Upon meeting Isabel Coj Cortez, one might easily conclude that she is the most eligible bachelorette in Sololá, Guatemala. As the confident owner of a very successful business at age 22, her well-stocked and neatly organized corner grocery is a testament to her entrepreneurship and determination.

After working for seven years as an employee in another store, Isabel decided she would use the business skills she learned there to open her own shop. While she started her store five years ago, for the first few years her inventory was often low, which limited her sales. Two years ago, after learning about the opportunity for microcredit from a friend, Isabel turned to a Global Partnerships microfinance partner, Génesis, for a loan to help her expand her inventory and strengthen her business. With a loan of $900, she was able to create a well-stocked store that now attracts a faithful clientele. In addition, she is able to help support her parents with the profits from her business. Isabel enjoys the work that she does, and while she currently rents her retail location, her dream is to use a future loan along with savings from her business to one day own her own space.