Rewriting the Narrative: How Latina Leaders in Dallas Are Reclaiming Space, Story, and Strategy
- Tyzza Macias
- Jun 30
- 4 min read
Updated: Jul 3
In the cultural heart of Oak Cliff, a leadership gathering of Latinas sparked more than conversation. It ignited a movement. When Latinas come together with purpose, they don’t just influence dialogue; they drive economies, uplift communities, and shape the future. This isn’t just empowerment, it’s mobilization. Latinas are the architects of a more inclusive, powerful tomorrow.
The Leadership Brunch: Leading with Purpose and Empowering Our Community brought together Latina visionaries from across North Texas in a powerful display of unity, ambition, and community-driven impact. Presented by the Moreno-Lake Foundation, in collaboration with the Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GDHCC), GDHCC Growth Foundation, Hispanic Star, and We Are All Human, the leadership brunch served as both a celebration and a strategic forum. Proving that Latina leadership isn’t just rising. It’s reshaping the landscape.
A Brunch Rooted in Culture
Guests were welcomed with mouthwatering bites by Coco’s Fire & Ice Authentic Mexican Food, alongside handcrafted mimosa cocktails infused with Romo Sotol, an artisan Mexican spirit founded by powerhouse Latina entrepreneur Claudia Romo Edelman. The setting was more than empowering, it was intentional, honoring culture while fueling purpose.
This impactful experience was co-led by Heisa Londono, VP of Operations and Sustainability at Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, in collaboration with Amanda Moreno Lake, Chairwoman of Greater Dallas Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, and President of Redevelopment at Jim Lake Companies.
Together, they curated a space to empower Latina professionals with access to both local and national resources, driving generational impact and accelerating economic mobility.
Claudia Romo Edelman Delivers a Wake-Up Call
Keynote speaker Claudia Romo Edelman, founder of Hispanic Star and We Are All Human, delivered a message that was equal parts inspiration and insight, grounded in her work as a global advocate for inclusion.
“The New Latino audiences are not looking to be carried. The New Latino audiences can carry your brand to exponential growth,” said Romo Edelman, citing data from the 2025 Hispanic Sentiment Study.
“Hispanics need a new powerful narrative based on our reality.”
Her remarks illuminated the unmatched potential of the U.S. Latino market while underscoring the urgency of shifting-outdated narratives.
The Data That Demands Attention
The numbers speak volumes: the U.S. Latino GDP has surged past $4.1 trillion, positioning it as the fifth-largest economy in the world. Outpacing the economic output of countries like the United Kingdom, India, and France.
From 2010 to 2023, Latino economic output grew an astonishing 75%, nearly triple the 27.4% growth rate of the non-Latino economy.
Looking ahead, Latinos are projected to account for 101% of all net labor force growth through 2033, cementing their role as the future of the U.S. workforce. Real wages for Latinos have also climbed by 50.1%, the fastest increase among all demographics.
This isn’t just a trend, it’s a transformation. And Latinas are at the forefront, turning economic power into generational change.
Voices That Lead
The speaker lineup echoed the spirit of the leadership brunch— bold, visionary, and deeply grounded in purpose.
Amanda Moreno Lake, Chairwoman at GDHCC, and President of Redevelopment at Jim Lake Companies emphasized the role of real estate as a catalyst for inclusive community development, and how redevelopment can drive lasting economic equity.
Diana Flores, Vice President of Strategic Initiatives at GDHCC and the longest-serving Latina elected official in North Texas, reflected on decades of leadership. Championing policies and initiatives that strengthen Latino-led organizations and uplift communities.
Heisa Londono, VP of Operations and Sustainability at GDHCC and a key leader of Hispanic Star Texas spoke on transformative initiatives like the GDHCC Growth Foundation, Hispanic Star, We Are All Human, and the EmpowHER Latina Summit. Her work continues to bridge businesses, nonprofits, and educational institutions to advance equity and collective progress.
Olga López, founder and CEO of CIMA Logistics, brought the voice of Latina entrepreneurship to the forefront. Her journey as an executive and trailblazing businesswoman represents the scale, resilience, and innovation driving Latina-owned enterprises in North Texas, and across the country.
A Room Full of Powerhouses
The energy in the room was unmistakable. From nonprofit leaders and small business owners to educators, executives, and creatives—it wasn’t just a leadership brunch. It was a moment of ecosystem-building, connection, and collective purpose.
The most powerful takeaway?
Latinas aren’t waiting for permission. They’re building the table.
The leadership brunch didn’t just empower Latinas trailblazers, it mobilized them. It reminded us that while data illuminates the potential, community drives the progress.
In a time marked by economic shifts, cultural reckoning, and persistent underrepresentation, leadership gatherings like this are not a luxury, they are a necessity.
They are incubators of strategy, safe spaces for collaboration, and launchpads for systemic change. For Latinas navigating boardrooms, classrooms, and startups, these leadership gatherings reaffirm what the numbers already show: Latinas are not just contributing to the future. They are shaping it.
When our stories are heard, our power is recognized, and our communities are resourced, we don’t just rise, we lift others with us.
Because when Latinas lead, communities thrive, economies expand, and narratives shift, starting right here, in North Texas.
