Perth,  15 - May- 2008

Perth Consultant Supports Hispanic Entrepreneurs

Since 2005, Alicia Castillo has called Perth, WA, home. Her vast expertise in developing and supporting innovation based companies however makes her a global player in a very competitive market.

Moving around and "doing business" in various parts of the world, the serial entrepreneur, consultant, investor and inquisitive thinker has not distance her from her roots.  In March she published her book: Creando Empresas Fabulosas "Creating Fabulous Businesses" specifically targeting Latin American Entrepreneurs. The author draws on her personal reflections and the analysis of her previous experience with innovation-based companies throughout that region.

"Is is so interesting -claims Castillo- that I have to come all the way to Perth to find the time and space to be able to sit down and write a book.  I have always noticed how Latin Americans are perceived as having low standards and that is simply not true.  I spent a year researching real data and analyzing it with my real life experiences, and well, we need to change the statistics, simple as that.

The book makes an interesting assessment of the strengths and weaknesses of the Latin American culture in lieu of socio-economic impact. "I prefer not to work with small businesses but with young ones, the ones that will drive economic growth and social impact".

In the US alone,  "Hispanics" or Latin Americans are a thriving economic force, not only in existing firms and informal economy but also as entrepreneurs. New ventures formed by Hispanics are on the rising, growing 31% between 2000 and 2005, three times more than with any other race group.

It is recognized that Hispanics work harder and longer than the general population. They also have a different view on intellectual property, professional support, and life-work balance.

In her book, Castillo highlights the key elements of thinking entrepreneurially in three main areas: Creating, Reinventing and Funding  high impact firms.

When asked about doing the same in Australia, she responds: "It is time someone did a study about that. Learning commercial skills in a somehow small and isolated market allows people to explore and invent without the pressure of time and competition;  on the other hand, there is a lack of sophistication that comes by dealing with a large market and having to specialize.  I notice many differences with Europe, the US and Latin America, yet we would be better off developing a model supported by the Ozzie culture. Australians have a great life/work balance and are quite authentic, it would be sad to lose that".

She will be touring the US in June and July and the Southern Cone (Chile, Argentina, Uruguay and Brasil) in October.

More information:  Pamela Tan ptan(at)wealthing.com