From a small garden to a life project

By: Alejandro García Suárez – Advisory Office of Communications

With some plants, some pots and a lot of desire to get ahead, Esperanza González, an Opportunity Creator from the Business Administration program at the Fusagasugá campus, began to build what is now her life project, “Vivero Plantaciones La Esperanza”.

Her story began in her backyard, where a simple idea took shape and gradually transformed into a bigger dream: to create her own business, provide better opportunities for her family, and demonstrate that with effort, dedication, and perseverance, it's possible to turn an idea into reality. “Behind those first plants was a much bigger dream: to build my own project, provide a better future for my family, and prove to myself that with effort, dedication, and perseverance, I could turn an idea into a reality,” Esperanza recounted.

Sow, learn and grow

The road has not been without obstacles; however, each challenge became an opportunity to strengthen their business. Today, Plantaciones La Esperanza is a nursery dedicated to the production and marketing of different species of ornamental plants, with its sights set on continuing to grow, reach new markets, generate employment, and contribute to the development of the region.

For Esperanza, each plant represents a possibility for growth, not only for her business, but also for the people and communities that can benefit from this project.

In this process, her professional training has played a fundamental role. Studying Business Administration at UCundinamarca has allowed her to understand that her business is much more than an activity she enjoys; it is a company that can be organized, managed, strengthened, and projected into the future. “This venture has allowed me to understand that my plant nursery is not only something I love, but also a business that can learn, be managed, strengthened, and projected into the future,” she expressed.

Support that strengthens entrepreneurship

The growth of Plantaciones La Esperanza has also been accompanied by the work of the Knowledge and Learning Managers of the Business Administration program.

Willian Barón Mojica, Knowledge and Learning Manager and advisor for the entrepreneurial project, explained that the initiative is active and has received ongoing support from the University. “Their projects have been evaluated, they have been helped to develop their business idea, generate market strategies, establish costs, and strengthen different aspects of their business,” he noted. He also highlighted that Esperanza has received guidance on participating in public and private calls for proposals aimed at promoting and creating businesses.

According to Willian, the plant nursery has been in business for several years and has experienced significant growth in its sector, thanks to the ongoing support of the Opportunity Creators program. “This business is viable. The University of Cundinamarca has provided support and guidance for applying to public funding opportunities, and we are currently preparing a business plan for the SENA's Entrepreneurship Fund,” he added.

This process demonstrates how academic training and business orientation can contribute to strengthening business ideas, decision-making, and the projection of ventures with growth potential.

An undertaking that also sows opportunities

For Esperanza, her business represents effort, family, learning, and perseverance. Her plant nursery is the result of a process in which each cultivated plant symbolizes the progress achieved and the new challenges to be faced. “Today I continue planting plants, but I also continue planting opportunities, dreams, and a future; that is perhaps the most beautiful part of my story,” she affirmed.

From her experience as an Opportunity Creator and entrepreneur, Esperanza demonstrates that education, constant work and passion can become tools to promote productive projects with an impact on the territory.

Their story reflects UCundinamarca's purpose of training Opportunity Creators, capable of transforming their knowledge into initiatives that contribute to the economic and social development of their communities, in harmony with the Transmodern Digital Educational Model – MEDIT.

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