Freddy Potoy Rosales
Two successful entrepreneurs shared their personal and professional experiences with Latina entrepreneurs on International Women’s Day, celebrated on March 8, at the Pittsburgh Hispanic Development Corporation (PHDC) headquarters, located in Beechview.
Financial Education and Business Organization
Dora González, who opened the event, is originally from Peru but has lived in Pennsylvania for nearly 30 years. She is the owner of two businesses: Alpha Alvi Group LLC and Global Arrival Aid Charities. The first provides accounting services, while the second offers legal immigration assistance.
González explained that Alpha Alvi Group LLC specializes in tax preparation, business formation, financial reporting, certified processing agent services, and insurance.
“Financial education is extremely important, and personal finances should never be mixed with business finances when setting up an accounting system. Structuring and organizing expenses allow us to track our progress,” she advised. González holds a bachelor’s degree and two master’s degrees: one in Accounting from North Carolina Central University and another in Financial Management from DeVry University Illinois.
“Use Your Past and Present to Create the Future”
Following her, María Manautou-Matos, originally from Puerto Rico and a resident of Pittsburgh for 29 years, is the director and founder of Pittsburgh Latino Magazine, a bilingual (Spanish-English) digital and print media outlet. The magazine primarily targets second- to fourth-generation Hispanics seeking to reconnect with their roots.
Both speakers shared the different stages they went through in their entrepreneurial journeys before establishing themselves as successful business owners.
Manautou-Matos earned a degree in Communication Arts and Design from Carnegie Mellon University and a master’s degree in Multimedia Science and Technology from Duquesne University. She has worked in communications for over 15 years and previously served as Marketing Director at Brightside Academy. “Use your past and present to create the future,” she advised the audience.
She encouraged participants to reflect on happy childhood and youth memories, identify both the activities they enjoyed and the ones they disliked. Additionally, she urged them to recognize negative experiences, release what no longer serves them, and create space for new opportunities while seeking professional guidance if needed. Manautou-Matos also emphasized the importance of finding inspiration, sharing how her father profoundly influenced her life in a positive way. She concluded by reinforcing the values of continuous learning, perseverance, and courage, which she believes are key ingredients for success.
Another entrepreneur, Evelyn Aikin, a U.S. citizen originally from Ecuador, also attended the event and briefly shared her experience running her business, Skin Boutique, in Pittsburgh. Evelyn also shared her experience taking part in a Spanish cohort of Entrepreneurs Forever, an organization where business owners are assigned to peer groups where they discuss challenges and develop solutions to build strong ownership skills.
Honoring and Celebrating Latina Women Entrepreneurs
Howard Álvarez, Director of Programs and Operations at PHDC, stated that the event was organized to honor and highlight the work of female entrepreneurs in the organization’s business incubator program, as part of International Women’s Day celebrations.
“This event has been held for the past three years, and the goal is to allow different entrepreneurs to learn from the experiences of other successful women in the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It serves as an inspiration not just for them but for the entire Latino community, helping them see themselves in these success stories and realize that they, too, can achieve success,” Álvarez emphasized.
He added that since PHDC’s inception, 40% of businesses incorporated into the organization were founded by women. However, 2024 has been particularly remarkable, as 60% of the new businesses joining the corporation were launched by women entrepreneurs who chose to become business owners and embark on this journey with PHDC’s support.
