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Joaquín Eguiluz, the Former Councilman and Fosis Director Who Pivoted His Life Around Woodworking

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Together with his wife, he founded "El Maestro Joaco," a company that manufactures furniture using recycled materials.

Often, people must reinvent themselves to move forward in life, whether out of necessity or a desire to pursue different paths—always with family at the core.

This is what happened to Joaquín Eguiluz, a political scientist by profession who spent many years in public service. Between 2012 and 2020, he served as a councilman for the commune of Concepción, then as regional director of the Social Solidarity and Investment Fund (Fosis) in Biobío until January 2022, and later as director of the National Youth Institute (Injuv) in the Ñuble Region, a position he held until the first quarter of this year.

After this politically focused life, he decided to pivot and dedicate himself to independent entrepreneurship by founding "El Maestro Joaco," a small business specializing in wooden furniture with an emphasis on circular economy principles.

He recalled being a restless and curious child. "My dad called me 'cabro intruso' (nosy kid) because I’d interact with mechanics, crawl under tractors, and rummage through drawers. I’ve always been drawn to hands-on work. Between 2014 and 2015, I battled a serious illness—a journey through the desert, so to speak. When my brother got married, I made him a coffee table from pallets, which he still has. I made one for my sister too, and that’s how I discovered my own space in woodworking," he shared.

He also mentioned that he and his wife, Javiera Marín, dreamed of a house with dogs, ample space, and a workshop—something he always sought while living in apartments in Concepción but never achieved. Now, renting a home in Coihueco, Ñuble, he set up his business last September. "Javiera gifted me some tools to give me a push, and I started making picnic tables for kids and adults. By now, we’ve built beds, toy chests, and shelves from pine, oak, and raulí wood," he highlighted.

Everything he crafts stems from his drive and custom requests via social media—like a dollhouse mounted on stilts. He’s open to any design but insists on sustainable manufacturing, using reclaimed wood from disused sheds of an old poultry farm.

"That’s where we source materials like oak beams, pallets, and wood from a company. Our goal is to add value to our work while caring for the environment, something newer generations increasingly prioritize. Reusing this material aligns with that vision," he emphasized.

A Family Business
Recently, childhood friend Tomás Rojas joined the venture, relocating from Cochrane, south of Coyhaique, to Chillán," Joaquín noted.

But that’s not all—entrepreneurship has fundamentally changed his life. The fledgling business was built alongside his wife, who, in addition to her job at a hardware store handling workplace climate matters, manages "El Maestro Joaco’s" social media and budgets. Most importantly, they now devote more time to their children: Silvestre (11 months), Olivia (5), and Domingo (2).

Regarding workflow, Eguiluz—who holds a master’s in innovation and entrepreneurship from the University of Concepción—explained that customers placing detailed orders should understand their product won’t be ready overnight. His meticulous process ensures it meets requested standards.

This shift to woodworking has been bittersweet, the political scientist admits. He spent over a decade in public service as a councilman, working for those who believed in him. His time at Fosis also broadened his perspective, exposing him to women striving to succeed with very little. "I told Javiera, after seeing all these examples, how could we *not* start a business? The turning point was wanting more time with our kids, leading us to this quieter, carpentry-focused life," he stressed.

Being present in his children’s early years is priceless, he said. His public life allowed him to work but not watch his three little ones grow. So, when the last administration ended, he declined another political venture—even when offered a mayoral candidacy in a Ñuble commune.

His World
"Now, this is my world—and it has its perks. Mornings, I take the kids to school or daycare. I work in the workshop until 2 PM when they return, then resume at 8 PM if deliveries are urgent," he shared.

For now, orders are local—expanding further is costly, and since they use recycled or reclaimed wood, they can’t match retail prices. "Our work is more intensive: besides crafting, we salvage wood, clean it, sand it, remove nails—all to create well-finished furniture," he concluded.