Friday 09-05-2025 - 10:19

Traditionally, when we thought about the term entrepreneurship, our minds would be drawn to images of cash-hungry young Stanford dropouts and rich old investors throwing money at any idea with enough buzzwords. While it is true that many entrepreneurs still care about the bottom line, our understanding of enterprise has developed enough since Silicon Valley’s heyday for us to see that even a charitable non-profit or a community interest company (CIC) can be powered by entrepreneurship.

Rather than unheard of, social enterprise is now a much coveted, well-respected subgenre of the entrepreneurial ecosystem. To find out more about the challenges and values associated with driving the growth of a non-profit venture alongside studying a degree, I spoke to psychology PhD candidate Gaby Sanz about her organisation, Ser Azul es Emprender, which she has managed since 2017. Ser Azul es Emprender utilises occupational workshops and forms of transitional therapy to help foster self-sufficiency and empowerment in young people with autism.

 

You often find that non-profit organisations take root in the founder’s personal values and experiences. What inspired you to launch Ser Azul es Emprender?

The inspiration for Ser Azul es Emprender came from a deeply personal place. Having two nephews with autism, I witnessed firsthand the challenges faced by families dealing with autism spectrum disorders. This personal experience opened my eyes to the significant need for autism services in my home country, Peru. The catalyst for turning this awareness into action was my participation in the YLAI scholarship program in 2017, sponsored by the U.S. Department of State. This opportunity allowed me to live and work with a nonprofit in the United States, which was closely aligned with my project idea. Upon returning to Peru, I was motivated to transform this concept into reality, leading to the establishment of Ser Azul es Emprender.

 

What's your favourite success story of an individual who's benefited from your organisation?

One of our most rewarding stories comes from a family who had always struggled to go out with their autistic child. The child couldn't cope with waiting times at restaurants, which limited their family outings. After participating in our programs, the parents approached us with exciting news. They shared that they can now take their child out to eat as the child is more willing to wait for their dish and can tolerate social environments. The family now enjoys being together and experiencing outdoor activities, something they didn't experience before coming to our programs. This testimony was incredibly motivating for us, as it made us realise that our work was truly changing lives and creating wholesome family experiences.

 

Non-profits and social enterprises are often even more difficult to manage than standard businesses, at least in my experience. What has been your biggest challenge so far?

One of our most significant challenges was navigating the COVID-19 pandemic. The nature of our work requires personal interaction with children and families, which became impossible during lockdowns. In 2020, we had to suspend our in-person programs to protect our children and families. This forced us to quickly adapt and find new ways to stay connected with our community while still providing support. It tested our resilience and creativity, pushing us to explore alternative methods of delivering our services and maintaining engagement with our beneficiaries.

 

Measuring success can be tricky in a nonprofit, in the fact that it is measured by impact rather than pure financial data. How do you measure Ser Azul es Emprender's impact?

We measure our impact by looking at the holistic changes in the lives of not just our direct beneficiaries - the children with autism - but also their families, caregivers, siblings, and even friends. Our success is reflected in the improved quality of life for these children, their increased independence, and better integration into society. We also consider the positive changes in family dynamics, the empowerment of caregivers, and the increased awareness and acceptance of autism in the communities we serve. While these impacts can be challenging to quantify, we use a combination of qualitative feedback from families and quantitative assessments of the children's progress to gauge our effectiveness.

 

What advice would you give to other entrepreneurs whose goal is to make a social impact?

My advice is to find a mentor. It's important to learn from someone who is more experienced than you, someone who can provide guidance and advice. I found my mentor in 2017 during my YLAI scholarship, and we've been working together ever since. She supported me through my Master's application and my journey as an international student. Now, she's even part of my supervisory team as one of my external supervisors for my PhD.

Also, always remember why you started doing this in the first place. This journey can be difficult at times, but if you're clear about your objectives, it helps you stay focused and motivated. Keeping your initial purpose in mind gives meaning to what you're doing, even during challenging periods.

 

How do you stay motivated through challenging periods?

The motivation to continue our work, even through challenging times, comes from witnessing the positive changes we bring to our beneficiaries' lives. As founders, my sister and I work on a volunteer basis, receiving no financial compensation. However, the reward we get is far more valuable - seeing the transformative impact of our work not just on the children we serve, but on their entire support network. This ripple effect of positive change in families and communities is what drives us forward, even when faced with obstacles.

 

In an ideal world, where would Ser Azul es Emprender be in 3 years?

In an ideal world, in three years, I envision Ser Azul es Emprender expanding its reach significantly. We would open new centres in Arequipa and Lima, broadening our impact within Peru. Additionally, we're exploring the possibility of international expansion, specifically to Chile, a neighbouring country. I've recently reconnected with a YLAI alumna who is interested in our work in Peru and believes there's potential for a partnership to establish a branch of Ser Azul es Emprender in Chile. This expansion would allow us to share our expertise and support more families affected by autism across South America.

 

How do you make sure your programs stay relevant, keeping up with industry trends and technological changes?

To ensure our programs stay relevant and up to date with industry trends and technological changes, I continuously find opportunities such as scholarships or GTA schemes to fund my own education and research. This commitment to ongoing learning directly informs and enhances the services we provide at Ser Azul es Emprender.

In 2020, I completed a Master's degree in Autism Spectrum Disorders from Queen's University Belfast, graduating with commendation. This advanced study significantly deepened my understanding of autism and current best practices in support and intervention.

Currently, I'm in the third year of my PhD in Health, focusing on supporting the wellbeing of caregivers of autistic individuals with learning difficulties. This research has been instrumental in shaping our approach to family support. We've recognized that the mental wellbeing of caregivers is crucial and can significantly impact the lives of autistic individuals.

Based on my research and training, we've implemented evidence-based interventions using Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT) and peer support models for caregivers of autistic individuals in Peru. We also stay current by attending conferences, participating in professional development workshops, and collaborating with other organizations in the field.

 

What are some of the upcoming Ser Azul es Emprender events or programs you're most excited about?

We are currently in an exciting phase of potential growth for Ser Azul es Emprender. Our focus is on moving to new settings where we can implement more spaces for our children and teenagers. This expansion would allow us to enhance our programs and accommodate more beneficiaries. However, this move implies additional costs, so we are still in conversations with potential donors to make this a reality. While we're eager to make this transition, we're carefully navigating the financial aspects to ensure sustainability in our growth.

 

Have partnerships and collaborations played a role in your strategy? How do you foster these connections?

 Partnerships and collaborations have been crucial to our strategy. Our initial connection with a U.S. nonprofit through the YLAI program was instrumental in shaping our approach. We continue to foster connections with other organizations, volunteers, and donors who share our vision. These partnerships not only provide resources but also bring in diverse perspectives and expertise that enhance our programs. We nurture these relationships through regular communication, shared goals, and by demonstrating the impact of our collaborative efforts.

If you want to learn more about Gaby Sanz’s journey, you can find her on LinkedIn here. You can find the organisation’s website here.

 

As Gaby said, mentorship can be vital in the development of your non-profit or social enterprise. We are lucky, as a university, in the fact that we have a number of excellent programmes that can offer you advice and mentorship. Via the careers team, you can access Edge Hill Entrepreneurs, an initiative that provides mentorship and support to students looking at getting into business or self-employment – which does include social enterprise and non-profit business. Running a non-profit organisation is a feasible career path like any other, and you can make a living doing so.

The newly rebranded Business & Entrepreneurship Society (formerly Business Society) has also introduced a mentorship programme, and many of the partner organisations and involved lecturers have a focus on social entrepreneurship.

Have you got your own business or side hustle? Want to be featured on EHSU’s Start Up Stories series? Contact sucomms@edgehill.ac.uk with your business and your name, and we’ll set up an interview. What’s your story?