By: Witney I. Bowie Patron

Member of the Youth Advisory Group
GOYN Barranquilla

Around 2020, when I heard the word 'entrepreneurship', I had so many ideas, but they all led me to associate it with big businessmen, wealth and success; I came to see it as something difficult to access. At that time, I didn't realize that this word could be more than I imagined and even more than I knew.

In recent years the concept of 'entrepreneurship' has gained considerable momentum, becoming a topic of interest in both public and private conversations, but for me, it seems like it was just yesterday that I heard it formally for the first time in the first class of my Business Administration degree.

It may sound a bit ironic to say that at that time I was not clear on the concept, knowing that I was choosing a career where that is a focus, however, at that time I did not imagine that that word that seemed so simple to explain in class would become an engine of transformation in different areas, but mainly, an engine of social transformation.

Immersing yourself in the world of entrepreneurship isn't as easy as it seems; we can't talk about something we don't yet understand. It took me a long time to grasp the art of entrepreneurship and how this practice has been present in human life since its beginnings, with methods like bartering. In other words, it's intrinsic to our nature because we've always felt the need to create new opportunities.

I'm largely guided by the idea of how changeable and innovative human beings can be. These characteristics have allowed us to advance in ways ranging from ancient commerce to what we know today. Despite this, the concept wasn't so clear to many, and I don't think even to me, despite having tried to study it for a long time. It's precisely this change and the desire to avoid stagnation that allows us to continue learning about the practice of entrepreneurship. I've had the opportunity to read and internalize different concepts; however, there's one in particular that I believe helps us build a clear understanding closely related to what we can observe today.

Peter Drucker, in my own words, was a human being with an extraordinary capacity for transformation. He believed in opportunities, in continuous learning, and above all, in humanity. He knew that human beings had great potential, which is why his thinking centered on them as the most valuable asset of any organization. Drucker was key to the development of many management concepts, one of which is entrepreneurship. According to his vision, established in 1985, entrepreneurship is a tool, a kind of construction tool, because it is precisely this activity that allows us to create opportunities where we might not think they exist. Peter Drucker shared with us that entrepreneurship was more than just creating companies; it is a process where human beings are capable of generating changes, unique combinations that, of course, bring them benefits.

Over the past few years, I've come to the conclusion that there are two ways to understand entrepreneurship: through research and through experience. The latter has been my preferred approach and, undoubtedly, the one that has taught me to see this activity not just as income generation, but as a transformative force for change, starting with my own reality, the one I live every day in my city.

I am proudly from Barranquilla, one of those little corners of Colombia where you feel boundless happiness, where joy is a part of everyone, where the sky is among the clearest and sunniest you'll ever see. I firmly believe in the saying, "Barranquilla, those who don't know you dream of you, and those who know you never forget you." I was born and raised here, and it is precisely this place that has allowed me to learn more every day. I couldn't talk about entrepreneurship in the world or in general if I didn't know how to explain how it manifested in my city. That's why, over the last few years, I've focused on understanding and recognizing the importance of this concept, which at the time seemed to be the simplest to grasp in my field.

In Barranquilla, also known as the Golden Gate of Colombia, I confirmed that entrepreneurship isn't just about making money or owning your own business; here, entrepreneurship is synonymous with resilience, with transformation. In 2021, five years prior, according to DANE (Colombia's National Administrative Department of Statistics), more than 30% of the city's population and its metropolitan area consumed fewer than three meals a day; poverty continued to plague the city, and the rates were rising despite ongoing efforts to overcome this multifaceted phenomenon. Poverty, specifically in our geographic context, can be seen as a limiting factor in the development of economic, political, and social aspects, and of course, a contributing factor to consequences such as violence, theft, malnutrition, and more.

This phenomenon can be an impetus to generate one's own resources through entrepreneurship, so in recent years I have been able to learn stories where entrepreneurship that is born in a vulnerable neighborhood, in a house or in a school is not only a business that generates money, it is an opportunity for social transformation.

Beyond the numbers that can be generated, behind them there is a person, an opportunity, and a story. There are many success stories in the city, and I had the opportunity to learn about Alejandro Rodríguez's. He started selling empanadas on the street and today owns "La Garosa," a place where you can taste the coastal flavor in every product. They are known for selling filled fritters, a Milo with a unique flavor, and typical fried foods from the city. I'm sure that the 17-year-old Alejandro who started with an empanada recipe never imagined that years later he would have a franchise that would spread to different parts of the city, becoming a benchmark for economic and social revitalization and generating more than 50 jobs.

I also had the opportunity to meet and interview Osmairys Ramos; she is a young woman who saw a business opportunity in the city, who knew from the beginning that she wanted to make an impact, and today, she highlights the beauty of Colombian women with her handmade headbands, showcasing their talent for creating unique pieces that can accompany you through everyday moments like going to work, as well as unforgettable moments like your wedding.

Although it may seem that everything ends here, it does not; I have experienced this exercise more closely in a vulnerable community known as Isla Salamanca, where together with the NGO 'Techo Colombia' we held a fair called "Flavors of the River", which allows us to showcase those ventures that add value and are created based on opportunities.

In many parts of the city, formal employment is not always an immediate option, and when faced with necessity, entrepreneurship can be. It is there that we observe that when someone manages to grow within that vulnerable context, a narrative is broken, confirming that the origin of things does not determine their destiny.

I've always thought that in this part of Colombia there's a spark, a drive, and above all, passion; we're the kind of people who seek opportunities where perhaps they don't exist (or so it seems). In Barranquilla, the real impact happens when a single mother transforms her home into a productive kitchen, when a community group organizes fairs to showcase talent. Here, we don't just see entrepreneurship as synonymous with wealth; we see it as a tangible social transformation.

Today I can say that young people are no longer just looking for jobs; they're looking for impact, and I say this as a young woman who strives to achieve that every day. I've observed universities, collectives, and programs that foster spaces where entrepreneurship becomes a form of social leadership; we can see this in initiatives like 'Emprende Así' by GOYN Barranquilla, 'Emprende Mujer' by Grupo Argos, and the training and investment programs of other companies, the mayor's office, and the governor's office.

Entrepreneurship is no longer just a simple exercise; today, the city focuses on empowering vulnerable communities, women, men, and young people. In recent years, programs have been built that contribute to the seed of transformation, such as 'Women of Villa San Pablo,' a project for 60 women created to strengthen productive units and thus boost economic development. Also, thanks to Triple A and the Santo Domingo Foundation, 50 women recyclers started their own businesses, thus improving their quality of life.

Today, in 2026, entrepreneurship is not just about the commercial sphere; it's also an activity that generates a significant social impact through job creation, improved quality of life, and contributions to the growth and development of the city. This tool allows us to create opportunities where there seemed to be only limitations. Every business idea, every venture, every heart, and every person eager to succeed will not only generate a source of income in time, but is also a seed for transforming realities.

As a young leader with dreams and a desire to conquer the world, I've learned that social transformation doesn't always begin with major changes or resources. As human beings, we often fail to grasp that it starts with something simpler, like believing in our own potential.

Everything has led me to confirm that it is not only ideas and opportunities that drive change; we ourselves are the ones who take charge of turning our dreams into opportunities to grow and for others to grow alongside us.

Undoubtedly, entrepreneurship changes and has changed many lives, but when it stems from purpose, from genuine feeling, it has the power to transform entire communities. With this approach, we're not just creating a business; we're creating opportunities, generating growth, building identity, and, most importantly, transforming realities.

Literature

https://ecosistemala.cl/ejemplo-1-2/

https://www.fundacionwwbcolombia.org/fundacion-en-medios-post/el-emprendimiento-como-motor-de-desarrollo-historias-de-exito-de-la-fundacion-wwb-colombia/

https://eventos.uam.es/80082/detail/el-emprendimiento-social-un-motor-de-transformacion-social.html

https://zonacero.com/generales/barranquilla-ciudad-de-innovacion-vistazo-la-transformacion-del-adn-economico-y

https://files01.core.ac.uk/download/pdf/188641305.pdf#:~:text=Seg%C3%BAn%20Drucker%20(1985)%2C%20el%20emprendimiento%20es%20%E2%80%9Cel,que%20se%20ha%20hecho%20ya%20otras%20veces.

https://www.redalyc.org/pdf/4762/476248849007.pdf#:~:text=El%20conocimiento%2C%20dec%C3%ADa%20Drucker%2C%20se%20ha%20convertido,bruto%20de%20la%20econom%C3%ADa%20mundial%20(Wikipedia%2C%202008).

https://www.bbva.com/es/innovacion/como-llegar-a-ser-un-emprendedor-de-alto-impacto/

https://www.eltiempo.com/colombia/barranquilla/alejandro-rodriguez-de-vendedor-de-empanadas-a-propietario-de-panaderias-692006

https://www.grupoargos.com/noticias/20-emprendimientos-de-mujeres-en-barranquilla-inician-proceso-de-formacion-para-impulsar-sus-negocios-en-el-marco-del-programa-emprender-mujer/

https://www.dane.gov.co/index.php/estadisticas-por-tema/pobreza-y-condiciones-de-vida/pobreza-monetaria/pobreza-monetaria-2021

https://barranquilla.gov.co/gerencia-de-desarrollo-social/nuestros-proyectos#:~:text=Ecorazón,alimentaria%20de%20las%20poblaciones%20vulnerables.

https://fondomujer.gov.co/mujeres-emprendedoras-del-caribe-llevan-su-sabor-cultura-y-sostenibilidad-a-sabor-barranquilla-2025/#:~:text=Finalmente%2C%20Negocios%20Verdes%20del%20Atlántico,experiencias%20ecoturísticas%20y%20educación%20ambiental.