Mabel Becerra is professor of marketing and entrepreneurship in undergraduate and graduate programs in Bolivia and a PhD candidate in Business Studies at the University of Murcia, Spain. She has an extensive background in international education and administration and a passion for fostering cross- cultural understanding and student success. This led to her desire to effectively contribute to development of entrepreneurship in women and youth from vulnerable areas of Bolivia, such as the Tucabaca Valley Reserve and Santiago de Chiquitos.  

Throughout her career in education, she has gained a deep understanding of the unique challenges and opportunities facing national and international students and scholars. As Head of Studies at Universidad Privada del Valle, she led several initiatives to enhance the experience of students, including implementing comprehensive support services, facilitating cultural integration programs, and entrepreneurship skill development. The IVLP significantly marked her personal and professional life, and she wants to share everything she learned during my Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development Program with others. 

IVLP Impact Award Project: Entrepreneurship Training Program: For Women and Youth from the Tucabaca Valley Municipal Reserve and the Santiago de Chiquitos Mountain Range 

Mabel's project provides entrepreneurship training for vulnerable populations of the Tucabaca Valley Reserve and the Serranía de Santiago de Chiquitos so they can develop ventures that improve the quality of life for themselves and their communities.  Entrepreneurship training for women and youth will include workshops and online tools and group projects.  At a graduation ceremony attended by municipal authorities, participants will present their projects and receive feedback that will support their implementation.  

Despite extensive wildfires in the region, Mabel has held her first workshop, a pre-training meeting, and formed a 30-member WhatsApp group to familiarize the 23 virtual training participants with each other. Mabel has scheduled two more training workshops in October and November, which she hopes will be held in person, depending on whether the wildfires are extinguished. Mabel shared, “I am very excited and happy to be able to share my area of expertise “entrepreneurship and innovation” with people who can take advantage of it and improve their quality of life. I am very grateful to the IVLP Impact Award for this great opportunity. In my country, I have been contacted by foundations and institutions related to entrepreneurship and employment generation, to replicate the project and give related talks.”

“I hope to be able to develop a... model in Bolivia, for vulnerable communities of women and youth, which allows them to develop, empower themselves and generate their own entrepreneurship. This program represents the opportunity to start with the Tucabaca Valley Forest Reserve and the Serranía de Santiago, empowering and training its women and youth, so that it has a multiplier effect on their community and allows them to improve their living conditions.” - Mabel Becerra 

IVLP Exchange Experience  

Mabel participated in the IVLP Project: Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development, organized by the U.S. Department of State and Meridian International Center in partnership with Colorado Springs World Affairs Council, Global Ties Miami, International Institute of Buffalo, and World Denver.  

Mabel's exchange experience led to the creation of her project: “During my IVLP Entrepreneurship and Small Business Development program, I had the opportunity to learn about the Small Business Development Centers, business incubators, [and] successful migrant ventures, as well as initiatives that are focused on vulnerable communities (such as those of the Tucavaca Valley Reserve)...They work with specific communities at risk and empower, train and provide them with opportunities to carry out ventures that guarantee the improvement of their quality of life. All the institutions visited during the IVLP... impacted and inspired me to learn about the ecosystem of small businesses developed by vulnerable communities....” 

U.S. Communities Visited 

Washington, DC; Colorado Springs, CO; Denver, CO; Miami, FL; Buffalo, NY 

“The IVLP in entrepreneurship and small business had a profound impact on my personal and professional life. It has motivated me to see opportunities to help my country and its vulnerable communities. In Buffalo, I learned about the Buffalo State Small Business Development Center and how it supports small entrepreneurs and that has inspired me.” - Mabel Becerra 

Country: Bolivia 

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