How Women Entrepreneurs in This Rural Peru Community Work Together to Build a Stronger Business To provide support for their entire community, these female founders must collaborate, rather than compete.

By Andrea Huspeni

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

We often hear about the mentality some American entrepreneurs feel they must possess to survive. It can be cutthroat, with many feeling they need to compete with one another in what is often a zero-sum game -- where there can only be one winner.

But that approach isn't always practical for growing industries and communities in the U.S. and beyond. Consider Peru, for example. The country as a whole is considered one of the fastest growing economies in the world, but in rural areas, the same can't be said. Many people don't have the resources, money or time to stay current on the latest technologies, trends and business models. Their focus is more on survival than getting rich. Which is why these local entrepreneurs must work together for the greater good rather than compete with each other.

Related: How to Build a Strong Community?

Earlier this year, we visited the village of Ccaccaccollo -- 15 miles from Cusco and 80 miles from Macchu Picchu -- and met with a women's co-op of 60 female entrepreneurs creating handmade goods for locals and tourists. While each woman creates her own products using traditional weaving methods, they collaborate to provide support for the 440 community members, including paying for roads, livestock and children's education.

Related: How Social Entrepreneurship Can Benefit Businesses and the Communities They Serve

We chatted with the women's co-op leader, Francisca Qquerar Mayta, in this video for Women Entrepreneur to learn more about the community, what being a woman entrepreneur means and how their work is helping the next generation.

Wavy Line
Andrea Huspeni

Founder of This Dog's Life

Andrea Huspeni is the former special projects director at Entrepreneur.com and the founder of This Dog's Life.

Editor's Pick

A Leader's Most Powerful Tool Is Executive Capital. Here's What It Is — and How to Earn It.
Lock
One Man's Casual Side Hustle Became an International Phenomenon — And It's on Track to See $15 Million in Revenue This Year
Lock
3 Reasons to Keep Posting on LinkedIn, Even If Nobody Is Engaging With You
Why a Strong Chief Financial Officer Is Crucial for Your Franchise — and What to Look for When Hiring One

Related Topics

Growing a Business

This Stock Screener is on Sale for Memorial Day

invest while mitigating risk with this top-rated stock screening app.

Starting a Business

5 Tips For Launching a Business While Keeping Your Day Job

Launching a business while holding down a 9-to-5 is no small feat. It's a common path for aspiring entrepreneurs, but it's not without its challenges.

Business Ideas

55 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2023

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2023.

Fundraising

Working Remote? These Are the Biggest Dos and Don'ts of Video Conferencing

As more and more businesses go remote, these are ways to be more effective and efficient on conference calls.

Growing a Business

The Best Way to Run a Business Meeting

All too often, meetings run longer than they should and fail to keep attendees engaged. Here's how to run a meeting the right way.