“TODAY, OUR PRIVATE SECTOR AND ENTREPRENEURS ARE GREATLY RESPONSIBLE FOR DELIVERING ON THE PROMISE OF A STRONGER ECONOMY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS.”– LAURA CANTERO, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, GRUPO GUAYACÁN, INC
One aspect I can highlight about doing business in Puerto Rico is the vibrant and growing community of entrepreneurs committed to transforming the local economy. This community of entrepreneurs is navigating a complex scenario under the shadow of an economic crisis that forced the local government to overhaul public finances. It is precisely these circumstances that underscore the value of a multisector approach to promote economic growth. Gone are the days when Puerto Rico could rely on government incentives and public investment to drive its economy. Today, our private sector and entrepreneurs are greatly responsible for delivering on the promise of a stronger economy for future generations.
Enabling local private investment is precisely why Grupo Guayacán was created, working with partners to develop a vibrant risk capital ecosystem in Puerto Rico, increasing access to capital for the entrepreneurs that need it, and generating sustainable economic development by strengthening our local entrepreneurial base. I am a firm believer that only by working together, through long-term collaboration, can we successfully build a roadmap for our entrepreneurs to navigate. When provided with access to the right education, resources, and capital, our entrepreneurs can build companies with impact beyond our wildest imagination. These are the building blocks of the entrepreneurial ecosystem; we must come together to achieve long term measurable results, for our entrepreneurs and for Puerto Rico.
Laura Cantero is Executive Director of Grupo Guayacán, Inc., from where she is helping to build a thriving ecosystem for entrepreneurial success in Puerto Rico. She has close to 20 years of experience in the financial services industry, specifically in implementing and delivering organizational effectiveness and corporate change initiatives. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, before joining Guayacán, Laura worked as Manager at the Latin America Financial Services practice for Ernst & Young in Panama. She holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics from The Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania, and an MBA from IE Business School in Madrid.
