Deisy Gatón

Colombian entrepreneur empowering marginalized women through beauty and entrepreneurship

Deisy Gatón is a Colombian social entrepreneur who founded CasaLinda, an organization transforming lives through beauty education and micro-enterprise opportunities. Born in a low-income family, Gatón overcame domestic violence and poverty to create a platform offering free training in cosmetology, business management, and leadership. By 2019, CasaLinda had trained over 10,000 women, 70% of whom became self-sufficient entrepreneurs. Gatón’s model emphasizes economic empowerment, reducing gender inequality and poverty in regions like Medellín. Her work was featured in World Economic Forum and inspired similar programs across Latin America. Gatón advocates for systemic change through beauty as a tool for social mobility, earning her the Schwab Foundation Social Entrepreneur of the Year (2018).