HELLO, I'M ELENA

Founder of Latinas Lead the Way

Growing up as a Latina in Indiana was hard. My parents went the Entrepreneur route and were extremely successful early on.

They moved me and my sister out to the middle of nowhere, to have the best education, and provided every opportunity for the both of us to excel in anything we wanted.

We weren't spoiled, but we didn't need for anything.

I was the only minority in my class from kindergarten until high school. I didn't have many other Latina friends, only my cousins and those I considered family.

On the weekends, I'd go stay with my grandma because my parents worked a lot, and my grandma taught me every bit of culture that flowed through my veins.

I LOVE the music, I LOVE the dancing, I LOVE the traditions, I LOVE the faith, I LOVE all the beliefs my grandma taught me...it is who I am. I am a Latina and my culture is rooted deep in my core.

I grew up not knowing how to speak in Spanish, or didn't quite follow the "traditional" ways of the Hispanic household, I always felt like an outcast.

I didn't fit in here really, and I didn't fit in there really.

I was never asked out on dates from my "white" friends at school, but when I went out with "mexicans" I wasn't mexican enough for their families.

I didn't fit in...anywhere, and I made jacked up choices trying to.

Anyway, a few years ago, I was mentoring at a Latinos Count conference for high school kids, and I was saddened by the amount of kids that didn't "believe" they could live their dream.

I left that day knowing I had to do something. I didn't know what, and I still don't, but I'm trying.

I created Latinas Lead the Way as a platform to showcase fellow Latina Leaders who are stepping forward to show our younger generation we can own the business, we can make the money, we can do ANYTHING WE WANT TO!

Please follow us on Instagram or join our Group on Facebook.

If you have a story of your own to share, please message me now.

I will be highlighting Latina Leaders from around the country each month.

Latinas are underrepresented in Fortune 500 companies and only 1 out of every 10 female owned businesses is owed by a Latina, we can make a bigger impact than that and I'm here to do my part.

XoXo,

Elena