Bonnie Ross-Parker > www.TheLatinaJoyofConnecting.com

Bonnie Ross-Parker, Creator, The Latina Joy of Connecting.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
There are so many factors that make for a successful entrepreneur. First of all, it is critical to possess an unwavering commitment to what you want to accomplish. You must line up financial and emotional support to ensure that negativity does not keep you from your focus. Planning is essential – create a business roadmap so you can monitor your steps and progress.


What did inspire you to start your business?
With a background in franchising, the company I was with as its Area Developer lacked strong support for its female franchisees. When I sold my entire organization w/28 franchises, I made a commitment I was going to find a way to support women – especially the entrepreneur. I wanted her to get the benefit of my years of business experience and to guide her both personally and professionally.


How did you finance it?
I borrowed from our home account and replenished it as soon as I could (within a year)


Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I am not Hispanic; I have a strong desire to bring the Latina business women into The Joy of Connecting community to create a collaborative sisterhood of professional women.


In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I live by the motto: Doubt and Faith can’t co-exist – I choose faith.


What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Women losing the will to keep on going to develop their business. In today’s economic times, many women are working for someone else while building their entrepreneurial endeavor. They are working to balance home, family and business which can lead to frustration and disappointment. I do my best to support and encourage women from giving up.


If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
More expansive growth so women in communities everyone get to expand their business using The Joy of Connecting customer acquisition/business building model.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be an enthusiastic leader! (I was a cheerleader for 4 years!)


Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
Paula Fellingham who created: http://www.womensinformationnetwork.com/
Nicki Keohohou who created: http://www.mydswa.org/
and George Madiou, CEO/Founder: http://www.thenetworkmarketingmagazine.com/
I mentioned these three individuals because of their commitment to educate and motivate the solo entrepreneur. Each began an online organization to bring the richness of information to their respective communities.


For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
All three work as long as the individuals who participate are there to add value to one another.


What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Time is a big factor – no always being accessible because of the demands of work. I travel quite a bit to support national chapters of The Joy of Connecting.


What is your favorite quote?
“If it’s to be, it’s up to me!”


Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No. I find it exciting. When we were young, we faced peer pressure so we ended up looking and acting like everyone else. In a competitive market place, it’s critical to differentiate yourself from everyone else who offers what you do. I say, “Be Memorable” if you want to be remembered and that comes from serving others.


Biggest mistake made?
Partnership with someone other than with my husband.


Do you consider yourself an innovator?
Absolutely. My program, The Joy of Connecting is an innovative marketing system. There is no membership requirement so female entrepreneurs, business women and professionals can participate where and when it’s convenient. This fits beautifully with the demands of a women’s schedule which must be flexible.


About the Company:
The Joy of Connecting is a licensed program that has expanded nationwide. Women who buy the license and women who participate in their local community do so to learn about the products/services women offer, to create and strengthen lasting friendships and who want to foster business with one another to create financial well being. The Joy of Connecting is often referred to as a “Ministry for Women” and “The Joy of Sisterhood”. It’s the goal of JOC to create a bridge between English and Hispanic female communities to learn, to encourage, to appreciate and strengthen one another. http://www.thejoyofconnecting.com/ http://www.thelatinajoyofconnecting.com/ 


Bonnie Ross-Parker, a.k.a. “America’s Connection Diva”, is a multi-dimensional businesswomen/entrepreneur with a background in education, franchise development, publishing, mentorship, network marketing, and community development. She combines vision with a unique set of skills. Formerly the Associate Publisher of The Gazette Newspaper/Atlanta, she focuses her energies on supporting women. Bonnie is a graduate of George Washington University, & earned a Certification in Network Marketing at the University of Chicago. Several of her articles on owning one’s own business and entrepreneurship have appeared in publications including: Wealth Building, Home Business Magazine, Business to Business and Entrepreneur’s Business Start-Ups.
In 2002 Bonnie received The Athena Award ~ an honor designed to acknowledge women of leadership in cities throughout the United States. In September, 2005 she was honored by the Women’s Leadership Exchange, a New York based organization, as an Influential Woman of Georgia and currently serves on their Atlanta Advisory Board. Bonnie is a featured speaker with the Direct Selling Women’s Alliance. In May of that same year, Bonnie was honored by The International Toastmaster’s Organization of Georgia with their annual Communication & Leadership Award. She’s the author of “Walk In My Boots” ~ The Joy of Connecting, Y.O.U. Set A High Standard for Being Human and 42 Rules for Effective Connections. In 2002, Bonnie licensed The Joy of Connecting™ gatherings for women. Nationwide, The Joy of Connecting® is a customer acquisition/marketing program serving entrepreneurial, business women and professionals who are serious about growing their business. Locations are available in cities throughout the country. Bonnie lives in Atlanta with her husband, Phil, who is also a professional speaker/author. Bonnie can be reached through her websites: www.BonnieRossParker.com and http://www.thejoyofconnecting.com/ or by email at bootgirl@TheJOYofConnecting.com 

Andres Ubierna > www.FactorCoaching.com.ar

Andrés Ubierna, Director, Factor Coaching.


What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
I believe an entrepreneur needs passion for a dream. initiative, talent, patience, modesty and integrity


What did inspire you to start your business?
Making a meaningful difference during my passage through life was my main inspiration


How did you finance it?
At first, with my own resources, and with the generated income after some time.


Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
If there is one, I can´t seem to realize what it may be


In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Adversity encourages me to give my best. I face it with enthusiasm, knowing that I will always be able to grow thanks to it. Adversity is a temporary state, it always comes to an end. What is really important is what I can make of it


What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The greatest challenge was putting together a work team that shares the same dream and that is highly committed to stand by the same values. From that starting point trying to create a context that favours and encourages the professional, economical and personal growth of each member of my team.


If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
The present name of my company is Factor Coaching ( the Coaching Factor) This name has generated an identity in the market, but it doesn´t always reflect all that we do.


What was your childhood ambition?
My greatest ambition was helping people in pain. There was a time in my life when I wanted to be a doctor, but I finally chose Engineering, and this career became my profession. Later on, as an adult, I plunged into the study of philosophy and psychology


Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire
Steve Jobs, for his ability to overcome adversity, for his achievements and the outstanding quality of Apple products.
Walt Disney, for his dream and his talent to make it come true.
My brother, Martin Ubierna, Founder of Farocapital http://www.farocapital.com/, for his courage and professionalism.


For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Breakfast


What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
My professional life is completely entwined with my work life. I enjoy my work fully, and the happiness I experience in my job is one of the greatest gifts I can bestow on my friends and loved ones. Whatever pain or sacrifice I may come across in the path I´ve chosen, is redeemed in the joy that I find in what I do.


What is your favorite quote?
There are many, the one I can think now is the following: "Hate does not put an end to hate, love does. This is an ancient law of the universe"


Is it difficult to be unconventional?
During the first stages of an unconventional enterprise, the biggest challenge I had to face was not to lose faith and to follow my heart. Even if had no rational awareness of the reasons lying behind some decisions. I had to learn to answer to fear with love.
Innovation may be considered as a threat by many who sometimes raise their voices in contempt but other times lead accurate and well fundamented attacks.
I also had to learn to balance the pressure between what others say and that in what I believe. In this process I had to be careful not to be too hard on myself. Simultaneously, choosing a course of action that is not originated in the desire to prove others wrong, but in the commitment to my own dream.


Biggest mistake made?
I don´t know which one is the biggest. What I can say, is that I have learned a great deal from them all and the ones that caused me great pain are the ones I am most grateful for.


Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I am passionate about listening to people´s needs and then design a special plan to tend to those needs. I feel a boost of enthusiasm when faced to what is new and unexplored

About the Company:
Factor Coaching is a specialized consultancy based in Argentina, founded by Andres Ubierna , that devotes itself to giving the best suited solutions to challenges in the organizational development of their regional clients. Leadership, cultural change, improvement of engagement, team work, executive coaching, talent are some of the areas in which we specialize. Our associates have more than 15 years of experience. During this period we have designed and facilitated about 400 projects in 100 companies, working with more than 10,000 executives in Procter&Gamble, Oracle, Microsoft, Bimbo, Coca-cola, Chandon, Amex, Citibank, among many others. Our blog is Puerto Managers : http://andresubierna.com/

Midy Aponte > www.SanchezRicardo.com

Midy Aponte, Founder, The Sánchez Ricardo Agency.


What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
A strong mind and a tough stomach.


Being an entrepreneur is a journey filled with many peaks and valleys. One has to have a strong mind with a laser-focused dedication to meeting your goals and a tough stomach, because inevitably situations will arise that will test your mind, spirit and pocketbook.


What did inspire you to start your business?
The nomination of Judge Sonia Sotomayor to the Supreme Court had a very powerful impact on me. I followed the process very closely and could not help but be inspired by her story. Through her accomplishment, I decided that I wanted to be a part of a growing community of influence – Latinas.


How did you finance it?
Mostly through my own personal finances and support from family.


Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I am very well aware of my role as a Hispanic business owner and am committed to serving as a proud representative of our community by doing good work, delivering results and always adhering to my integrity and core values.


In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
You have to keep a positive attitude and, occasionally, put your blinders on, cover your ears and forge right on through.


What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Financing.


If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
We are set up in virtual offices for the time being. I miss the hustle and bustle of city streets but I know we will be setting up shop downtown in due time.


What was your childhood ambition?
My childhood ambition was to become a television reporter and have my own Oprah-like show. I can still make that happen, right?


Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
• David Nixon, CEO of The Nixon Group, a social marketing firm I worked for immediately out of college. I stayed for many years because of what I saw in David. A fun and easy-going personality with an unwavering commitment to making sure staff members advanced in their careers. His leadership style is one I try to model with Sánchez Ricardo.


• Ann Walker Marchant, CEO of The Walker Marchant Group (WMG), a crisis communications firm in downtown Washington, D.C. I spent several years leading very intellectually complex and demanding accounts at WMG. My time there equipped me with the skill sets needed to provide my clients with expert-level counsel on elevating their strategic direction.


• Brian Fernandez, CEO of Symfodium, a Washington, D.C.-based technology and data integration company. Brian started his journey shortly before me. His enthusiasm, positive attitude and good-natured spirit is absolutely contagious and inspiring.


For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
If there is an opportunity to generate business, my preference is not a factor.


What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I’ve had to significantly cut down on my personal expenses. Meaning: no vacations, no shopping sprees, no fancy restaurant outings.


What is your favorite quote?
"There are things that are known, and things that are unknown. And in between, there are doors." William Blake


Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not at all. Being an entrepreneur requires out-of-the-box thinking in order to address the multiple challenges you will face throughout your journey.


Biggest mistake made?
Not asking for help.


Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. As a strategic communicator, you do not just follow other people’s leads. Rather, you want to frame the discussion in which others will be partaking. This requires a careful balance of innovation and strategic thinking.


About the Company:
The Sánchez Ricardo Agency is a woman-owned communications firm in Washington, D.C. that conceptualizes and implements communications strategies for businesses, government agencies and non-profit organizations. The Agency’s core practice areas are corporate communications, public affairs, social marketing and multicultural outreach with an emphasis on Social Media and Web 2.0 Strategy, Coalition Building and Niche Media Relations.
For more information, please visit http://www.sanchezricardo.com/.

Lina Quintero > www.ElementsofDesign.com

Lina Quintero, Owner, Elements of Design.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Hustle, education (practical, classroom, and self) and innovation.

What did inspire you to start your business?
For as long as I can remember, I always had an innate ability for design of all sorts. My dream of becoming a top luxury interior designer was set into motion at age 17 when I joined Elements of Design as an intern. Over the course of eight years, I worked for three elite designers who each mentored me in differing areas of the industry. At age 25, my dream became a reality when I returned to Elements of Design as the owner and lead interior designer. Ultimately, my love for the arts and design served as the catalyst for my career in the field.

How did you finance it?
My husband and I funded the business entirely from our personal finances.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Absolutely! First and foremost, as a Colombian immigrant, I left my homeland for one reason; opportunity. This endless pursuit is the driving force behind my success as a Colombian woman in business.

Secondly, Spanish is my first language and it has served me well in business. Often, I am on construction sites with subcontractors or I encounter potential clients who are of Hispanic decent. The preference or common language used in the aforementioned circumstances tends to gravitate toward Spanish. My ability to fluently speak the language and understand the cultural nuances and references has a measurable benefit.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
There is no other option. No matter the issue, if there is a logical solution to the problem at hand I follow the following formula:

1. Examine the problem
2. Devise a reasonable strategy
3. Apply the solution
4. Assess the effect of the application

If there does not appear to be a logical solution, in order to minimize the risk, apply logic and trust your intuition on the remaining issues at hand.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
In the design and remodeling industry, I am constantly dealing with a variety of subcontractors. On many occasions, as a young female entrepreneur, the subcontractors attempt to intimidate me or question my expertise. Establishing my credibility, proving my knowledge base, and commanding a reasonable level of respect had to be earned the hard way with a significant number of my top subcontractors.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
The one thing I would change about my business would be the structure of our corporate building. We have 7500 square feet of showroom space in the Scottsdale Airpark and the location of the building is perfect.

However, I would prefer to have more individual offices and a smaller showroom / warehouse area. Moving forward, one of my goals is to add more interior designers to our growing staff. By adding more offices, the space will effectively accommodate our future needs.

What was your childhood ambition?
My childhood ambition was always to be an interior designer. When, I was a little girl, I was always interested in the arts, fashion, and design. There was never a doubt in my mind as to what I would do in my professional life.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire.
Sidney Goldberg – President of Kravet
Barbara Barry – Interior Designer & Home Product Designer
Kelly Wearstler – Interior Designer, Author, & Design Personality

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
If there is a chance to generate business or fulfill for an existing client, the date and time of the meeting is inconsequential as I will do whatever it takes to secure the job or fulfill for an existing project.

On the other hand, I tend to plan my lead generating meetings over either breakfast or lunch (when people are fresh) and my dinner meetings are usually allocated to nurturing my pre-existing business relationships (when you can wind down).

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
My greatest asset in life and in business is my husband. Unfortunately, there are times when our mutual passion for business minimizes the amount of personal time we are able to share with one another. When a husband and wife work together, the separation between business and pleasure can become blurred. To date, my greatest sacrifice in my path to success has been the lost personal moments with my husband.

What is your favorite quote?
“He who awaits much can expect little.” Gabriel Garcia Marquez

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
As a very conservative woman, I don’t consider myself to be unconventional. If I had to isolate something about me that could be considered unconventional, it would be my leadership style. I feel that a loose environment encourages my team members to foster creative ideas, seek additional roles, and the amount of leadership I invoke is determined entirely based on the analytical measurement of their performance. From time to time, it can be challenging to pull in the reins and set a revised course for the team’s goals.

Biggest mistake made?
Trying to do everything myself. One of my greatest strengths as an overachiever was my “can-do-it” attitude. This attitude worked well as I rose up the chain of command. Conversely, as the owner and lead interior designer of a large residential and commercial interior design firm, this mindset held back my sales productivity as I was trying to handle everything thrown at me. Finally, I started to delegate responsibilities and my productivity in the most critical areas of my business began to soar. My biggest mistake was not making this simple adjustment sooner.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
With all due respect, at least on a local level, the same five to ten top interior designers (who I am very fond of and learned a lot from) have carried the torch for the last 20 – 30 years. For the most part, the members of the “top-designer-network” operate their practices using traditionally fundamental business models with little or no differentiation from one another.

Comparatively, I developed custom technology platforms for marketing, advertising, customer relationship management, and inventory management that help to separate my business from my peers. On the creative side of interior design, I don’t claim to be an innovator but, my esteemed colleagues have mentioned to me that I present a unique perspective.

About the Company
Elements of Design is a luxury residential and commercial interior design firm which provides interior design services to high-end properties nationwide. From designer and custom furnishings to full scale remodel solutions, Elements of Design offers a complete turnkey solution for interior design projects both small and large.
www.elementsofdesign.com

Federico Folcia > www.roomorama.com

Federico Folcia, Founder, Roomorama

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
You need an interest in finding problems and a talent in solving them.

What did inspire you to start your business?
I believed this could be my opportunity to do something truly unique and memorable. Also, it seemed to be the right time to get started as I had an idea to pursue, the financial resources and the desire to make a radical career change.

How did you finance it?
Both with some personal savings and the support of my family

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I am very passionate about life the same way I am with work, so definitely it has a positive influence on my business.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
A famous Latin saying is “Per aspera ad astra” which means “to the stars through difficulties”. If you want your business to succeed, take adversities as part of the equation.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The biggest challenge has been putting together the right team of people I could trust.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
Of course, I wish I had more experience when I started this business so that I would have made fewer mistakes and wiser decisions on many occasions. However, nothing really prepares you for starting your own business – you just have to dive into it, and learn as you go.

What was your childhood ambition?
I wanted to do something creative and innovative that would give me the possibility to travel around the world. Roomorama allows me to do so.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
First I admire my parents, the other 2 are Michael Bloomberg and Sergio Marchionne from Fiat.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch is the best occasion for a business meeting.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
To begin with I quit a comfortable job at that time, and hence a clear (and fairly lucrative) career path. Also my lifestyle has dramatically changed; I am responsible for every aspect of the business and I do any work I can’t afford to hire someone else to do, this means I am committed 24/7 to my business. While it’s true that you can manage your own time when you have a business it’s also very difficult to just simply take a weekend off because nobody else will have the passion and dedication you have.

What is your favorite quote?
“Do something worthremembering” – E. Presley

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
It is more difficult to be conventional because your options are limited.

Biggest mistake made?
I trusted somebody assuming we were on the same page without taking any precaution and it turned out to be a complete failure. Lesson learnt.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I do. I want to make people appreciate a different way of traveling and open people up to the idea of renting out their extra space by giving them a platform that makes it simple and secure. Selling people this new concept is challenging, and requires being creative and persistent.

About the Company:
Roomorama.com is a website that connects travelers with hosts who provideshort-term rentals in major cities worldwide. The apartments on Roomorama range from professionally-managed suites to individually-owned homes. On Roomorama.com, travelers can communicate and transact with hosts easily and securely, allowing them to find their home-away-from-home and truly live like locals.
www.roomorama.com