What the Latinas in Our Lives Teach Us About Latina Leadership, Power, and Legacy

Almost everything I know about Latina leadership came from the women in my family.

I did not learn these lessons from books or leadership theories. Instead, I learned them by watching remarkable Latinas lead every day. Their example was practical, personal, and powerful. Together, they created a leadership model that remains deeply relevant today.

My Mother: Hard Work, Strategy, and Social Capital

My mother began her career as a bank teller before rising to become a banking executive at a time when very few Latinas held those positions. She did not inherit a pathway.

She built one.

First, she worked relentlessly. She was often the first person in the office and the last to leave. Excellence was never optional.

However, hard work alone was never her strategy.

She planned her career intentionally. She prepared for every opportunity and consistently said yes to leadership roles, from internal initiatives to community boards.

Just as importantly, she built social capital. She invested in relationships, earned trust, and developed meaningful networks with colleagues, executives, and community leaders. Over time, those relationships became both her anchor and her accelerator.

Work ethic opened the door.

Strategy positioned her.

Finally, social capital propelled her forward.

Today, Latinas represent one of the fastest-growing segments of the U.S. labor force. Nevertheless, executive representation continues to lag.

My mother’s journey reminds us that participation alone is not enough.

Instead, advancement requires performance, preparation, and strong relationships.

My Grandmothers: Latina Leadership Is Service

One of my grandmothers became the first Latina President of the Denver City Council. Meanwhile, my other grandmother served as National President of the Ladies Auxiliary of Foreign Wars.

Although they served in different roles, both embraced the same commitment:

Leave the community stronger than you found it.

Their leadership centered on service rather than status. They understood that power matters only when it improves other people’s lives.

Titles are temporary.

Impact endures.

Across the country, Latinas continue leading businesses, nonprofits, civic organizations, and communities. Consequently, servant leadership should never be mistaken for passive leadership.

Instead, it builds institutions, creates opportunity, and strengthens communities for generations.

My Great-Grandmothers: Leadership Creates the Foundation

My three great-grandmothers had limited formal education and few economic advantages.

Even so, they built stability where little existed.

They raised resilient families, managed scarce resources, and established values that shaped future generations. Because of their sacrifices, my family stands on a much stronger foundation today.

When opportunity is scarce, grit becomes leadership.

Their lives remind us that leadership does not begin with a title.

Rather, it begins with responsibility, resilience, and the discipline to build something lasting for those who come next.

For Our Daughters and Granddaughters

The girls watching us learn far more from our actions than our words.

They watch how we show up in rooms of influence.

They notice how we manage money.

They observe how we balance ambition with integrity.

Most importantly, they remember how we use our leadership to serve others.

Ultimately, they will inherit what we normalize.

So what are we building for them?

The Latina Leadership Model

The women who came before us—and the Latinas leading today—offer a clear framework for leadership.

• Work hard and plan intentionally.
• Use power in service of others.
• Build stability before seeking visibility.
• Persevere when systems resist change.
• Invest deliberately in the next generation.

Their legacy reminds us that Latina leadership has never been defined by titles alone.

It has always been defined by courage, preparation, service, and the willingness to build something that outlasts us.

This month, and every month, may we honor the mothers, abuelas, mentors, and trailblazers whose wisdom continues to shape our families, our communities, and our future.