Paty Funegra is the founder of La Cocina VA, a social enterprise that helps unemployed Latino immigrants find jobs in the food industry by teaching them food and language skills.
Colleen DeBaise
Colleen DeBaise is former small business editor of the Wall Street Journal. Her most recent book is “Start a Successful Business.” She has also written about the rewards and challenges of entrepreneurship for Inc., Entrepreneur and BusinessWeek, among others. She has been interviewed on MSNBC, Fox, CNBC, CBS and NPR. Colleen has a master’s in journalism from Northwestern University.
Posts by Colleen DeBaise
How to Manage a Small Business During the Coronavirus Crisis
We asked women business owners to tell us how they’re preparing for a potential global pandemic.
Ep. 39: Lighting Childbirth
After witnessing shocking conditions at a maternity ward in Nigeria, Dr. Laura Stachel decided to take action. We Care Solar’s solar suitcases have lit over 2 millions births in over 30 countries.
3 Mission-Driven Women Entrepreneurs Share What Inspired Them to Start
The number of women-led social enterprises is growing. These female founders turned ideas into businesses that are getting results.
She Escaped the City for Life on a Farm — and Teaches a Masterclass for Entrepreneurs Who Want to Do the Same
Danielle French of South Pond Farms hosts barn weddings and culinary events. Many women want to launch similar businesses.
Ep. 38: A Chorus Grows in Brooklyn
We talk to Dianne Berkun Menaker, who turned a passion for music into the Brooklyn Youth Chorus. Today, she’s helping New York City kids find their voices and power in a confusing world.
An Exhausted Mom Used This Easy Sales Trick to Make Customers Buy
Leslie Bradford-Scott built Walton Wood Farm by employing the classic sales tactic of selling on emotion.
She’s Teaching Math to Kids That Need It — Which Is All of Them
Angela McIver launched Trapezium Math Club to help boost kids’ math skills. In the U.S., children’s math scores lag far behind their international peers.
Ep 37: No More Pesticides
At a time when there are serious health concerns about the pesticides we spray on crops, Pam Marrone of Marrone Bio Innovations specializes in natural alternatives to toxic chemicals.
Ep. 36: Revisiting ‘Helping Native American Women Heal’
Our thanks to the Newswomen’s Club of New York for honoring us with a Front Page award for this podcast on Norine Hill of Mother Nation.
Ep. 35: A Podcast for Dog Lovers
Once upon a time, Sherri Franklin was a successful (but uninspired) hairstylist. To find purpose in life, she began volunteering at the SPCA…and an old dog named Heidi captured her heart. Today, Franklin runs Muttville, a $4 million social enterprise that specializes in rescuing senior dogs.
An Immigrant Founder Uses Food to Lift Up Her Latino Community
Paty Funegra of La Cocina VA has raised $2 million to turn her community kitchen into an incubator, a café and a place of hope for struggling immigrants.
Meet the Plastics Engineer Who’s Raised $1 Million to Make Prosthetic Legs
Erin Keaney of Nonspec is on a mission to make prosthetics affordable around the world — and that means using medical-grade plastic.
This Texas Bakery Makes 26,000 Poundcakes a Year – and Survived a Vanilla Bust
Janie’s Cakes operates out of a small city in East Texas. But its production is impacted by severe weather around the world and other unexpected challenges.
She Designed Fierce Female Action Figures. And Surprise! Her Customers Are Men
Julie Kerwin launched I Am Elemental to combat all those hypersexualized girl superheroes. She didn’t anticipate her newfound fans.