Empowering social entrepreneurs

Cynthia Hellen born in Peru, South America serves as a chapter leader of New York Women Social Entrepreneur (NYWSE) that works for promoting young women social entrepreneurs. She is the founder and CEO of SMPLCT lab, a social enterprise creating sustainable products, services and meaningful human experiences based out of New York.

Overcoming the fact that she has a brain tumour Cynthia strives to develop social entrepreneurship among people. She has won several prestigious awards for her work. While conducting a workshop in Hyderabad recently, she talks about her learnings and experiences. 

Despite being so different, she sees striking similarity between India and South American and European countries, and especially Peru where she works. “There are a lot of similarities even with my own country Peru; poverty exists everywhere.

Every individual in every country wants an individual recognition like dignity; job and a wish to live for their families for which they are willing to do anything. The only difference that I see is in type of businesses that are seen in these communities which are already using a lot of technologies. So, you see more applications and online businesses compared to India, who is yet to develop online.”

She believes that a woman is capable of multiple roles and manages to emerge successful in each of them. “I have to say my mother was and still is the reason why I became an entrepreneur; my mother was the first woman in my family to enter the field of entrepreneurship and then my father was an entrepreneur too. I had two great examples of how an entrepreneur can be a mother, daughter and several things.”

Through her enterprise Cynthia works across a broad spectrum of industries, including education, energy, healthcare, media and technology. “Using human-centered, design strategy - fieldwork, storytelling, iterative and exploratory design, and prototyping - we deliver products, services and experiences that change not only the way we tackle local and global challenges but break perception on poverty, she elaborates on her work. 

Speaking about her tumour – she reveals - Sometimes life will take over work or work takes over your life, it is not that life will always be balanced. 
Finally, she calls out to women - Do not give up.

Although they might be too many challenges and sacrifices, you must move because everyone is doing so, mainly if you are really committed of being an entrepreneur or a social entrepreneur. Do not be afraid about anything, we have all been there. We have to have access to technology as well as individuals and seek their help for a better future.