Meet Diana Zapata | Business Woman and Business Advisor

We had the good fortune of connecting with Diana Zapata and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Diana, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
My decision to start my own business was deeply rooted in my love for animals and my commitment to providing exceptional grooming services in a stress-free environment. I wanted to create a place where pets, especially those with special needs like my daughter Alejandra, could receive the best care possible. It’s important to me to not only value and respect special needs individuals like my daughter but also extend that care and consideration to special needs pets. Alongside this, I saw an opportunity to empower women in the industry and create a business that truly cares for both pets and their owners. Pets & Pets embodies these values and aspirations, making it more than just a business for me—it’s a labor of love and a commitment to providing top-quality care for all pets.

What should our readers know about your business?
I’ve had the great opportunity to work for more than 20 years in marketing and sales for different companies, big and small corporations from the USA, France, Germany, and India, in industries as diverse as personal care, pharmaceuticals, livestock, and motorcycles. This mix of experiences has allowed me to develop great skills for finding the key success variables in each market and how to act on them, achieving surprising results in sales and market share. Working with companies from different countries has also honed my ability to understand and navigate cultural differences. I’ve learned to find common ground and leverage cultural nuances to build successful strategies that resonate across borders. This skill has been invaluable in my entrepreneurial journey, allowing me to connect with diverse audiences and create impactful solutions that transcend cultural boundaries

Each of these roles has contributed to the well-rounded executive that I am today and is the foundation of my success as an entrepreneur in Colombia and the USA. This dual view of business, as an employee and as an owner, has been a very important complement that I am sharing with other entrepreneurs who are looking for guidance to start their businesses, they have the energy and ideas but lack the managerial structure for successful business management, or those who want to give a new impetus to the strategic direction of their businesses.

My new professional stage includes giving back through mentoring these entrepreneurs, which not only has the potential to drive the growth and sustainability of these companies but also has a direct impact on improving the quality of life for women entrepreneurs by empowering them economically and fostering gender equality in the business world.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend were visiting the Houston area for a week, I would make sure they experience the best the city has to offer: First day: Exploring the Museum District visiting the Museum of Fine Arts and the Houston Museum of Natural Science. then a walk around Discovery Green and later Dinner in Downtown Houston.
Day 2. Visit Space Center Houston to learn about NASA’s history, and enjoy lunch and amusement park rides at Kemah Boardwalk.
Day 3. Spend a day at the beach on Galveston Island, then explore the historic Strand District for shopping and dining
Day 4. Explore the Houston Zoo, home to over 6,000 animals, and have a picnic in Hermann Park and take a little ride in the train!.
Day 5: Experience the Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo, with live music and rodeo events
Day 6. Shop at The Galleria, one of the largest shopping malls in Texas, and have dinner in one of the many delightful restaurants.
Day 7: go to the tunnels Downtown’s “underground”, then check the water wall, and finally relax at a spa.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to give a shoutout to my daughter Alejandra, who inspires me every day with her strength and resilience. Alejandra has Down syndrome, and her unwavering positivity and joy for life remind me of the importance of embracing diversity and inclusivity. I also want to recognize all the special needs individuals and pets out there who bring so much love and happiness into the world. Your unique qualities deserve recognition and celebration.

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/dnzpt/

Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/in/dianamzapata

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diana.m.zapata.37/