Mamita’s Ices on What It Means to Be a Women-Led Business
At Mamita’s Ices, we’re incredibly proud to be a business built and led by strong women, with a long history of perseverance and generations of hardworking women paving the way. To us, being women-led is about more than a title — it’s about family, tradition, and the legacy of showing up every day to build something that lasts.
With March being Women’s History Month, we wanted to take a moment to reflect on what it truly means to be a women-owned and operated business, and the impact it has on all of us — our team, our families, and the next generation of entrepreneurs watching and learning.
A LEGACY ROOTED IN FAMILY
Long before Mamita’s Ices became the brand it is today, there was Mamita herself, Rosa Herrera. A strong, determined woman who raised nine children on her own in the Dominican Republic, Mamita didn’t just provide for her family; she built the foundation for everything we stand for today.
Her strength carried through generations. When her daughter Juana moved to New York, she brought that same resilience with her, passing down the values of hard work, family, and perseverance. What started as a small, homegrown venture (handcrafting ices in a Bronx kitchen) eventually grew into a successful business with a bright future. Estamos muy agradecidos.
EMPOWERMENT THROUGH LEADERSHIP
One of the most rewarding parts of being a women-led company is the sense of empowerment it brings… not just for us, but for other women and everyone around us.
“Working in a women-owned business is more than just a job; it’s a masterclass in resilience, passion, and the power of women supporting women. Every day, I witness firsthand the strength it takes to build something from the ground up and the heart it takes to make it thrive.”
— Natalie L Ramones, Director of Operations
For those of us who grew up in this business, it’s more than a career. It’s a lifelong lesson in perseverance and possibility…
“One of the most inspirational parts of my life has been growing up in a family business created by strong women, paving the way to success and empowerment for our generation and the next ones to come.” — Ana Karen Morel, Operations Manager
“Being a woman that works for a women-owned business is both empowering and rewarding. Knowing that the women that created this multimillion-dollar company are my mom and aunts is a feeling that is indescribable. I am forever in awe of them and their hard work, and I hope that I could emulate them and be at least half as strong as them.” — Susan Guzman, Senior Buyer
THE POWER OF WOMEN IN BUSINESS
The food and beverage industry has historically seen a disparity in leadership roles. While women held 56% of jobs in the industry in 2019, they represented only about 18% of C-suite executives. This gap speaks to the challenges women face in achieving leadership positions.
At Mamita’s Ices, we address this imbalance within our own company by fostering an environment where women (and all people) can thrive in any role, including leadership. And it’s not just women on our team who recognize the importance of this:
“Women always were at a disadvantage to men in the workforce. However, with the changing work environments, women-owned companies are growing at a significant pace. As a man, working for a women-owned company, I feel honored to bring my experience and skills to help these entrepreneurs achieve their goals and to be successful.” — Dave Budhram, Financial Controller
“Being a women-led business symbolizes independence and empowerment for me. In an industry dominated by men, it requires fearlessness. It’s important to show future generations that with determination and passion, any challenge life presents can be overcome.” — Nicole Guzman, Customer Relations
LEADING THE WAY FOR FUTURE GENERATIONS
Being women-led means creating opportunities that last beyond our own generation. The young girls watching today will become the leaders of tomorrow, learning from the example we set. Determination and a vision can turn any dream into reality. It did for us, and now we get to do this for the women who came before us, the women beside us, and the women yet to come.
Happy Women’s History Month from all of us at Mamita’s Ices.
Feliz Mes de la Historia de la Mujer de parte de todos nosotros en Mamita’s Ices.