Company: Consorcio Nobis, Guayaquil, Ecuador
Entry Submitted By: Newlink Group
Company Description: Consorcio Nobis is an Ecuadorian business conglomerate comprised of leading companies in the agribusiness, tourism, health, trade and real estate sectors. Formed in 1997, the consortium directly employs 8,000, and is headed by Isabel Noboa de Loor
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Female Entrepreneur of the Year in Mexico, Central & South America

Nomination Title: Isabel Noboa de Loor. CEO

Describe for the judges the activities and accomplishments of the nominated entrepreneur since the beginning of July last year (up to 500 words):

Innovation, inclusion and development are the principles that guide ISABEL NOBOA, one of the most respected entrepreneurs in Latin America. As CEO of Consorcio Nobis, Noboa has headed successful ventures, making a positive impact on the economic progress of Ecuador and the region.

When Mrs. Noboa, assumed the leadership role at her late father’s companies, many thought she would fail. At that time, women business leaders in Ecuador were almost non-existent, particularly in traditionally male fields such as agribusiness, real estate development and energy. However, through staunch will, creative solutions, the ability to recruit and retain top-notch talent and a personality that can win anyone over, she proved them wrong. She grew the business 20% by implementing an innovative diversification strategy that has Nobis operating throughout the country – generating development clusters outside of Guayaquil-- and looking at expanding internationally.

What really differentiates Consorcio Nobis is Noboa’s deep-seated philosophy that one’s business must benefit the communities around it. That is why all of Nobis’ companies seek to generate added value for all parties involved:employees, shareholders, suppliers, customers and the community.

A good example is Nobis’ venture Medimás, a low-cost healthcare option for underprivileged families and the uninsured, which provides state-of-the-art ambulatory hospital care with favorable payment options.

Under Isabel's leadership, Consorcio Nobis has also expanded to invest in green energy projects such as Ecoelectric, an ambitious co-generation project that has received the ISO certification for quality management systems and uses sugar cane byproducts from Azucarera Valdez, the group’s sugar company.

A key component of Consorcio Nobis is its CSR endeavors, which are channeled through Nobis Foundation, Luis A. Naranjo Foundation and Ecuador Triunfador, a program that seeks to instill and promote values amongst college students. The foundations’ work benefits more than 10,000 people through health, education, housing, entrepreneurship, and child development programs.

The promotion and empowerment of women has been dear to Mrs. Noboa’s heart for many years. In her early 20’s, she founded an organization to provide free adoption services in Ecuador. Nowadays she promotes and supports the role of female entrepreneurs in the socioeconomic development of their communities and is often invited to lecture on the challenges that women face in the region. As part of her social awareness campaign, she launched her blog Espacio Emprendedoras.

Her contributions in business and society have earned her many awards and recognitions. She was named president for Ecuador’s National Competitiveness Council, with the rank of Minister of State, and has been selected as Ecuador’s most respected business leader for 2 consecutive years by Vistazo Magazine, Líderes publication and El Comercio newspaper.

El Mercurio (Chile), El Tiempo (Colombia), America Economia, CNN en Español, and many other panregional media have also highlighted Noboa as one of the top entrepreneurs in LatAm.

Concerned about the future of her country Ecuador, and determined to continue innovating and adding value in the business world, she is always ready to confront new challenges that will benefit her companies, their employees and the people of Ecuador.

Provide a brief biography of the nominated entrepreneur (up to 100 words):

Isabel Noboa is the CEO of Consorcio Nobis, an Ecuadorian business conglomerate that actively participates in several industries and greatly contributes to the economic advancement of the country. Since her early age Mrs. Noboa has had a strong commitment to the social development of local communities and thus has heavily invested in many social programs, partnering with intergovernmental organizations, the private sector and international NGOs to positively reach and influence families in Ecuador. She is also a strong advocate for female entrepreneurship in the region and delivers her message from her blog and the many speaking opportunities she participates in.