{"id":39346,"date":"2024-04-12T23:54:19","date_gmt":"2024-04-12T23:54:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/?p=39346"},"modified":"2025-02-04T02:43:47","modified_gmt":"2025-02-04T02:43:47","slug":"half-moon-empanadas-ceo-pilar-guzman-makes-inc-s-2024-female-founders-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/miamifoundation.org\/news\/half-moon-empanadas-ceo-pilar-guzman-makes-inc-s-2024-female-founders-list\/","title":{"rendered":"Half Moon Empanadas CEO Pilar Guzm\u00e1n Makes Inc.’s 2024 Female Founders List"},"content":{"rendered":"

Inc.\u2019s seventh annual Female Founders list highlights entrepreneurs with world-changing companies<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

MIAMI, APRIL 9, 2024<\/strong> \u2013 We are thrilled to announce that our very own Pilar Guzman, a Miami Foundation trustee and Miami Fellows alumna, was named to Inc. magazine\u2019s seventh annual Female Founders list, which honors 250 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place!<\/p>\n

\"Pilar<\/p>\n

Pilar Guzm\u00e1n, CEO of Miami-based Half Moon Empanadas, the fast-casual establishment renowned for its authentic empanadas that are taking US airports by storm, was named to Inc. magazine\u2019s seventh annual Female Founders list, honoring 250 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better place. The founders on the list cross all industries and bring unique stories of success from each stage of the entrepreneurial journey \u2014 from startup to going public, being acquired by big buyers, or spending decades at the helm of an organization.<\/p>\n

“It’s thrilling to be recognized by Inc. alongside so many inspiring female founders,” Guzm\u00e1n said. “This recognition isn’t just for me. It\u2019s for our entire team, especially the many talented women who have been instrumental in our growth. I hope our journey and this acknowledgment inspires other women to chase their entrepreneurial dreams.”<\/p>\n

Founded in Miami in 2008, Half Moon faced a near-shutdown after their first location struggled. However, under Guzm\u00e1n’s leadership, the company has experienced remarkable growth. They now boast 22 locations nationwide with another six on the way. The expansion has been strategically focused on airports, with 11 existing locations and all six planned ones situated in some of America’s largest airports. In 2023, the company was named to Inc.\u2019s 5000 Fastest Growing Companies in the US.<\/p>\n

Their success, however, goes beyond simply having more stores. They\u2019ve proven their operation is efficient and can work in various formats. The Miami International Airport store holds the title of the #1 best-selling concept per square foot, and the Denver International Airport store has been lauded by airport administration as its top-performing stand-alone kiosk.<\/p>\n

A Mexican-born mother of two with a master\u2019s degree from Georgetown University, Guzm\u00e1n passionately advocates for empowering women and minority entrepreneurs. She has not only built a dedicated staff, predominantly composed of women, but she fosters a culture of aspiration \u2013 encouraging and empowering team members to develop their skills, pursue their passions, and advance within the company. During the pandemic, when Half Moon was forced to close all but one of its stores, she prioritized keeping her staff on payroll, determined they would emerge stronger together.<\/p>\n

Each year, Inc. editors review thousands of applications highlighting female founders who are challenging the status quo and tackling some of the world\u2019s biggest problems. The list features women who have overcome challenges and lifted those around them while leading impactful organizations across the country. Pilar joins the ranks of previous honorees including Jessica Alba, Tracee Ellis Ross, Rihanna, and Shonda Rhimes. To see the complete list, go to: https:\/\/www.inc.com\/female-founders<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Congratulations, Pilar, on this incredible achievement! We are so grateful to have you as a board member. Thank you for building a greater Miami alongside us.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Inc.\u2019s seventh annual Female Founders list highlights entrepreneurs with world-changing companies MIAMI, APRIL 9, 2024 \u2013 We are thrilled to announce that our very own Pilar Guzman, a Miami Foundation trustee and Miami Fellows alumna, was named to Inc. magazine\u2019s seventh annual Female Founders list, which honors 250 women whose innovations and ideas are shaping the world into a better … Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":41257,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"inline_featured_image":false,"footnotes":"","_links_to":"","_links_to_target":""},"categories":[72],"tags":[],"coauthors":[118],"class_list":["post-39346","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news"],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\nHalf Moon Empanadas CEO Pilar Guzm\u00e1n Makes Inc.'s 2024 Female Founders List | The Miami 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