Leaders On the Mic

In this episode, host Ana Valdez, President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative, sits down with Jazmin Murillo, a University of Chicago undergraduate student, aspiring immigration attorney, and one of the pioneering leaders behind the Elevate Latinos College Initiative. Through her academic excellence, advocacy, and commitment to empowering her peers, Jazmin represents a new generation of...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez, President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative, sits down with Frank Carbajal, Founder and President of Es Tiempo, LLC and creator of the Silicon Valley Latino Leadership Summit, to talk about leadership development, economic mobility, and why investing in Latino talent is critical to America’s future. Together, they explore why Latino leadership pipelines...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez, President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative, sits down with Chris Cabezas, one of the most exciting Latino voices in the creator and influencer space, to talk about the power of storytelling, digital platforms, and why positive Latino representation matters now more than ever. Chris shares how he built his platform, what inspires the stories he tells, an...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez, President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative, sits down with Julie Craig, a leader at Kantar, to explore the latest insights on U.S. Latino consumers and the tremendous opportunity this market represents for brands and business leaders. With deep expertise in consumer research, cultural intelligence, and market strategy, Julie shares how data-driven insig...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez, President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative, sits down with digital creator, influencer, and storyteller Nessa Diosdado. Known for her authentic POV storytelling and powerful presence across social platforms and civil and political advocacy, Nessa has emerged as a leading Gen-Z voice exploring identity, culture, and the lived experiences of young Latinos...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez (President & CEO of the LDC) sits down with Jessica Santiago Byrd, Multicultural Marketing Manager at IKEA U.S., and a visionary leader shaping how major brands authentically connect with diverse communities. With a career devoted to inclusive storytelling and cultural insight, Jessica has led groundbreaking work; including the launch of IKEA’s U.S. Spanish-lan...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez (President & CEO of the LDC) sits down with comedian, writer, investigative storyteller, and social commentator Che Guerrero. Known for blending humor with sharp social analysis, Che has become a leading voice on issues surrounding immigration, identity, and the undocumented experience, using storytelling to spark dialogue, challenge stereotypes, and build comm...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez (President & CEO of the LDC) sits down with acclaimed unscripted-television producer and executive producer Rick Telles. Rick is best known as the Executive Producer of the recent Amazon Prime hit feature film A Million Miles Away, starring Michael Peña, and he brings decades of experience in forging compelling unscripted content. Over his career, Rick has help...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez (President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative) sits down with Brenden Pérez, a rising Mexican-Taiwanese violinist and social media creator redefining what it means to be a modern Latino artist, activist, and leader. From classical roots to viral fame, Brenden shares how he’s breaking stereotypes, blending cultures, and using music to amplify representation...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez (President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative) sits down with Alex Valdez and Pablo De la Fuente, the directors of a new and inspiring nature documentary film called The Power of One from in which they plan to springboard a career where they to the wildest corners of the planet, teaming up with bold eco-heroes, who are bringing endangered ecosystems back t...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez (President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative) sits down with Ada Cruz, an inspiring Latina influencer and voice redefining the immigrant journey of Latinos in America. Ada shares the powerful story of her and her family, and how they overcame countless hardships that paid off immensely when she was accepted into Harvard and which she now uses as inspirati...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez (President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative) sits down with Christian Maldonado, one of the most dynamic Latino influencers using digital platforms to amplify culture, humor, and authentic representation. Christian shares his journey from creating viral content to becoming a powerful voice for Latino identity online, reflecting on how storytelling, comed...

In this episode, host Ana Valdez (President & CEO of the Latino Donor Collaborative) sits down with Cristo Fernández, a prominent Latino actor known for his roles in Ted Lasso and Una Pequeña Confusión. Cristo shares his experiences in representing Latino culture through a hit show around the world and the key cultural advantages that his heritage has brought him.

On our premiere episode of Leaders On the Mic, prominent social media influencer Fernanda Cortes joins our host, Ana Valdez, to discuss how to lead a career where millions of people are influenced by your work. Fernanda shares her journey as a Latina creator, the challenges and opportunities of building an authentic online presence, and how she uses her platform to elevate Latino voices, challenge...

Ana Valdez, host of the Leaders On the Mic Podcast, gives a brief introduction of what the topics, data and style that will be present in the upcoming episodes of this podcast about empowerment, aspiration and truth.