Esperanza Dionisio Castillo served as the General Manager of the Pangoa Coffee Cooperative in Peru’s Selva Central for over 20 years, becoming the first woman to lead a cooperative in Peru. A true pioneer, Esperanza was among the first women accepted into Peru’s national agricultural university in 1967 and joined CAC Pangoa in 1977, where she was the only woman among 60 agricultural engineers. During her tenure, she became a powerful advocate for gender equity and women’s leadership in the male-dominated coffee industry. Esperanza spearheaded the “School for Leaders” initiative, a program designed to empower youth and women in partnership with Cafédirect. Launched in 2009, this initiative was scaled in collaboration with Pangoa, Esperanza, and Producers Direct to support the next generation of farmers and leaders. Though she stepped down from her role at Pangoa in recent years, her influence remains strong. A long-time supporter of Producers Direct’s farmer-led model, Esperanza has worked closely with the organization since its founding in 2009. She officially joined the board in June 2024, bringing her wealth of experience and her reputation as a dynamic speaker and advocate. Her deep commitment to empowering women and youth continues to make her a vital voice in the agricultural sector and a valued leader at Producers Direct.
