National Focal Point Spain

Women Entrepreneurship Project

The challenges of being a female entrepreneur in a rural area

 If setting up a business is a major challenge, taking the reins of a family business is equally tough. Ruth Lázaro had never been interested in managing a company. However, family responsibilities far outweighed her vocation, so when his father had to leave the job, she got in charge, but she needed training and guidance and she found it in the "Women entrepreneurship in emerging sectors" project, promoted by Incyde Foundation, within the EEA Grants Gender Equality Programme.

21.07.2014

“I studied Social Work, Psychology and Sociology, nothing related to Business, as a consequence, when I joined the company I found out that I hadn’t a plan”, explains Ruth Lázaro. So, she began training according to the responsibilities she was assuming. First of all, Production, then Quality and R+D… and finally the leadership of Taisi, a third generation company dedicated to the manufacturing of fruits. Her challenge was to renew the company without losing its essence in order to ensure its continuity and the jobs created.

In her search for training, Ruth Lázaro found the project Women entrepreneurship in emerging sectors, promoted by Incyde, and financed by the EEA Grants. The project, on the verge of beginning its second edition, includes training and guidance for women entrepreneurs or for those who have a company and need a Business Plan. In this case, not only is she a woman but also she lives in a rural area, in Calatayud, a village near Zaragoza, in the middle of nowhere between Madrid and Barcelona. “Here we have very few opportunities, so I didn’t hesitate when I knew about this project”, remarks.

“I really liked the course’ programme because it had a practical approach and provided a comprehensive overview of a company management”, explains Ruth Lázaro. The experience was extremely positive. “It enabled me to learn new things but also to take a different view of my own company because apart from the classes there was personalized tutoring where the experts provided you with a valuable insight into your particular case”. Moreover, she developed a useful networking with other participants and they still keep in touch. The only snag: “The time seemed too brief for so many things”.

 “This type of projects are a great opportunity and I would ask to not forget women and countryside because we are very much alone”, says Ruth Lázaro. Fort he moment, this CEO feel very proud of her company, which currently employs over 50 people and gives rise to more jobs indirectly, and with eagerness to really push the company through despite the difficulties.