Vivienda Latina · Las Pioneras
10 Latina Founders
Building the Future
Real women. Real businesses. From media moguls to tech builders — meet the Latina entrepreneurs rewriting the rules in the United States.
Why Latina Founders Matter Right Now
Latina women are among the fastest-growing segments of entrepreneurs in the United States — launching businesses at rates that outpace nearly every other demographic group. Yet access to funding, networks, and visibility remains deeply unequal. Highlighting these stories is not just inspiration — it is infrastructure for the next wave of founders.
Las Pioneras
10 Latina Entrepreneurs Changing the Game
Media
The Colombian-American actress built one of Hollywood's most recognizable careers, then channeled that platform into Latin WE, a talent and production company amplifying Latin stories and voices in mainstream entertainment.
Tech & Staffing
Born to Ecuadorian immigrants, Nina Vaca turned a $300 startup into one of America's largest workforce-solutions companies. Named one of the most powerful Latinas in business, she champions STEM inclusion and economic equity.
Media & Empowerment
Cuba-born Nely Galán became the first Latina president of a US television network and later founded The Adelante Movement to train Latina women in financial self-sufficiency and entrepreneurship across the country.
Technology
Colombian-born Claudia Mirza co-founded Akorbi, a leading global language solutions and technology company serving Fortune 500 clients. She proves that Latinas belong at the intersection of language, culture, and enterprise tech.
Jessica Alba co-founded The Honest Company to deliver safe, sustainable consumer products. The company went public in 2021 and is a testament to building purpose-driven brands that resonate across cultures.
Venezuelan-born Carolina Herrera became one of the most celebrated fashion designers in the world. Her New York-based house has dressed First Ladies, royals, and celebrities — a global symbol of elegance with Latin roots.
A Mexican-American media visionary, Christy Haubegger founded Latina Magazine and pioneered editorial spaces that honored the bilingual, bicultural lives of US Latinas — later becoming a senior executive at major Hollywood studios.
Mexican actress and producer Salma Hayek founded her own production company to ensure authentic Latin stories reached global audiences — producing award-winning projects and opening industry doors for future Latina filmmakers.
Mexican-born Maria Contreras-Sweet founded the first bank in the US specifically created to serve the Latino community. Later appointed to lead the Small Business Administration, she shaped federal policy supporting minority entrepreneurs.
Brazilian principal dancer with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ingrid Silva launched a business brand that merges representation in ballet with lifestyle products — proving that Latinas can build enterprises from artistic platforms.
Sectors
Industries at a Glance
Watch & Be Inspired
Stories in Motion
Short documentaries and interviews from Latina and Hispanic entrepreneurs, advocates, and community leaders across the US.
Words That Move Mountains
I did not know there was a ceiling until I hit it — so I built my own room above it.Nely Galán, The Adelante Movement
Success is not just about making money. It's about making meaning — and making sure the doors stay open behind you.Nina Vaca, Pinnacle Group
Being a Latina in business means carrying two worlds at once. That is not a burden — it is a superpower.Maria Contreras-Sweet, ProAmérica Bank
Explore how Latina entrepreneurs are also investing back home → La Diáspora. And find tools to start your own journey at Recursos.
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Are you a Latina entrepreneur building something extraordinary? Vivienda Latina wants to amplify your story and connect you with a community that celebrates your journey.
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