By David Bossman
Midday Rotary has a triple surprise for our members and visitors on Tuesday, April 26. We are planning a panel discussion featuring three prominent women in our business community. The theme is “Women in Business.”
Paulina Gallardo, Francine Llano Lory, and Cynthia Kulander are our featured speakers, each of whom will talk briefly about their business projects in San Miguel de Allende. They will follow up by dialoguing with each other as to how their work has empowered them as women.
Gallardo is the oldest daughter of the well-known Gallardo family, the originators of “San Miguel Shoes.” After the loss of her mother and father during the COVID pandemic, she and her siblings have continued to run the business.
Gallardo leads a very active life, not only as a businesswoman, but also as an elected member of the San Miguel Ayuntamiento (City Council). She is a mother of an 8-year-old daughter, an active sports person–working out at the gym three or four times per week, and has been an active member of the Spanish-speaking Rotary Club for five years.
Interestingly, Paprika Restaurant and Music House originally was opened only as a restaurant more than a decade ago. But after Liano consulted with famed local jazz musician Bobby Kaplan, she knew that the entertainment aspect would be essential for her success. Over the years, Paprika has become associated with some of the finest musicians in town including Gabriel Hernandez, Rick Schlosser, Lady Zen, Hot Tamales, Doug Robinson, and so many others. Liano feels that a key ingredient of her success was the development of “an atmosphere of harmony and intimacy” between the audience and entertainers.
Kulander, the third member of our women’s panel, has a somewhat different perspective. She was born in Detroit, Michigan, but split most of her time raising a family in Sonoma, California and working in business in San Miguel. Her mother opened the first bed and breakfast here in 1958, and beginning in 2010, she became the full time owner of Casa Carmen. Kulander is a dual citizen who always looks for new ways to help empower women.
The 40-minute session will be moderated by David Bossman who hopes to provide some insights into the struggles and successes that these women have faced along the way in a small, but very competitive Latin community.
Join us this Tuesday, April 26, at 9:30am to welcome these remarkable women. To attend in person simply be at the Hotel Real de Minas by 9:30. To attend via Zoom, go to the Midday Rotary Club website at www.rotarysmamidday.org and sign up. You’ll receive an email with instructions on being a part of this week’s meeting.
Rotary is where neighbors, friends, and problem-solvers share ideas, join leaders, and take action to create lasting change. For more information, contact President Skip Essick at skipessickmedia@gmail.com.
Presentation
Midday Rotary Highlights Women in Business
Tues., Apr. 26, 9:30am
Zoom or Hotel Real de las Minas
Ancha de San Antonio 1
Free
