Irma Ramirez-Helguero

Backed by nearly 30 years of professional experience, Irma Virginia Ramirez-Halguero has excelled in leadership roles across numerous industries—from financial planning to accounting to insurance investments. Since 1995, she has excelled as the President and Chief Executive Officer of Women for Success, Inc./Mujeres al Éxito Inc.—through which she endeavors to empower women globally to achieve their goals and become successful entrepreneurs; she has successfully guided business owners, aided in the establishment of their ventures, and launched accounting firms from the ground up. Her organization not only assists women but also those in the Hispanic community—seeking to address the challenges they face due to language barriers and undocumented statuses and create opportunities for empowerment and fair treatment.

Ms. Ramirez-Halguero remarkable and accomplished career has been steered by perseverance and steadfast faith: she immigrated to the United States from South America when she was 17. Striving to establish herself independently, she earned a diploma in accounting from Cannon’s Business College in Hawaii in 1982. She encountered numerous obstacles over the course of her journey toward entrepreneurial success—all of which served as catalysts for her mission to alleviate the struggles of other women trying to achieve their goals. She has owned a dance studio in Hawaii, a modeling studio in Philadelphia, and a marketing company, and serves as the owner of Condor Executive International Travel and Tours.  She has also found success as the owner, accountant, and bookkeeper of VR Financial Services from 1989 to 2010.

As an extension of her numerous roles, Ms. Ramirez-Halguero has extended her experience and entrepreneurship to several others as a mentor. She has specifically transformed the trajectory of a young Hispanic woman’s career—through intensive training, she not only honed the woman’s English proficiency but also instilled vital business management skills. Now, that once-aspiring individual is a thriving manager at a prominent travel agency in Hawaii, underscoring the profound impact of her superb coaching skills. In addition, she founded the Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Hawaii—and contributes as a treasurer of $15,000 in savings for a Hispanic college scholarship fund—and hosted and produced the television show “Empower Women,” a showcase of interviews with numerous successful women entrepreneurs that aired in Honolulu from 1990 to 2021.

Looking toward the future, Ms. Ramirez-Halguero has outlined a gradual shift from her current financial planning and insurance career, focusing predominantly on delivering consultative accounting and taxation services, coupled with an increased focus on extensive travel experiences. She also intends to expand Women for Success and continue fostering financial success for others and spiritual well-being. In addition to her notable career achievements, she has been proud of being a single parent of two sons and creating a meaningful legacy for them.