Women Entrepreneurs

Women Entreprenuers: Breaking Barriers in Business

It’s a time to celebrate courage, creativity, and community — and what better way than by highlighting the women entrepreneurs in Centro’s network who are breaking barriers and building thriving businesses.

As we approach Women’s Equality Day on August 26, 2025, Centro honors the resilience and leadership of women who are embracing entrepreneurship — often as immigrants, mothers, first-generation business owners, or innovators in our communities.

These are their stories.

From Passion to Purpose: The Women Leading with Heart

Luz Castellanos – Verde Gourmet (Florida)

Luz turned her passion for cooking into Verde Gourmet, a business inspired by her son’s dietary needs. With over 20 years experience as a chef, she transformed personal challenges into purpose. Through Centro’s programs, she gained structure, support, and the tools to grow a business that nourishes both body, heart, and soul.

Mak Bicet – Investments (Miami)

Mak began her business journey during a time of personal hardship, driven by faith and resilience. After becoming her family’s sole provider, she chose to invest in her dreams and community rather than settle for temporary jobs. That leap of faith led her to create three consulting businesses focused on empowering the Hispanic community through transformation and support.

Ivette López – Metanoia Zone´s (California)

Ivette, the founder of Metanoia Zone LLC, turned her vision of empowering youth and families into reality through Centro’s entrepreneurship programs and a $15,000 Kiva loan from the Centro Capital Hub. With this support, she gained key business skills and funding to grow her e-learning platform, expand her team, and invest in technology and marketing to scale her impact.

Ashanti Thomas-Mack – Keep It Tight (New York)

Inspired by her mother and her community, Ashanti founded a post-surgical care business focused on women’s healing. Through Centro’s East Coast programs, she received critical business education, networking, and tools to serve her clients with compassion and innovation.

Empowering Women, One Business at a Time

Women entrepreneurs face real barriers — unequal access to capital, limited mentorship, and systemic inequities — yet they continue to rise. Centro is proud to support this journey with:

  • Free, bilingual business education

  • Personalized coaching and mentorship

  • Access to zero- and low-interest loans through our Capital Hub

With over 8,600 entrepreneurs served and $8.5M+ in capital deployed. Centro’s impact is rooted in equity, community, and practical entrepreneurship education.

Why This Matters

Women receive significantly less capital funding than men. For immigrants, the gap is even wider. Organizations like Centro and global partners are working to change this — mobilizing support for women-led enterprises and proving that gender equity in entrepreneurship is both possible and powerful.

How You Can Help

  • Share their stories. Visibility creates opportunity.

  • Support women-owned businesses. Buy, promote, and refer.

  • Invest in systems that support equity. Advocate for policies and funding that uplift underserved communities.

Celebrate Women Entrepreneurs with Us

This August, we celebrate the entrepreneurs of Centro — and the many more who are dreaming, building, and leading across our communities. Let’s continue to break barriers together, and pave the way for future generations of women in business.