Interview winner Entrepreneur of the Year 2024: Mónica Marines, Enlace Exterior MM

Holland House
HHM
November 13, 2024
(L-R HHM President Joost Draaisma, Wendy Martinez of RFA Medical, HHM Director Carin Verbree, Mónica Marines of Enlace EMM, Marc Wemeijer of Think Tim, Ambassador Wilfred Mohr)

 

Enlace Comercio Exterior is a company specializing in facilitating international trade for Mexican businesses through logistics and supporting services. Since joining Holland House Mexico, they have a number of Dutch clients.

  1. Entrepreneur of the year, congratulations! How important is this recognition for you?

Thank you! I am very happy. This is a very meaningful award for me, because it means that my work has reached another level, another beginning. I feel very proud, I can´t believe this is really happening!

 

  1. What is the key to success in this Mexican market?

Pasion, Patience and Perseverance are required to make it in Mexico. There may be a lot of obstacles, and it is important not to give up and keep trying. Eventually, it will pay off.

 

  1. You received this recognition as a “sustainable entrepreneur”; what exactly does sustainable entrepreneurship mean to you?

To me, it means to help people. At Enlace EMM, we aim for conscious capitalism, balancing economic growth with social well-being and environmental protection.

Some of our recent efforts have focused on promoting fair labor practices and supporting community development while maintaining a positive impact on the environment for current and future generations.

We promote fair trade for Mexican artisans, actively encouraging and supporting them to participate in forums, fairs, expos, and more, helping them realize the dream of taking their products to international markets.

As part of our fair labor practices, we have a team made up of highly skilled individuals, some with different abilities. For instance, we have adapted to accommodate the auditory disability of one of our team members, allowing her talents and knowledge to shine. We have also learned to understand different work rhythms and needs with another team member who has a mental health condition, which makes her highly creative in our communications, representing us passionately in various forums and markets. Alongside them, we have supported other women and collaborators in continuing diverse studies and training. Each person in our organization has been a key part of our growth, as well as my personal growth as the leader of the organization.

Through the stumbles, failures, and challenges I have faced as an entrepreneur at Enlace EMM, I have learned valuable lessons that I now share with other women business leaders, entrepreneurs, and business owners. I guide them toward better paths through my participation in various associations, circles, and forums where I formalize this support by offering talks, conferences, workshops, and more to help more women thrive in the business world. Particularly, I hope to inspire other women to be confident and reach their potential.

 

  1. What advice would you give to Dutch newcomers to be successful on the local market?

Doing business in Mexico is not difficult, but you need a solid plan. Add to that the 3Ps of Passion, patience, and perseverance and you have a very good change at success.

 

  1. What are you most proud of, and what would you do differently if you were to start your company again?

I am most proud of my team! I was telling them that we grew up together, they are the ones that run the company. If I could do things differently, I would have told myself to be more confident. Taking losses is part of entrepreneurship, but you must persevere, not doubt yourself too much.

 

  1. How do you think Holland House Mexico (HHM) and the diplomatic network can contribute to the success of your organization?

I believe these institutions are of great importance for my and other businesses. They are key to cultivating sustainable business. I have attracted new clients through the relations I have made at HHM, whilst I have also been able to participate in initiatives where I can share my expertise with others, to help them grow.

 

  1. Where do you see the biggest challenges and opportunities as an entrepreneur?

I believe that the biggest challenge for an entrepreneur such as myself is to be a woman. We are often the only women at the table, which requires us to be strong and confident. Furthermore, it can be tough to pull through rough times, which sooner or later will happen. As for opportunities, there are many! But you need to put yourself out there to discover them.

 

Thank you Monica!

 

And for an even broader perspective, take a look at the magazine where you’ll find stories of winners from across the globe. It’s a fantastic opportunity to celebrate innovation and success worldwide.

📖 Read the magazine here: https://heyzine.com/flip-book/764b5870f2.html?utm_source=linkedin&utm_medium=message&utm_campaign=dvdo&utm_content=hub-post