Francis Teodora

With organisation to success

Francis Theodora runs a shop in San Juan de Oriente in Nicaragua, where she manufactures and sells handicraft together with her family. In 2009, she decided to participate in the female entrepreneur – programme to expand her business. It was important for Francis to learn how crucial organisation can be for the success of her business. She therefore divided the spheres of living and business not only spatially, but also in terms of finances and started to keep detailed accounts of all revenue and expenditure. She gained an overview over her financial situation and knew, where she had to start. She really enjoys working together and exchanging with other female entrepreneurs from her neighbourhood, which has been organised as part of the programme. By now, she was able to buy the property for her shop as well as additional showcases for sale. Due to her revenue she could also afford two journeys to the US and even participated in a meeting for female entrepreneurs in Panama, where she could prove her newly acquired communication skills. In order to give something back to society, Francis does not only finance education for her son, but also assumed godparenthood for a 14-year old girl to enable her to have a better life.