 companies, both large and small, and developed close to 80 events.

Mercedes Córdova with her company MC Comunicaciones also stands out, a communication agency with fourteen years of experience. He pointed out that his company signed the Green Footprint Pact in 2022, which is promoted by the Ekos Group, with the aim of reducing CO2 emissions caused by electronic waste. In addition, MC Comunicaciones joined the Amazonian Women’s Leadership School, which is coordinated by various social institutions and trains more than 30 Amazonian women on communication and leadership issues.

Isabel Parra is also present in ranking with his company connecting people, dedicated to strengthening inclusive and sustainable production chains. They specialize in developing multi-stakeholder communities to shape a shared vision based on a philosophy of reciprocity and trust.

businesswoman Maria Machadoon the other hand, he stands out in the pharmaceutical sector, but also in the field of communication with Associated leading projects (Plasoci)strategic communication agency focused on designing, developing and implementing solutions that connect brands with audiences.

Machado explained that his company, which was started ten years ago by Edith Escobar, has three main lines of operation: medical marketing, pharmaceutical marketing and relationship marketing.

Paulina Carrera, founder of Sidartha Communicationsis dedicated to audiovisual communication projects and corporate events, which has given it a place in top 51 from WeConnect International. Carrera pointed out that her main clients are the World Bank, Hawaii Ecuador, Acnur, Cotopaxi Agglomerates, among others.

Paulina Romo with Grupo Entregasdedicated to logistics solutions, also integrates ranking. He assured that the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) considers them an inclusive company, as their policies have enabled people in a state of human mobility to engage in formal employment.

They also aim to become carbon neutral by 2030.

The new seal seeks to promote the socioeconomic inclusion of refugees in the business sector

Another business woman is Carolina Ayala, founder of Eco-Urban, a company born in 2020. It is aimed at consumers and business systems. According to the report, it is a sustainable innovation platform that seeks to regenerate the system through the implementation of agroecological structures. They combine science, art, nature and sustainability to positively impact society.

Ana Julieta García is the founder of Hortaleg La Huerta, a company that was reportedly the first to industrialize frozen pre-fried potatoes and sweet potato sticks in the region. Its products, Superfri and Libertad, made from potatoes, and Toquecita, based on sweet potatoes, have managed to reach international supermarkets, including Japanese ones.

While, Alison Mera with her company BioGena excels in the distribution of products, services in research and molecular biology. Its beginnings were precisely in the distribution of products for the research area and specialized laboratories.

Already positioned in the local market, they began to represent international brands within Ecuador. As they state from the company, they are currently part of research with international publications, with the use of acquired and implemented knowledge and cooperation with academic institutions.

The forum of women exporters brought together authorities, organizations and success stories

Meanwhile, cocoa was a big bet and inspiration for Mariana Checker to create graniche chocolate. The company was founded in 2016, after the earthquake in April of that year, exactly in July. He had no capital, but he had a family cocoa farm managed by his parents. The venture started with the promotion of chocolate, and at that time they only had an artisan mill. The entrepreneur said that innovation and perseverance are the main keys.

Verónica Molina, founder of Eclipsesoft SA., is also a part top 51. In your company, according to your description, they are experts in mobile solutions. Likewise, it indicates that the business group has succeeded in becoming a solution integrator, connecting all kinds of technologies on any platform, operating system, development language or form of connectivity.

The Women’s Business Atlas also highlights three Ecuadorian businesswomen as ambassadors: Lola Tovar, founder of Eficacia Ecuador SA., which is dedicated merchandising, promotion and sales, storage and logistics; and Nayeli and Melanie Godoy, founders of the agency Meraki-Communication and Events, that among his proposals are creative conceptualization, management and production of corporate events.