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Tucsonan Jacinta Esquer’s journey into entrepreneurship began like many others, as a way to transition away from the corporate world. In January, three years after taking a job as community builder for the downtown coworking space, La Suprema Work and Events, she stepped into the role of owner.

Esquer’s first step into the business world started in 2019, when she decided it was time for a career change.

“I worked in corporate for 13 years and was trying to find a way to break out,” said Esquer.

In 2020, after the pandemic hit, she read an article in This is Tucson about a new coworking space in Barrio Viejo that would eventually become an integral part of her professional growth.

She initially used the space on a drop-in basis before making the leap and transitioning away from corporate work.

“I realized I had more to learn as an entrepreneur before I was really ready to break out on my own,” she said. “I decided to take a step back and just focus on leaving the corporate world.”

While working remotely, she became a full-time member at La Suprema before joining the team as community builder three years ago.

Her transition to owner marks a new chapter in her career and in La Suprema’s long history.

In addition to her years of experience, Esquer brings her deep understanding of the community and perspective as a multi-racial queer woman to the position.

She also brings a vision to grow La Suprema’s reputation as a hub of collaboration and inclusivity.

“I believe that everything up to now, including my experience before being an entrepreneur, helped pave the way for me to be in a really unique position to lead and pioneer the space into the future,” Esquer told Tucson Spotlight.

La Suprema is built on values of “give first” and “greater good,” principles established by its co-founders, Gina Catalano and Katina Koller. The pair sought to create a hub for small business owners and entrepreneurs in a neighborhood that previously lacked such a resource.

The vision was to cultivate a collaborative and supportive community, and that mission continues today.

Esquer said she’s passionate about supporting the community and small businesses, and believes they’re the heart of what makes Tucson unique. 

The building La Suprema is housed in has a unique and storied history of its own. Originally a Chinese market and then a tortilla factory, the building's transformation into a coworking space was serendipitous.

The founders initially leased a nearby space before the opportunity arose to purchase and renovate La Suprema’s current location, creating a perfect blend of past and present.

Located in the second oldest neighborhood in Tucson, the space is rich with history and serves as a special backdrop for collaboration and entrepreneurship.

The coworking space serves a wide variety of professionals, from entrepreneurs and small business owners to freelancers, artists, and lawyers. It provides flexible membership options, from daily drop-ins, private desk or office rentals and a virtual package that includes a professional mailing address, mail and package collection and more.

Memberships include access to shared workspaces, offices, and conference rooms. There’s also a “Free Coworking Fridays” that allows the community to experience the space without commitment.

La Suprema also hosts events, from business meetings and nonprofit gatherings to celebrations including weddings and birthday parties.

Unlike many other venues, it remains an affordable, customizable option for those looking for a mid-sized event space in Tucson. 

“We provide a really specific need for people that are looking to host special events,” Esquer said.

The space offers two meeting rooms — one that seats up to six and another that accommodates up to sixteen. Booking via La Suprema’s website is easy, according to Esquer..

“You can see the available times right there. Book it, create a profile, pay for it,” said Esquer. “You can also walk in and get a tour of the space … and we can give more information and then sort of show people how to do it.”

One of the most distinctive aspects of the space is its sense of community. 

“The people that really get the most out of this space are the ones that make friends and build longer-lasting connections,” Esquer said. “This space facilitates that beautifully in a way that I haven’t really experienced anywhere else.”

Looking ahead, Esquer plans to expand the space’s impact through initiatives like quarterly markets showcasing local small businesses, growth grants to support underrepresented entrepreneurs and increased community engagement. 

“People are still learning that we’re here because we opened in May of 2020,” she said. “We’re downtown Tucson’s only and longest-standing independently owned and operated coworking space.”

For aspiring entrepreneurs, Esquer’s advice is simple: 

“Know that there’s not one path to entrepreneurship. It can look a certain way on social media, on YouTube, or in our larger culture, but there’s more than one way to become an entrepreneur, and they’re all valid,” she said. “You can enter via startup. There's a lot of paths to being an entrepreneur, it's not just like what you see on ‘Shark Tank.’”

Lauryn Abozeid is a journalism major at the University of Arizona and Tucson Spotlight intern. Contact her at labozeid@arizona.edu.

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