Entrepreneur & Mom Pilar Guzmán on Pursuing Her Dreams After Almost Going Bankrupt

In CafeMom’s monthly series, Work It, Mama, powerful moms detail how they navigate their professions and home life.

Whether it's starting a business, selling homemade crochet animals, performing in a play, or training for a 10km race, we all have dreams. Before kids, it seemed possible to chase them. But then motherhood hits. You wake up on the wrong side of the bed. Your preschooler is rubbing Vaseline on his face and your tween is screaming about not finding her favorite shirt. It's hard to think about those dusty dreams.

Pilar Guzmán is a mother of two who didn't just dream but had the guts to pursue her dreams and beyond. She is the CEO and co-founder of Half Moon Empanadas, a leading fast-casual establishment renowned for its authentic empanadas.

With 22 locations across the nation and six more in development, Pilar's Miami-based company is a huge success. CafeMom spoke with Pilar about her personal triumph, the strength of a mother's spirit, and why she's determined to empower women and to inspire mothers to pursue their dreams regardless of the challenges they face.

Starting Half Moon Empanadas: 'It was about empowering women.'

For Pilar, entrepreneurship wasn't exactly on her original life plan. Her sights were set on changing the world through policy work, tackling those big issues of inequality and justice. It was a passion that led her to the Knight Foundation, where she dove into some amazing projects and learned a ton. Life, however, is a funny thing.

Pilar's journey to becoming an entrepreneur is deeply intertwined with the story of Half Moon Empanadas. It was a venture that began with her business partner, Juan Zavala. Juan was inspired by a desire to share a piece of his homeland, Argentina, with the United States.

"The rich flavors and cultural heritage encapsulated in Argentinian empanadas became the cornerstone of the business, aiming to bring a unique culinary experience to our customers," Pilar says.

When Juan approached her about joining Half Moon Empanadas, she saw a different kind of impact waiting to happen, just as powerful. This wasn't just about serving up delicious food; it was about empowering women. As a woman entrepreneur, Pilar wanted to inspire others to chase their business dreams. Creating a supportive space where women could flourish and develop their skills became a huge part of why she jumped onboard.

"At Half Moon, we've built a great team, mostly made up of amazing women! We push each other to grow, explore our passions, and climb the ladder within the company," Pilar tells us. "It's not just about expanding the business, it's about making a positive ripple effect in our community, and maybe even the world."

Ditching mom guilt is a state of mind, she says: 'Embrace the beautiful mess of it all!'

We asked Pilar to talk about balancing Half Moon and being a mom. She shares that one of her biggest breakthroughs was realizing the whole "perfect balance" thing is a myth. There are days when Half Moon needs her to be laser-focused and other days when her family needs a superhero mom.

"This shift in perspective totally changed the game. It helped me ditch the guilt trips that came with trying to be everything at once," she tells CafeMom. "Now, I'm OK with giving one area a bit more attention when needed. It's all about navigating the crazy with more self-compassion, right?"

Pilar adds that building a rock star support team is a lifesaver. From friends and family to awesome colleagues, she leans on whoever she can count on. Having those people when things get hectic makes all the difference. They help lighten the load and keep her from feeling like she's about to implode.

"The bottom line? Embrace the beautiful mess of it all! There's no such thing as perfect balance, but with the right perspective and a fantastic support system, you can totally rock both motherhood and Half Moon Empanadas," Pilar says.

Pilar's challenges included facing constant rejection and almost going bankrupt.

We asked Pilar to share some of the biggest challenges she's faced as an entrepreneur and how she overcame them. She tells CafeMom that building Half Moon Empanadas wasn't a walk in the park.

"We faced serious challenges, from almost going bankrupt to getting rejected constantly. The first few years were a struggle for survival. We hustled hard and never gave up, which eventually led us to a golden opportunity: non-traditional retail spaces like kiosks on university campuses and airports," she says. "Today, this strategy is at the core of our success."

Pilar explains that one of the biggest hurdles was the constant stream of "no's." Banks wouldn't lend them money and landlords wouldn't let them try new locations. It seemed like every avenue they explored was met with rejection. They even had a contract for a prime location at Miami International Airport, but 10 banks in a row denied their loan request.

Finally, a mentor connected her with someone at a local bank who approved the loan on the spot. These experiences were tough, but they built incredible resilience in her and the team.

Once they achieved financial stability, a new challenge arose: building a strong staff. Although fostering talent is one of Pilar's passions, it's also very challenging. She shares that the company has made some fantastic hires, people of whom she's incredibly proud; however, there also were missteps along the way – and that's all part of the learning process.

"At the end of the day, I view challenges as opportunities to grow. We can choose to run away or face them head-on, learn from them, and emerge stronger," she tells CafeMom. "By putting in the hard work and pushing through tough times, we build something truly special. This applies not only to businesses but also to our personal lives."

Her business and family support teams are Invaluable.

Pilar emphasizes that her strong support system in managing both her business and family life cannot be overstated. They have truly been keys to her success. 

"Balancing the demands of running Half Moon Empanadas with my responsibilities as a mother is no small feat, and having the right support makes all the difference," Pilar says.

At the office, she's fortunate to have an incredible team she can rely on. Its members' dedication and ability to handle the day-to-day operations allow her the flexibility to step away when she needs to be with her family.

"Knowing that my business is in capable hands gives me peace of mind and the freedom to focus on my family without constant worry," Pilar shares.

Pilar says the support system she has at home is equally important. From someone helping with cooking and cleaning to assisting with the kids, having this network in place has been invaluable.

"This home support not only lightens the load but also enables me to be more involved with my business. It creates a balance where I can give my best to both my family and my work without feeling overwhelmed," she tells CafeMom.

Pilar on taking care of herself: 'The magic ingredient we all need.'

Pilar says that for moms and business owners, self-care is basically the magic ingredient we all need.

"It took me a while to truly get it, but here's what I know for sure: If we're running on fumes, there's no way we can be the superheroes our families and businesses need us to be. Taking care of ourselves is like putting on our own oxygen mask first – you have to do it to effectively support everyone else!" Pilar explains.

Pilar shared the key things that keep her going:

• Meditation: This is Pilar's daily dose of calm amidst the crazy. It helps her center herself and stay chill, even when things are bananas.
• Exercise: Working out keeps Pilar's energy levels up and makes her feel strong and capable, ready to tackle whatever comes her way.
• Eating healthy: She prioritizes fueling her body and mind with good food is key. It gives her the power to crush each day!
• Amazing coach: Pilar's coach helps keep her mental and spiritual health in check. She shared that her coach's guidance is like a magic shield protecting her, keeping her grounded and focused.
• Mentors: Pilar's secret weapons against self-doubt are her mentors. When rejections hit, having their voices whispering "You can do this!" keep her pushing forward.

"Do what you love — and surround yourself with love. Carve out time to focus on the things that bring you joy, the people who fill your life — friends, family, or whoever matters most," she advises. "Be true to yourself and the things you love. For me, that means incorporating dance, singing, or design into each day. It's about staying connected to the things that spark your fire!"

Pilar has big dreams for herself, Half Moon, family, and all women.

Pilar has big dreams, both for Half Moon Empanadas and her family. She dreams of a better world for her children and envisions Half Moon Empanadas creating a new food category in America.

"I hope that women everywhere see in me and Half Moon Empanadas as an example that when you dream big, you can achieve it. I want women and my children to imagine a world without limits," she tells CafeMom. "When you love what you do, work really hard, and have a true purpose, the sky is the limit."

She also dreams of creating a special fund to support female entrepreneurs. She explains that this fund would provide not only money but also coaching to help these incredible women navigate the challenges of starting and growing a business. It's Pilar's way of giving back, ensuring that more women have the resources and support they need to achieve their goals. She dreams that all women, including her daughter, believe in themselves and start seeing themselves for who they truly are.

"Women can lead with their hearts, embrace others, and create support systems that impact not only families but also communities. We must see our value in this world. Finding that sweet spot between work and life is an ongoing journey," she says. "It's important to be compassionate with ourselves. Managing both motherhood and entrepreneurship is really hard. When we feel overwhelmed, we need to remind ourselves to be compassionate, to reach out to our support system, and to believe in ourselves. It's a beautiful journey, and I can't wait to see where it takes us all!"