Innovation And Celebration Abound At The ProXimo At AVANCE Global Conference

The AVANCE Global Conference recently hosted its ProXimo event at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego, bringing together leaders across business, entrepreneurship, real estate, technology, sports, media, finance, and venture capital. Designed to highlight growth markets and multicultural communities in the United States — particularly Latino leaders — the conference featured panels, networking opportunities, and deal-making sessions aimed at fostering innovation and collaboration.

This year’s program included the “ProXimo/NEXT GEN” track, created for young adults ages 18 to 35 who are the children of business executives, with the goal of helping them build multigenerational wealth. AVANCE Global partnered with the Latino Business Action Network (LBAN) and the Stanford Latino Alumni Association to further its mission of supporting multicultural business communities.

This year’s event also spotlighted the release of the 2025 Hispanic Wealth Report from the Hispanic Wealth Project (HWP) and the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). The report underscored progress and persistent challenges: most Latinos lack access to formal financial education, relying on family, work, and community experiences that build resilience.

Wealth remains a generational priority, with younger Latnions turning to digital tools and open dialogue to grow their financial knowledge. Homeownership continues to anchor stability and legacy, while tightly valued entrepreneurship often stalls against limited access to capital, according to the report.

Leaders shared insights in panels and breakout sessions that gave attendees like Jennifer Castaneda – ranked among the “Top 100” real estate agents in California and Arizona – space for practical learning and individualized connections.

“This is my first time at the event,” she said. “I made it to the ‘Top 100’ list of real estate agents in California and Arizona.”

An agent at Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices California Properties, Jennifer attended NAHREP panels covering topics like investing, cryptocurrency, finance, and wealth management.

“The panel that stood out was the one for the Top 250 real estate agents,” she said. “You could sit down at a specific table of interest, talk to someone who found success in the past year, and pick their brain. For example, one was luxury listings and how to break into that. Another one was how to build and grow a team. I like that one because it was more interactive. I’m at the conference by myself, but I’m enjoying it.”

Likewise, Vianey Del Castillo, who made the Top 250 Real Estate Agents, was on her third conference.

“My favorite panel was José Hernández; it was very inspiring,” she said. “There is so much information here, you don’t know where to start. I love the camaraderie and energy; we’re all here for the same reason. As Hispanics and immigrants, we have succeeded in reaching this point. We share our journey with others, offering guidance and support. The most rewarding part is conveying this message to the Hispanic community.” 

The ProXimo at AVANCE Global Conference also included “lightning pitches,” where attendees could present an idea or project to a larger audience, especially those with influence. There were “partner workshops,” part of a larger, multi-track event where different partner organizations hosted their own sessions and workshops. Jorge Montoya, founder of The Montoya Mortgage Team, hosted a free workout session where participants applied boxing fundamentals to business.

Likewise, the LBAN also sponsored a reception that helped attendees build relationships and find support while Century 21 and Wells Fargo hosted a Masquerade Ball. In addition were several “invitation-only” events, including the HWP Millionaire Track, NAHREP’s Corporate Board of Governors and National Board of Directors reception, and the ProXimo Next Gen Cocktail Reception.

The ProXimo at the AVANCE Global conference hosted VIVA: SHOP lounge. This space showcased 25 Latino-owned brands across various categories: beauty, food and beverage, kids and family, and apparel.

Susie Jaramillo, Co-founder and the first Latina CEO of children’s entertainment company, Encantos, a bilingual preschool brand, the first of its kind, praises the lounge.

“VIVA: SHOP’s creation was a need for a gathering place for social shopping,” she said. “It allows those of us with direct-to-consumer brands a place to cultivate an audience. For example, people who buy makeup also have kids and could be interested in my products.”

Susie’s Encantos is bilingual content and media with over 30 books and products to help Latino parents translate their culture and language to their kids.

“These are the nursery rhymes we grew up with, so we created a world of animation,” she said. “We launched on Nickelodeon, and now we’re Emmy-nominated with a huge force on YouTube. We’re very proud of what we built.”

AVANCE Global aims to inspire and transform experiences by fostering a vibrant community that promotes meaningful connections. The organization aims to ignite occupational momentum by providing innovative personal and professional growth opportunities. It is dedicated to fueling the development of generational wealth and empowering individuals and families to achieve lasting financial stability and prosperity. For upcoming events, follow AVANCE Global on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn, or download its app from the Apple and Google stores.