Keren Granados, MBA is the co-founder of Emprendedores Latinos USA, a grass roots organization that has been inspiring, educating and connecting Latino Business owners of Metro Atlanta and beyond since its creation on 2013. A year after creating this nonprofit, Keren and her team developed a new concept that would highlight the force Latinas had behind the growing numbers of businesses creation by minorities in the U.S. They created what it was going to be known as Emprendedoras Latinas, an annual forum that will give women business owners and new entrepreneurs the tools to succeed in the U.S. The program was also supported by a series of monthly Mesas Redondas (Round Tables) aiming to create conversations that would lead to innovation and more business opportunities for this eager segment.
Q: What does it mean to you to be a trailblazer and connector in the Latin community?
A: I think it means for me creating a path. One of the things that we usually speak about in events, or when we are with women, is that if I was able to go to level one, I will show you how to get to level one too, so you can go on to level two. I’ll give you everything I know, all my tools, in order for you to succeed. It’s hard, but it’s not impossible to get success. The thing is, if we have other people that have accomplished or have gone that far, we can be open to help each other. So I think that’s why it’s one of the things that I do have a passion for…to be a trailblazer and also to be a connector. So maybe I don’t have the answer [in that moment], or I don’t have the means, or I don’t have anything that you were looking into on my end, but I do probably have a person or a connection that might help you to succeed.
Q: What was the vision in creating your team and what do you look for when when considering a new team member?
A: A team is like a body; I might not be that strong in the arms, so I need the person that’s going to be strong on that side of the body and then another person for the other side of the body. It’s about all of us working together to be a full body to be able to create something big and wonderful. All of the Latina entrepreneurs that I have met over the years have all given me something different. I like that. I learned from them so that I can keep going doing what I’m doing. I think that’s one of the reasons why I stay so passionate.
Q: Did young Keren know that she’d be doing this type of work?
A: Yes! Yes she did. I think when I was like seven years old, when I was in elementary school, I used to create cameras out of paper and charge my classmates if they took pictures. Then, when I was in the third grade, I remember I had a lot of Hello Kitty things and I used to sell them. I think I’ve always liked business. It wasn’t so much the money for me but rather it was something that was satisfying to me.
Q: What are 3 words you use to describe yourself?
A: Loyal. Happy. Positive – I’m always in a positive state of mind and I think that is what has helped me overcome a bunch of things that have happened in my life.
Q: If you could tell your younger self one piece of advice, what would it be?
A: Probably not to take things too serious. I get very serious when I do things and sometimes I just need to relax. I always try to focus on the things that I was to accomplish, but in life, sometimes you need to let it go a little so you don’t feel stressed.
Explore more about Keren Granados:
LinkedIn: Keren S Granados, MBA
Website: Bizmujer
