Hispanic Women Leaders Who Are Paving The Way In Corporate And Creative Industries

As we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month, we honor Hispanic women who are breaking the mold in the corporate and creative world. These women are leaders and way makers who have worked their way to top positions in different companies across the board. Latina CEOs and entrepreneurs such as Rea Ann Silva, creator of the beauty blender, and Maria Hinojosa, a groundbreaking journalist and founder of Futuro Media Group, which tells stories of underrepresented communities, particularly Latinos, have made tremendous strides in their respective industries.

Hispanic Heritage Month spans from Sept. 15 to Oct. 15 and is a celebration of the contributions Latinas and Latinos have made to history. Signed into law by President Lyndon B. Johnson in 1968, Hispanic Heritage Month recognizes the significant achievements and influences from the Hispanic community to the nation through advocacy, art, food, history, and more. Latina women have continued to blaze their own paths building their own legacies. We’re highlighting four diverse women who have used their talents and voices to overcome adversity and be a beacon of representation.

A veteran in the beauty industry, Rea Ann Silva created popular makeup tool the Beautyblender while working as a makeup artist on the hit TV show Girlfriends. With her many years of experience, Rea is one of the most sought after makeup artists in Hollywood.

The artist has worked with A-listers such as Whitney Houston, Kerry Washington, Regina King, Brandy and more. The tool has become a staple in the beauty industry so much so that a curator at the Smithsonian contacted Rea to include the Beautyblender in a collection of innovative products that changed an industry. The artist has been in the beauty business for over two decades, and since starting her business, has developed her line to include foundation, blush, setting spray, primer, brushes, and an array of sponges. When speaking with PBS on being an 2024 Entrepreneurship Award Honoree, Silva described how growing up in the hispanic community impacted her and her views on beauty.

“The simple fact of having Latina aunts, mothers, cousins, there is no way of escaping beauty because in our community, and in our heritage, beauty is such an important part of who we are and how we express ourselves,” she said.

The makeup artist started working at a department store after high school and after bonding with the ladies in the cosmetics department, she began pursuing a career in beauty. Since the Beautyblender’s creation Rea has won many awards and has expanded the brand to major makeup retailers such as Sephora and Ulta.

Ecuadorian-born American entrepreneur Nina Vaca is the chairperson and CEO of Pinnacle Group, one of the largest Latina-owned workforce solutions firms in the country.

At just 25, Nina started the Pinnacle Group with only $300, now the business has scaled into a billion dollar company in 10 countries. It has also been named as one of the fastest growing women-owned companies in the US. Vaca’s road to success was a long one.

She grew up in Quito, Ecuador and has six siblings. Her family struggled to support them financially balancing several businesses. When she was 17, her father was killed in a robbery at a travel agency he was the head of. Though she has faced many hardships, Nina has always been vocal about sharing her story, crediting it as a reason for her success. Nina has also added another accomplishment to her resume and that is joining forces with Dan Hunt to bring the FIFA World Cup to North Texas.

Maria Hinojosa is a Mexican-American journalist who serves as the anchor and executive producer of Latino USA a public radio show dedicated to Latino issues. Latino USA is the longest-running Latino public news radio program

She is also the founder, president, and CEO of Futuro Media Group. A seasoned journalist with 40 years in the business, Maria has carved out a name for herself winning a Pulitzer Prize in 2022. She has broken many barriers in the journalism world going on to win awards such as the Kiplinger Award and the Peabody Award. In 2011, she was the first Latina to anchor a PBS Frontline report. The award-winning journalist created Futuro Media Group as an independent nonprofit newsroom producing stories across audio, video, and digital platforms. Their content reaches over 10 million people annually, leading in dual-language podcasting. Maria created an empire that believes in authentic storytelling that represents the minority.

Lastly on our list of women to honor during Hispanic Heritage Month are Latina entrepreneurs Karla Gallardo and Shilpa Shah are cofounders of Cuyana, a fashion brand that breaks away from fast fashion and focuses on creating pieces that are built to last. Their unique philosophy prioritizes ethical and sustainable fashion, valuing quality above all else. The brand works with artisans around the world from Ecuador, Peru, and Vietnam to ensure fair and safe labor practices. They are dedicated to not only making the world more fashionable but also socially conscious. They have kept true to their mission since starting the company in 2011.