A Taste of Latina Power
How Latina Leadership Looks, Feels and Tastes
At Inspirame Latina, we’ve always known that Latina leadership doesn’t come in one shape or form. It isn’t about fitting into corporate boxes or chasing someone else’s idea of success. For us, leadership has always lived in the kitchen, in family stories, in resistance, in reinvention. And yes — it shows up in our sazón.
When we ask, “If your leadership style were a Latin dish, what would it be?”, we’re not just being playful. We’re offering a new lens — one that reflects our identities, our complexity, and our power.
Because leadership, like our food, is bold. It’s layered. It’s meant to be shared. And it always tells a story.
Why We Lead This Way
Many of us grew up without seeing people who looked or sounded like us running companies, producing media,
or managing major deals in finance. We didn’t always have role models in those spaces.
But we had them at home. We watched our mothers and abuelas lead entire families, hold things together, and create from nothing. They led with intuition, with grit, with love — and with flavor.
So when we lead today — whether it’s in a conference room, a studio, or on a global stage — we carry that legacy. We don’t have to lead like anyone else. We lead like us.
Personal Experiences
I was 27 when I walked into my first high-stakes strategy meeting.
Everyone else had polished résumés, Ivy League degrees, and insider language I didn’t quite understand. I sat at the edge of the table, clutching my notebook, wondering if I belonged.
But in that moment, something shifted.
I remembered how I was raised — in a kitchen where my mother stirred pots while solving problems, where every dish had meaning, where every voice mattered.
I wasn’t just a professional trying to fit in. I was Mangú con Los Tres Golpes — strong foundation, bold flavor, and unapologetic presence.
Plantains mashed with power. Fried salami that cuts through the noise. Queso frito that holds steady. Eggs that keep things moving.
I wasn’t just showing up to contribute — I was showing up in my own flavor.
And that changed everything.
The Leadership Roadmap
Straight From The Kitchen
Whether you’re leading in media, finance, education, or your own corner of the world, here’s a guide we’ve learned — through trial, error, and lots of sazón.
Step 1: Know Your Flavor
Leadership begins with self-awareness.
Ask yourself: What values guide my choices? How do I naturally lead — and what strengths have I been downplaying because they don’t look “corporate”?
Maybe you’re the steady calm of arroz con pollo. The fire of salsa roja. The slow burn of a sancocho that gets better with time.
Your flavor is your strength. Own it.
“The dish you bring to the table is the one someone else is hungry for.”
Step 2: Serve It – Even if You’re Still Simmering
You don’t need to be fully polished to lead. You just need to show up.
When we launched Inspirame Latina, we didn’t have a blueprint. We had a voice, a vision, and a willingness to build something we hadn’t seen.
Start where you are. Speak before you’re 100% ready. Publish the idea. Launch the podcast. Say yes — and learn while you go.
“Some of the best dishes don’t follow recipes — they follow rhythm.”
Step 3: Add Spice – But With Intention
Your background, your ideas, your culture — these are your ingredients. Bring them into every room you walk into. But be strategic with your seasoning.
The best chefs don’t just bring heat — they balance it.
Mentorship, feedback, and knowing how to read the room all matter.
Lead with heart — and strategy.
“El sazón no se grita. Se siente.”
(Flavor doesn’t need to shout. It’s felt.)
Sazón de Jefa: Leading with Flavor, Fire & Fierce Intention
A Spiced-Up Guide for Latinas Owning Their Path in Finance, Media & More
Showcasing Our Partner:
NerdWallet
We’re so excited to team up with NerdWallet to bring practical financial tips and tools straight to the Latina community!
This collaboration is all about helping us make smart money moves, from budgeting and credit building to growing our own businesses and building long-term wealth.
Together, we want to make financial confidence something every Latina can feel—because when we have the knowledge and resources, we can take control of our futures and uplift our communities.
Leadership is layered.
It’s flavorful.
And most importantly, it’s yours.
Why This Matters
Let’s be real: most of us didn’t grow up seeing ourselves in executive boardrooms,
on magazine covers, or running production studios. But here we are.
We’re the firsts.
We’re the onlys.
We’re also just getting started.
You don’t have to be perfect to lead — you just have to show up with purpose and a little spice.
The Truth About Timing
When you see other Latinas running companies,
speaking on panels, or building global brands,
it can feel like you’re behind.
But you’re not.
“You’re not late — you’re early.”
We are still in the beginning stages of this movement.
We’re building new paths, reimagining leadership, and making space that didn’t exist before.
So,
whatever stage you’re in — dreaming, launching, leading — it’s all part of the story.
Final Word:
Lead Like You Cook
Your leadership isn’t about mimicking a model.
It’s about choosing your own ingredients, trusting your instincts, and knowing your flavor matters.
Whether you’re ropa vieja or fresh gazpacho, your presence adds something essential.
Your culture, your voice, your spice — it’s not extra. It’s the main ingredient.
“Some leaders are recipes. Others are recipes reimagined. Be the latter.”
Your Turn: What’s Your Leadership Flavor?
— You never know who needs your story to find their voice!
With love,
Karen Rodríguez
Community Engagement Associate
krodriguez@inspiramelatina.org