Maria de Lourdes "Lulu" Sobrino
|
| |
Founder & CEO Lulu's Dessert Corporation
Maria de Lourdes Sobrino is Founder and CEO of Lulu's Dessert Corporation.Established in 1982, Lulu's Dessert , is ranked among the fastest growing Hispanic owned businesses in the United States. As Jim Hopkins from USA Today wrote she is "the queen of ready-to-eat gelatin and a force in the surging number of Hispanic entrepreneurs."
Born and raised in Mexico City, Ms. Sobrino's first business was in the tourism industry. She later expanded her business to a travel agency, which grew so rapidly that she decided to open an office in Los Angeles. In 1982, Ms. Sobrino had to close her Mexican travel business due to unstable economic conditions in Mexico; however, her entrepreneurial spirit grew stronger and she began to explore other passions and ideas.
Ms. Sobrino came up with the great idea of ready-to-eat gelatin when looking for the popular dessert while living in the U.S. A staple in her native Mexico, the concept was new to the U.S. and a novelty when she introduced it to American grocers in California. Ms. Sobrino recognized a need, filled it and revolutionized the food industry by creating the first-ever ready-to-eat gelatin category, based on her own mother's recipe.
From the initial production of 300 cups of gelatin a day, Lulu's Dessert has overcome many challenges and obstacles to become a leading maker of ready-to-eat desserts.
Ms. Sobrino's leadership also gained her recognition and an invitation to be part of President George W. Bush's, Economic Forum in Waco, Texas to represent "Small Businesses". She lent her expertise to identify obstacles to increase jobs and the economy in America. Ms. Sobrino's business, leadership, community efforts and dedication to supporting entrepreneurs and small businesses have won her much recognition by many corporations and the media.
The Schlesinger Library of the Radcliffe Institute for Advance Study at Harvard University honored Maria De Lourdes Sobrino (Lulu) in the National traveling exhibition that reinterprets the History of American Women and American Business. "Enterprising Women, the Businesswomen of America: 1750-2000" 250 years of History of American Women Entrepreneurs. Among 40 intriguing women who helped shape the landscape of American Business such as: Meg Whitman, Martha Stewart and Oprah Winfrey among others.
Currently, she is on the advisory board for Nawbo-LA, Co-Chair for the (CWBR) Center for Women's Business Research National Symposium, Rancho Santiago Community College Foundation, The Institute of Women Entrepreneurs (IWE) in Orange County, NAFIN (Nacional Financiera an investment bank in Mexico) and Latina Style Magazine in Washington DC. Ms. Sobrino is also a founding member of the Working Families for Wal-Mart (WFMM) steering committee.
In her first book Thriving Latina Entrepreneurs in America she shares her story along with seven other outstanding Latinas and their successes. The book is available through Amazon.com, Borders, Barnes & Noble and other booksellers nationwide.
|
|