Olga Hurtado's Impact on Spanish-Speaking Entrepreneurs in America

Apr 2, 2025

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So I think that shaped me in the path of understanding the, like, the obstacles that any entrepreneur can face when they have a business and they are not ready for this bad, times. Let's call it that way, because in Colombia we call it the vacas flacas. So it's like the skinny cows. When the skinny cows come, you have to be prepared for that, and we wear it. - Olga Hurtago

We sit down with the incredible Olga Hurtado, founder and CEO of NeatBooks LLC. We talk to Olga about her inspiring journey from Barranquilla, Colombia, to becoming a successful entrepreneur in the United States. Olga shares her remarkable story of overcoming adversity, from her early life in Colombia, where her parents were entrepreneurs, to the challenges she faced when moving to the U.S., including mastering English and raising her twin daughters.

Discover how Olga's experiences shaped her entrepreneurial spirit and led her to empower Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs in South Florida. Her passion for helping small business owners navigate the American dream is evident as she discusses the importance of resilience, her approach to business, and her innovative methods for creating a thriving company even in challenging times.

Here are three empowering takeaways from our conversation:

Resilience in the Face of Adversity: Olga's entrepreneurial spirit was forged early on through her family's challenges in Colombia, teaching her the importance of being prepared for both the peaks and valleys in business.
Pursuing Passion with Purpose: Despite initial setbacks, Olga followed her passion for accounting and finance, leading her to create a successful firm that empowers Spanish-speaking entrepreneurs in South Florida.
The Power of Education and Adaptation: Overcoming language barriers and embracing continuous learning were pivotal in Olga’s journey, enabling her to connect with a broader clientele and make a significant impact.

This episode is brought to you by PureTax, LLC. Tax preparation services without the pressure. When all you need is to get your tax return done, take the stress out of tax season by working with a firm that has simplified the process and the pricing. Find out more about how we started.

Empowering Moments

04:51 "Overcoming Family Crisis Challenges"

06:31 Fractured Skull Recovery Journey

10:56 Balancing Education, Entrepreneurship, and Motherhood

15:17 "Entrepreneurship: A One-Way Journey"

18:07 Struggles with English in Colombia

19:59 Pursuing Independence and Helping Others

23:07 Beyond Accounting: Multifaceted Roles

29:31 Opportunity in America: A Privilege

32:32 Launching a Business with Purpose

33:32 Building Business Growth Through Structure

36:38 Entrepreneurial Decision-Making Struggles

40:52 Entrepreneurship's Endless Journey

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Glenn Harper, CPA, is the Owner and Managing Partner of Harper & Company CPAs Plus, a top 10 Managing Partner in the country (Accounting Today's 2022 MP Elite). His firm won the 2021 Luca Award for Firm of the Year.

An entrepreneur and speaker, Glenn transformed his firm into an advisory-focused practice, doubling revenue and profit in two years. He teaches entrepreneurs to build financial and operational excellence, speaks nationwide to CPA firm owners about running their businesses like entrepreneurs, and consults with firms across the country. Glenn enjoys golfing, fishing, hiking, cooking, and spending time with his family.

Julie Smith, MBA, is a serial entrepreneur in the public accounting space. She is the Founder of EmpowerCPA™, Founder of PureTax, LLC, COO for Harper & Company CPAs Plus, and Co-host of the Empowering Entrepreneurs podcast.

Named CPA.com's 2021 Innovative Practitioner of Year, Julie led Harper & Company's transition to an advisory-focused firm, doubling revenue and profit in two years. She now empowers other CPA firm owners nationwide through consulting and speaking, teaching them how to run their businesses like entrepreneurs. Julie lives in Columbus, OH with her family and enjoys travel, coaching basketball, sporting events, and the occasional shopping spree.

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