Latina Leadership Podcast

Order in the court! Our co-host Carolina Arenas sits down with Diana Gomez to discuss her historical position as the first ever Latina President of the Houston Bar Association. Prior to her presidential status, Diana had a successful career as an attorney, and shares with us some insight into the legal world. Like many of us, Diana's ambition for a career in law came from her desire to offer a bet...

"Calladita te ves bonita." In english, this saying roughly translates to "You look prettier when you're quiet." This is a common phrase told to Latina women to encourage them to stay silent and hold their tongues about issues that may be pressing them. Whether it be in the workforce, at home, or in relationships, Latina women have been conditioned to believe that their voices do not matter. On Oct...

Sandra Velasquez is the Founder and CEO of Nopalera, the Latina-owned luxury beauty brand making its mark...on its own terms. You may know Sandra from her time as the front woman of band, Pistolera, or from her appearance on ABC's Shark Tank, where she turned down more than one offer. In fact, she's turned down multiple offers from several retail companies that just didn't align with Nopalera's et...

On this special episode, Jacqueline and Sonia chat with Claudia Ortega-Hogue, President of the League of Women Voters Houston (the first Latina President in 100 years) and Founder & CEO of Global Communities Houston, LLC. With today being Election Day, Claudia discusses the importance of voting and many of the resources that the League of Women Voters-Houston offers to all voters, such as the new...

On this week's Latina Leadership Podcast, Sonia sits down with Deputy Design Director for the L.A. Times, Martina Ibáñez-Baldor. As a Latina born in Toronto and raised in Wisconsin, Martina speaks about her experience being one of the only Latino families around. A true creative at-heart, Martina's work stems from a love of photography and Latino stories. Martina discusses her newest project at th...

Ana Hageage works for the U.S. Department of Labor under the Biden Administration as the Chief of Staff for the Employment and Training Administration (ETA). She reflects on her passion for advocacy in underserved communities by helping them find better working opportunities, and emphasizes to our co-host, Jacqueline Villagomez, the importance of equity and how she works to promote this at the Dep...

Our co-host Anjelica Cazares sits down with founder and CEO of I Love Chamoy, Annie Leal. I Love Chamoy is a small business that specializes in the production of sugar-free chamoy, creating a healthier alternative for diabetics and those alike. After her father was diagnosed with diabetes, Annie was inspired to begin working on her own sugar-free chamoy recipe once she noticed there was no sugar-f...

María Paula Correa is currently the Chief Relationship Officer at Libra Group, a global business group that applies the strength of its global network and capabilities to deliver cross-sector insights and growth at scale. Prior to this, María was Chief of Cabinet of the Presidency of the Republic of Colombia in the government of President Iván Duque Márquez, as well as Advisor to the Chief of Staf...

Our co-host Sonia Ramirez sits down with one of Houston's youngest CEO's, Victoria Zara! At only 10 years old, Victoria owns and operates her own aguas frescas business, curating a menu of 15 flavors all homemade by Victoria herself. @victoriaslemonade on instagram has become very popular amongst the Houston community. Her aguas frescas have become very successful, garnering a loyal audience and p...

Kayla Castañeda is the Founder and CEO of Agua Bonita, a line of aguas frescas that come in fun and bold flavors that are true to tradition. Kayla shares with cohost Carolina Arenas that she created this line of beverages with migrant farmworkers in mind. Tune in as Kayla goes in depth about creating this cuturally-inspired brand, navigating motherhood and entrepreneurship, and sharing her top ins...

Claudia Romo Edelman is the Founder of We Are All Human, a foundation that brings people together to rediscover our common humanity by advancing equity, diversity, and inclusion. Claudia shares her personal story and life-long mission to increase visibility of the Hispanic community with host Anjelica Cazares. Claudia has over 25 years of experience as a social entrepreneur and marketer for social...

Join us for this episode with Heidy de la Cruz as she discusses what redefining the 'American Dream' looks like through entrepreneurship with cohost, Diana Rubi . Heidy is an author and the podcaster behind "The American Dream in The Eyes of Immigrants Podcast" where immigrants share their stories about moving to the United States. In this episode, Heidy shares insight on the mindset shift that of...

Martha Araujo-Barrera has earned a reputation for service and commitment to community. Yet prior to taking on the role of Public Affairs Manager for the popular Texas grocery-chain recently voted one of the best places to work, H-E-B, Martha knew she was destined for something important. In this candid conversation with the native Tejana she opens up about her trajectory to leadership and her pers...

Welcome back to the Latina Leadership Podcast as we kick off an exciting new season! Join us for our Season 7 premiere, where we delve into the vibrant world of Latina entrepreneurship. In this episode, your cohosts Anjelica Cazares, Carolina Arenas, Diana Rubi, and Sonia Ramirez revisit some of our most insightful conversations with Latina entrepreneurs from previous seasons. We're revisiting the...

Join us for a very special bonus episode that was recorded live with an audience at the Latinas Lead in Entrepreneurship Dinner in Chicago, IL sponsored by Walmart. In this episode, Anjelica Cazares talks with COO of Rush Direct Inc., Alci Gramajo about her experience being a C-Suite level executive at a Latina-owned business. Alci shares her story of starting at a warehouse level and moving up to...

In this finale episode to wrap up Season 6, the Latina Leadership Podcast co-hosts reunite for a look back on an amazing season. We talk about our favorite conversations, shining moments, insecurities, lessons learned, and of course laugh at our mishaps! Thank you for sharing this journey with us, and we look forward to seeing you next season with another roster full of incredible Latinas! Share y...

Join us on the latest episode of the Latina Leadership Podcast as co-host Sonia Ramirez sits down with Julia Morales, a prominent reporter and host for AT&T SportsNet Southwest and the field reporter for the Houston Astros. In this episode, Julia opens up about motherhood, her entrepreneurial journey and how she maximizes her extra time. She also shares her experience fostering pets, shedding ligh...

Discover the extraordinary journey of Lupe Agirre, owner of Agirre Construction, as she defies stereotypes and overcomes immense challenges. In this episode of the Latina Leadership Podcast, cohost Diana Rubi delves into Lupe's story of leaving a lasting legacy. Lupe defied expectations as a woman in a male-dominated industry, overcoming obstacles to achieve success. From being a single mother of...

Join us for a special episode of the Latina Leadership Podcast, where cohosts Sonia Ramirez and Jacqueline Villagomez sit down with the multi-talented Adassa, known for her captivating voice as well as her role as a voice actress in Disney's Encanto. In this episode, we dive into Adassa's remarkable singing career and her journey in the music industry. Adassa also shares her experiences of motherh...

In this episode, Carolina Arenas sits down with Stephanie Bonnin, the talented chef and owner of La Tropi Kitchen. Stephanie goes beyond the flavors and ingredients, emphasizing the significance of sharing the stories and cultural heritage behind the dishes. Join Carolina and Stephanie as they delve into the importance of cooking Latin American foods while celebrating the unique distinctions betwe...

Introducing the remarkable Magda Llohis de Gutiérrez, a fashion-forward trendsetter hailing from Spain but now embracing the vibrant energy of New York City! Join Magda as she sits down with Carolina for an inspiring conversation about fashion and her unique way of life. At the age of 80, Magda continues to serve as a beacon of inspiration, promoting a life filled with joy and vibrant colors throu...

Carolina and Sonia recently sat down with acclaimed author, Jasminne Mendez, to delve into her life and inspiration behind her writing. This Afro-Latina is proud of her Dominican roots and speaks about her life growing up as an army brat and the desire to see representation in her surroundings. Jasminne has a passion for storytelling and considers herself an author for BIPOC communities. She share...

In this special episode, Anjelica attends the very first Boujee and Blessed: "A Blessed Babe Celebration" hosted by Boujee and Blessed founder, Deborah Deleon. Anjelica had the pleasure of chatting with some amazing Latina entrepreneurs from Houston who have truly found their purpose in life and are proudly walking in it! What an encouraging and uplifting message for all women. We hope you find th...