Ecuador: Women-led businesses sharing success and building community

Photo by: Isaac Persaud

Nearly 1,000 kilometres west off the coast of Ecuador lie the Galápagos Islands, an archipelago filled with stunning landscapes, endemic species, and unique culture. Naveducando Fundación Civil, a collective of organizations, began its work in 2018 to build on the goals of the Galápagos Islands population: a stronger economy through community-based initiatives.

During a two-week assignment, Catalyste+ Advisor Isaac Persaud worked with Noémi d’Ozouville, President of Naveducando Fundación Civil. Together, they supported grassroots local NGOs and women-led or women-equity enterprises by strengthening their business and strategic planning skills. 

Women in Ecuador face systemic challenges when it comes to starting and operating businesses, such as accessing resources and lacking the confidence to push ideas forward. However, Noémi, notices a common theme: all of the women approach their work with compassion and empathy, making it easier for them to learn the hard skills.

“In a time of change and reestablishing coherence and shared sense of purpose … there’s a reward that’s beyond the finance and [business] benefits. It’s about creating that sense of community,” says Noémi.

As part of Catalyste+’s Accelerating Women’s Empowerment program, this assignment prioritizes gender equality and women’s economic empowerment. Across four organizations—Education 4 Nature Galápagos, El Mangle Agile Learning Center, Mycellium Co-working Space, and Frente Insular of the Galápagos Marine Reserve—over half of the staff and managers are women.

Photo by: Galápagos Infinito October 2024 Newsletter

These organizations worked with Isaac who has decades of experience in the financial services industry. Prior to his in-country visit in September 2024, he completed a virtual assignment with Naveducando Fundación Civil in 2023 to develop a strategic plan, short- and long-term business model, and financial projection.

Over two weeks in-person, Isaac had several meetings with all four organizations where participants identified and worked on drafting and finalizing key documents. Some were able to move forward and review their financial and operational plans.

“It’s a beautiful thing to work with partners who are very cooperative and interested in getting things done. Everybody is set towards a similar stage in their organizational development,” says Isaac.

In one instance, Isaac supported the organization El Mangle Agile Learning Center by encouraging them to enact a price change. The women staff were underpaying themselves and losing profit. He empowered them by providing them with suggestions on how to change the price with examples of tangible results.

On Isaac’s first day, Noémi organized a session for all of the organizations to meet. The training and support bolstered their decision-making authority and confidence, allowing them to manage resources more effectively and influence organizational and community outcomes. 

“There is a huge willingness to share. Everybody is willing to come to the table and be open and transparent. We’re here to learn together… and through Catalyste+ we’re setting ourselves up to be fundable,” says Noémi.

Photo by: Isaac Persaud