Estie Cruz-Curoe
Founder/GM of del Carmen
What inspired you to start your business?
I was unable to find satisfactory beans in the marketplace.
What challenges have you faced as a woman entrepreneur and how did you overcome them?
Lack of capital and contacts/connections in the right places. Opening doors with assistance from the Hispanic Chamber, an accelerator, and my alma mater.
What advice would you give to other women entrepreneurs?
Be true to yourself.
What women inspire you?
Ruth Ginsberg, Penny Chenery.
As a business owner, what keeps you up at night?
That which I don’t have control over.
What do you love about being a business owner?
Flexibility, challenge, opportunity to create a (hopefully) thriving business, giving back to those of helped you get there, and contributing positively to the community that sustains us.
What’s the hardest part about being a business owner?
The responsibility that goes with it.
What are the biggest obstacles you see for young female entrepreneurs?
I am hopeful they will have more of us to mentor them.
How do you define success?
Profitable while creating a great working environment/culture based on respect, honesty, and quality.
What’s the best piece of career advice you’ve ever received?
A quitter never wins and a winner never quits.
If you didn’t have to sleep, what would you do with the extra time?
Golf.
What are you reading or listening to right now?
Fearless.
What’s the best way to start your day?
Waking up is good!
As a child, what did you want to be when you grew up?
Architect.
How do you unwind after a long workday?
A glass of wine.
Fill in the blank:
When I face a challenge, I... confer with others and think about it
If I could go back in time, I would tell myself ... to not worry about the little things in life
The one thing I couldn’t live without is… my family.
By this time next year, I will be… happy.
The best thing that happened to me last week was…feeling hopeful.
To get my creative juices flowing, I…like brainstorming.
del Carmen
Food manufacturer of black bean products and sauces with Cuban-American roots. Del Carmen products are slow-cooked in small batches, packaged and sold frozen fresh.
