Innovative Woman Judy Camarena

Meet Innovative Woman Judy Camarena, owner of  Taquerias Arandas.

1. How/why did you begin your business?
My father started the business in 1981, but I took over the franchise in 2007. I started sitting in on owners meetings and then began taking on more and more responsibility until I was running the meetings. The staff and the owners were calling me the boss before I even was the boss. Finally, my father realized I was running the franchise and formally gave me the reins.

2. What has been your biggest challenge and how did you overcome it?
The biggest challenge was learning how to run a franchise. No one trained me or told me what I was supposed to be doing, so it was really baptism by fire. I just kept fearlessly trying new things in an effort to improve the franchise.

3. How do you define SUCCESS?
In business, people are quick to define success as something quantitative that can be analyzed and compared against metrics. Success to me is bringing value to someone’s life and making his or her life better — whether that’s an employee, a customer or a stranger.

4. If there was one thing you wish you knew before you began your business, what would that be?
I wish I had known how difficult it can be to unify a group comprising more than 30 restaurants. I am extremely passionate about my business and sometimes it can be a challenge to motivate people to feel as passionate as I do.

5. What makes you an innovative woman?
I’m willing to take risks and shake things up. I’m not afraid of change and see the challenge of dealing with change as an opportunity to make things better.

For more information about Judy visit www.taqueriasarandas.com.