Interview with Beatriz Fernandez, interviewed by Andrea Lluch, Bogotá, Colombia

In this interview, Beatriz Fernández, founder and owner of Crepes & Waffles--a high-end restaurant chain in Colombia--narrates the trajectory of her career, explaining how, with little experience, she built a business renowned for both the quality of its products and its attention to social and environmental responsibility. The early years of conceptualizing, running, and growing the business were difficult. Fernández recalls how she and her partner Lalo tinkered with product recipes and experimented with different manners of presentation. From the beginning, Fernández also thought deeply about the kind of corporate culture she wanted to create at her restaurant, and rolled out many initiatives during the first few years. For example, when Fernández discovered that many of her employees could not read or write, she not only strove to help them improve their skills, but also developed a system of communication through symbols that allowed them to work in the meantime. Similarly, Crepes & Waffles implemented a major healthcare initiative for its workers, most of whom previously did not have access to quality clinics and physicians. These and other projects illustrate Fernández's deep