Since it was launched in 1998, LATINA Style Inc. had never hosted an event in Philadelphia.

That all changed on Wednesday, October 23, when the Texas-based magazine publication brought its annual Business Series to the City of Brotherly Love.

“Today, we celebrate the power and resilience of Latina business leaders,” said Lupita Colmenero, COO of LATINA Style.

The Business Series stands as the nation’s premier business development program for Latina entrepreneurs and highlights the valuable contributions Latina business owners have in the economy throughout the region and nation.

Jennifer Rodriguez, president and CEO of the Greater Philadelphia Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, noted that Latinas are the city’s fastest-growing entrepreneurial demographic.

“That is a reflection of our resilience, creativity, and absolute determination,” she said, adding that this rapid growth is helping create jobs, opportunities, and stronger communities.

The event featured dozens of Latina entrepreneurs spanning across various industries. Three panels took place throughout the duration of the event, highlighting topics like turning an idea into a business, how to leverage Google tools for business success, the value of resilience, and many others.

An Underrated Factor in Business Success

Candy Calderon, founder of the CEO Wellness Club and keynote speaker for the event, made an important point about a key factor in business success that isn’t often discussed.

That is the importance of prioritizing brain health while also striving to achieve personal and professional success.

She highlighted that oftentimes the grind overshadows overall well-being. Her own personal journey saw her neglect her well-being in pursuit of monetary success.

However, this eventually led to a lack of fulfillment as she fell into a deep depression.

“I realized little by little, as I achieved one milestone after another, I was feeling broken for almost a decade,” Calderon said. “I followed my grit and my ambitions and I achieved a lot … but in the process, it broke me.”

She reached a point to where she had to unwrap the cultural challenges within the Latino community in addressing mental health issues. Calderon also remembered an internal commitment her 6-year-old self made.

“I was so excited about life and I only wanted to have fun … I only wanted to do things that made me feel good, that filled my heart,” Calderon reflected.

That commitment began to resonate with her once again as she took a step back and looked to find a healthier balance between her work and her personal well-being.

Now a seasoned brain health professional and wellness expert, Calderon helps others find that same balance. She often notes that not taking those steps can lead to early cognitive decline and further health challenges.

At the helm of CEO Wellness Club, Calderon helps professionals and leaders optimize their brains, improve their sleep, maximize their performance, and improve their overall wellness for the long-term.

Honoring Brilliant Latina Business Minds

The 2024 Business Series closed with a small award ceremony, in which three Latina entrepreneurs were honored for their impact.

The Trailblazer Award went to Valeria Aloe, an executive culture and diversity advisor, speaker, and founder of Rising Together, a groundbreaking initiative dedicated to closing gender and leadership gaps within the Latino community.

She recently published her newest book, “Uncolonized Latinas and Unbeatable Latinos”.

Mercy Mosquera was awarded the Community Award. Mosquera is the general manager and co-owner of Tierra Colombiana and Mixto, two of the premier and most important Latino establishments in the city.

Lastly, Shannon Morales was awarded with the Entrepreneur of the Year award. Morales is the founder of Tribaja, a platform that has helped create a community of diverse talent within the vast tech industry.

Inspired to pursue this venture after facing various workplace biases in the corporate setting, she set out to transform the way professionals connect with inclusive and forward-thinking brands within the tech industry.

“It was really about the impact that we can make in professionals’ lives,” said Morales about launching Tribaja.

She added that she remains committed toward being intentional about the value that Tribaja brings to Latinas and other professionals of color within the tech industry.

“It’s important that we are always present in events like this … it’s important for people to be able to see and listen to the stories of how we got started, of the challenges that we have everyday, because it’s not easy,” Morales added. “We support a large community so that people that come to Tribaja can feel support and we can provide an impact in Philadelphia and beyond.”

The Philadelphia stop was LATINA Style’s final one for this year’s Business Series.

Learn more about LATINA Style Inc. and its annual business series on their website.

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