North Carolina Client: Maria Eugenia Guzman
Maria Eugenia Guzman, an Ecuadorian entrepreneur, has always embraced the independence and challenges of running her own business. Driven by her entrepreneurial spirit, Maria founded Bilingual Connections LLC, a company that bridges language barriers by offering services in over 200 languages. From translation and interpretation to specialized language classes for professionals in healthcare, construction, and more, Bilingual Connections ensures seamless communication across industries. Established in 2008, the company offers its services virtually, by phone, and in person, with an increasing focus on child development and workers’ compensation.
Overcoming Challenges with Prospera’s Support
Like many small businesses, Maria’s company faced severe disruptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. As she searched for ways to regain stability, Maria connected with Prospera through her involvement in ALPES (Alianza Latina Pro Educación y Salud). This connection introduced her to Prospera’s resources, which played a crucial role in helping her reorganize and strengthen her business.
Through Prospera’s personalized business consulting, Maria gained valuable insights into financial management and achieved greater clarity in her business operations. Additionally, with Prospera’s support, Maria secured a business advancement grant, allowing her to develop an optimized business plan. Today, she is working toward securing additional capital to further grow her business. While recovery from the pandemic is ongoing, Maria remains confident that Bilingual Connections will continue to expand, step by step.
Unique Offerings and a Commitment to Excellence
Bilingual Connections stands out not only as a Latina woman-owned business but also as a certified minority-owned enterprise. The company employs both full-time and part-time staff, with some team members working remotely from Ecuador. The recent addition of virtual services, prompted by the pandemic, has allowed Bilingual Connections to adapt to clients’ evolving needs, further solidifying its position as a leader in the language services industry. From formal document translations to webpage content and subtitles, Maria’s business ensures that language is never a barrier to essential communication across various sectors.
Advice for Fellow Entrepreneurs
Maria’s message to other Hispanic entrepreneurs is one of resilience and determination: “Do everything with faith, hard work, and dedication. Don’t hesitate to seek assistance and take full advantage of the support that organizations like Prospera can offer.” She firmly believes that advice only works when you commit to taking it and putting in the effort.
Determined to Succeed
Maria’s entrepreneurial journey is one of perseverance. Despite the highs and lows, she remains dedicated to growing her business, always pushing forward and never giving up. With Prospera’s guidance, Bilingual Connections is on a solid path toward success, demonstrating that with the right support, no challenge is too big to overcome.
To learn more about her business, visit her website: bilingualconnections.com.
