Below is an excerpt of Laura Esnaola’s exclusive interaction with The Global Women Leader magazine.

Take us through the formative years of your life. What were some key early influences in life that shaped you as an individual?

A pivotal moment in my formative years was at 14, during a family trip to rural Peru to rebuild schools. Witnessing women laboring tirelessly in fields left a deep impression on me. I promised myself to create meaningful opportunities for those who deserved better, a commitment that still drives me today. Later, my encounter with Sheila Marcelo, founder of Care.com, profoundly shaped my perspective. Her ability to blend business success with social impact inspired me to see how industries can empower individuals, particularly women, through equitable opportunities.

Music also played a critical role in my upbringing. Years of disciplined practice and collaborative performance instilled resilience, adaptability, and teamwork, which are values that continue to guide my leadership approach.

Tell us about your decade-long professional journey in the European and US business markets. What are the key areas of expertise that you have developed over the last two decades?

My decade-long professional journey in Europe and the U.S. has been defined by launching and scaling ventures across over 25 countries, refining my expertise in international business and cross-border expansion. I’ve developed a keen ability to negotiate globally, driving growth as a collaborative effort across diverse markets. Central to my work has been creating opportunities, whether empowering caregivers through platforms like care.com, connecting skilled nurses with dignified roles across borders through CWC, or launching a training program with Rescue.org to help refugee women enter the labor market. This passion extends to improving ecosystems, such as enhancing healthcare systems in Germany or reimagining childcare in the U.S., by fostering systemic change within industries.

Equally, I’ve prioritized cultivating strong teams and fostering a robust company culture. I believe a thriving team is the cornerstone of sustained business success.

What led you to establish CWC? What is the underlying idea behind the venture and its key areas of expertise?

Care With Care (CWC) was founded in 2020, alongside my co-founder, friend, and mentor Dr Steffen Zoller, after almost 8 years of crafting the foundation for this business. The idea was driven by a pressing need to address the healthcare staffing crisis in Germany, which faces a shortage of nearly half a million professionals. My experiences, particularly at Care.com, highlighted a stark contrast. While some regions faced a surplus of qualified nurses often working outside their trained professions, others suffered debilitating shortages. Our solution to bridge this gap is to offer a tech-driven, transparent platform that empowers healthcare professionals to explore international opportunities. Our mission was twofold, ensuring workers secure dignified jobs with fair conditions and facilitating their seamless integration into new environments.

By prioritizing transparency in cross-border labor mobility, companies can protect workers and foster global workforce equity. While our initial focus was healthcare, the platform's principles can extend to any profession, underscoring how ethical recruitment and transformative systems improve labor markets worldwide.

During our VC fundraising to scale the venture, we were approached by a Japanese conglomerate eager to invest in our company’s long-term vision, which ultimately led to us selling the company. Although we were initially not planning to sell, my co-founder and I decided that selling our start-up to such a powerful and global company would offer the best long-term prospects for CWC’s growth and impact. What I learned is that, as a leader, you need to recognize when it is time to step away, even if it is earlier than you had intended.

You are currently working towards growing a new orchestra in Brussels. Can you tell us more about this endeavour?

I’m deeply involved in growing the Brussels Chamber Ensemble, a remarkable orchestra in Brussels, founded by three passionate lawyers from the European Commission namely Clio Zois, Ina Söderlund and Despoina Kornilaki. What began as my role as a musician quickly expanded as I saw the potential to professionalize and scale this vibrant ensemble. Now a board member, I have come to realize how similar it is to running a start-up. I focus on operational excellence, fundraising, and helping

the orchestra attract and retain incredible talent. With concerts tied to the European presidency, we celebrate Europe’s diverse cultures through music, blending professional musicians and passionate amateurs. The standing ovations we receive and the unity we foster through music make this endeavor both fulfilling and inspiring.

Another one of your focus is building training programs for un/underemployed people in Germany to help them find stable jobs. What motivated you to focus on job creation? What has been your modus operandi for building the aforementioned training programs?

My motivation for creating training programs stems from a lifelong belief that everyone deserves access to meaningful, well-paying jobs. This conviction took root during my experience in Peru, witnessing hardworking individuals with limited opportunities. Many people lack the networks or resources to thrive professionally, and I aim to bridge that gap.

In Germany, my team and I established a government-certified organization, the Future Job Institute, focused on equipping un/underemployed individuals with future-proof skills. Our programs target high-demand fields like green energy and blue collar professions, ensuring participants are prepared for sustainable, impactful careers. Beyond business, our mission is about transforming lives, fostering pride, and empowering individuals to provide for their families while solving global challenges through dignified employment opportunities.

What are the major challenges you have encountered in your role as CO / Founder? How do you overcome the said roadblocks?

I have realized that the major challenges of a leader are the same across industries and types of organizations. They fall into three key areas, namely financial sustainability, innovation, and team management. Ensuring we don’t run out of resources is critical, meticulously managing finances and securing funding keeps us on track. Staying relevant through constant innovation and awareness of industry trends is equally essential. However, the greatest challenge lies in building and maintaining a motivated, cohesive team. Leadership involves balancing vision-sharing with focus, inspiring the team while avoiding overwhelm. It’s a continuous learning process, fine-tuning communication, cultivating a positive work culture, and ensuring everyone feels valued. Despite the complexity, this dynamic human element is what I find most rewarding and motivating in my leadership journey.

In your opinion what have been the biggest ‘wins’ that you have achieved so far in your professional journey? What is your ‘success mantra’ as a leader?

My greatest pride lies in the impact I’ve made beyond financial metrics or public achievements. It’s the lives we’ve positively impacted through my ventures. For example, helping thousands secure meaningful jobs, such as nurses in Germany, creates a ripple effect, with patients cared for, families uplifted, and communities empowered. This multiplier effect defines true success for me. Equally, building exceptional teams has been another incredible achievement. Working alongside passionate individuals who are driven to create opportunities and make a difference inspires me daily. Seeing my teams thrive and tackle meaningful challenges with enthusiasm reminds me that success is about people, purpose, and the positive legacy we leave behind.

Laura Esnaola, Founder & General Manager, CWC

Laura Esnaola is the founder of Care With Care (CWC), an international healthcare recruiting platform. She holds a bachelor’s degree in economics, a master’s in music from Yale University, and an MBA from MIT. Laura has led entrepreneurial ventures across 25+ countries, specializing in cross-border job creation.