Dr. Claudia Prado-Meza, a scholar specializing in gender, entrepreneurship, and sustainable development, participated in Tulsa Community College’s International Scholar Series. Her research explores how gender, context, and community intersect in shaping women’s business experiences, particularly in Mexico and Latin America.
In an interview with the TCC Connection, Dr. Prado-Meza, a professor of economics at the University of Colima in Mexico, discussed her research journey, the role of support networks, and shared her advice for students interested in advocating for gender equity or starting research in this field.
TCC Connection: What inspired you to focus your research on women entrepreneurs and their challenges?
Dr. Prado-Meza: At first, it wasn’t just about entrepreneurship. I was really interested in food and gender—how families eat together, the rituals around cooking, and how these relate to women’s roles. When I began working in the business department, I started interviewing women involved in food businesses in my hometown, Colima, Mexico. That’s when I realized how food entrepreneurship gives many Mexican women a socially acceptable way to earn income while maintaining traditional gender roles. It became a natural bridge between my academic interests in sociology and my new department’s business focus.
TCC Connection: How do social, cultural, and economic factors influence women’s experiences as entrepreneurs?
Dr. Prado-Meza: Context is critical. Urban women with access to education and strong family support are more likely to build businesses that grow and succeed. But in rural areas, women often juggle multiple roles – working in agriculture, taking care of children, and managing the household – all while trying to earn income. They often face limited institutional support, which impacts their ability to scale or formalize their businesses. If we ignore the broader context, we miss the structural challenges that shape these women’s daily realities.
TCC Connection: Financing is often a major barrier. What strategies or alternatives have women used to address this?
Dr. Prado-Meza: Women face several barriers to accessing formal loans. Many don’t own property, which makes it difficult to provide collateral. Others run informal businesses and lack the paperwork or credit history required. When I spoke with institutions, they were often defensive, insisting men and women have equal access. But in practice, women are more cautious – they ask more questions, worry about repayment, and think about how their families could be impacted.
As a result, many turn to credit cards, microfinance institutions, or community-based financial groups. Since the pandemic, some government loan programs have been reduced or eliminated, making it even harder for small women-led businesses to access funds.
TCC Connection: As students, how can we advocate for change and support women entrepreneurs?
Dr. Prado-Meza: Advocacy begins with awareness. You can’t advocate for what you don’t understand. Institutions should create opportunities to learn about these issues through curriculum, events, and partnerships. It shouldn’t fall solely on students to discover this on their own.
That said, students can take initiative. For example, if you’re assigned to work with a local business for a class project, consider choosing a woman entrepreneur. That experience can give you insight into real-world challenges and solutions. Having those conversations and building relationships is a powerful starting point.
TCC Connection: What advice do you have for students who want to start a research project on this topic?
Dr. Prado-Meza: Start with curiosity. I prefer qualitative methods – talking with people, observing, and listening to their stories. I also follow women-led businesses on Facebook and study how they promote their products and support each other. These platforms are full of insight.
If you’re more data-driven, you can collect and analyze numbers, but you don’t need to begin with statistics. Pay attention to how women talk about their work, how they balance responsibilities, and what challenges or successes they share. Conversations and pattern recognition are a great place to start.
TCC Connection: Your work includes collaboration with researchers from other countries. Did you notice similarities or differences across regions?
Dr. Prado-Meza: One major similarity is the difficulty women face in balancing business responsibilities with family care. Women everywhere have the same 24 hours in a day, but often far more responsibilities. Time poverty is a consistent theme.
Another similarity is the importance of support networks – whether it’s family, friends, professional groups, or local organizations. These networks often make the difference between success and burnout. The context of urban and rural, industry, type, and available resources may differ, but the core challenges and solutions are strikingly similar.
TCC Connection: What future research projects are you planning?
Dr. Prado-Meza: I’m preparing for a sabbatical and want to dive deeper into the role of support networks. I’m curious: Do women consciously build these networks, or do they find them by chance? What makes a support network effective? How do support systems vary by industry, context, or personal background?
I want to explore what women find helpful or unhelpful in these networks and how this influences their long-term success. These questions will guide my upcoming research.
TCC Connection: Finally, what personal advice would you give to anyone looking to make a positive impact in this field?
Dr. Prado-Meza: Care, care about others, about your community, about creating inclusive spaces. That’s what drives my work. I want to build a community, amplify voices that are often ignored, and contribute to something meaningful. If your work is rooted in empathy and a desire to make things better, it will guide you in the right direction – whether you’re a researcher, entrepreneur, or student.
Dr. Prado-Meza’s approach to research and community engagement offers an inspiring model for future leaders, students, and scholars. Her emphasis on context, collaboration, and care reminds us that entrepreneurship is not only about business – it is about building connections, addressing issues, and creating spaces where everyone can thrive.
