The stated mission of Latino Leaders, one of the most relevant publications in the Hispanic/Latino community in the US, also works as a powerful recommendation for future leaders.

When we started publishing Latino Leaders magazine in 2000, our objective was to create a magazine that would showcase the leaders of this vibrant and promising community. The idea was to publish a monthly collection of stories to show the world the great value and fantastic stories Latinos have contributed to this country over the past 40 to 50 years. We searched from coast to coast and from border to border for the best and most impressive leaders and convinced them to talk to us to share their life stories. Soon after starting publishing, we discovered that these interviews were not only brave and impressive but heroic stories of people who had made tremendous efforts and even risked their lives in order to progress and strive in a society that was not always welcoming and warm.

We also noticed that many of these leaders were not covered by the “mainstream” media and their success was not made known anywhere! This was a complete waste of an enormous pool of lessons and experiences that could inspire others to strive for their own success.

Over the years, we realized that the stories we were publishing had many meaningful purposes depending on who the reader was. Many of them started reading the interviews just for fun or curiosity, but soon discovered that the lessons and experiences behind the conversation were also useful and inspiring. Perhaps that entrepreneur that went bankrupt three times inspired someone to keep going, or that Scientist loyal to her team was promoted to a higher responsibility position. Some others might have found that a certain connection made a future governor open a door that took him to a new opportunity.

There has also been a factor of self-esteem. “If she can do it, why can’t I?” Observing that other people just like you, with similar origins and circumstances, can attain  success, makes you think “I can do it too.” This can-do attitude has proven to be one of the most relevant and influential factors for Latinos in every single area, level, or condition to succeed. This has worked especially well in younger leaders, who are still looking for figures and role models to follow.

Reading stories of success makes you reflect on yourself. You cannot avoid comparing and making certain conclusions and assessments on your own path to fulfil your dreams or objectives. It also motivates you, gives you a sense of where you are and where you want to go.

But all these won’t be as effective to build a leadership career if you are not connected, and not only connected, but WELL connected. Over these years we have seen how relevant it is for people to know others, be aware of who’s who and establish connections with peers, clients and all those who would be helpful. The more people know you, the more opportunities can open for you. The more people you know, the more connections you can make. Those connections will work in the same way as the connections in the brain. It is only because of the type, duration and intensity of the neurological connections in the human brain that we can experiment with a new idea, a memory or a reaction. We have seen that, in a similar way to these neuro connections, when leaders connect, it generates an underlying grid of links that create advancement, leadership and new ideas.

Definitely, one of the most common connectors is education, especially that sense of belonging and the pride of having finished a degree. These feelings empower people and make them feel confident and triumphant about something that was perhaps not accomplished before in their own families. Moreover, education and a professional degree are seen by most of our interviewees as one key factor for having a successful career (the others are: determination, emotional intelligence, and connections). Most leaders think that having a degree puts them at the same level of opportunities as others: Thus, shortening the gap for professional advancement.

All in all, we believe that Latino Leaders is a publication that inspires and connects people; for their own success and the advance of a larger community.