Moneda Moves

This season on Moneda Moves, we have been expanding how we talk about capital, because it’s not just about money. It’s also about power and access, across sectors. Today, we’re talking about what it takes to gain access to one of the most traditional forms of capital: loans.According to the Latino Business Action Network, the odds of loan approval from national banks are 60% lower for Latino-owned businesses than for comparable white-owned businesses in 2024. And for Latina-owned businesses, the gap is even wider — with just 39% average approval rates from both national and local banks.That’s why voices like Vanessa Sancha matter. She is an Assistant Vice President and Bilingual Business Access Advisor for the Chicago/Milwaukee region of U.S. Bank, providing support in both Spanish and English. In her role, Vanessa helps bridge critical gaps in information, connections, and capital, which otherwise can limit growth and opportunity for small business owners.A seasoned financial professional and community leader, Vanessa is driven by a mission to empower diverse business owners through access to capital and resources. Her financial services career spans over 16 years, including a notable tenure at PNC Bank, where she advanced through leadership roles in business banking and branch management.Vanessa also served as a Relationship Manager at local CDFI, Milwaukee Economic Development Corporation (MEDC), managing and underwriting a commercial portfolio. Her expertise lies in building strong client relationships and offering tailored guidance to help businesses thrive across diverse industries.Beyond her professional accomplishments, Vanessa is deeply committed to giving back. She serves on the board of the Wisconsin Veteran Business Alliance and the WWBIC loan committee. She has developed and led financial education programs for youth and adults through organizations like Journey House, WRTP, Milwaukee Christian Center and Running Rebels, inspiring participants to achieve their goals and contributing to more equitable economic outcomes in her community.She is committed to advancing opportunities for underserved communities and helping build a more inclusive economy where every entrepreneur can succeed. When she’s not connecting with business leaders or volunteering, Vanessa enjoys spending time with her daughter, cheering her on at basketball and volleyball games.In this week’s episode, we’re talking about how banks can partner with local businesses and open the door to opportunities that have historically been closed to them. Financial capital, like loans, offers local businesses the chance to grow and create more financial stability for the community. With these programs, big banks are reaching out to entrepreneurs to offer guidance, help them navigate the financial challenges they’re facing, and help them increase their chances of getting loans. Tune in to hear more about these programs and how local entrepreneurs can grow their businesses through financial capital. Follow Vanessa on Instagram @_v.s.anabel_ and on her LinkedIn. Check out the US Bank’s Access Commitment here! Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMovesFollow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaroMain podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST, an Afro-Latina-owned boutique podcast production and copywriting studio.

Welcome to a brand new era of the Moneda Moves podcast.In 2025, Latinos in the U.S. face palpable changes. From a Supreme Court ruling that enables federal agents to stop suspects based solely on their race, language, or job to immigration policies that create ripple effects on crime, public health, and the education of children from mixed-status families, the ground beneath us is shifting. That’s why Moneda Moves is evolving, to meet the moment.We’re extending the definition of what capital looks like. On Moneda Moves, we’re not just talking about assets and cash anymore; we’re talking about capital in all its forms: financial, social, political, and cultural. One of the topics I wanted to explore is how we use our organizing and politics to nurture, protect, and expand the collective power our communities have built. That’s why this week I sat down with nonprofit founder and organizer Berto Aguayo.Berto Aguayo is an attorney at K&L Gates and the founder of Increase the Peace Chicago, a nonprofit that empowers youth with the tools and mentorship to become community leaders. From his transformation as a former gang member to an advocate, Berto has helped over 700 young people access employment and civic leadership training, fostering safer and more inclusive environments. He also cofounded the Annual Black and Brown Unity Car Parade, a public celebration of racial healing and pluralism uniting Black and Latino groups.By speaking to Berto, I heard firsthand how Increase the Peace is using social and financial capital to strengthen the Latino community in Chicago. And it doesn’t stop there. He’s working alongside Black leaders to create a space where we can actually listen to each other and move in alignment.In this week’s episode, we break down how Berto and his team are building power that lasts generations. Berto is determined to use his capital to protect Latinos in Chicago because he wants to be the person he needed when he joined a gang at thirteen. Now, he’s working on solutions to intercommunity violence and supporting people impacted by ICE raids and deportations. There’s so much to learn in this week’s episode and so many ways you can take action. Tune in to hear how Berto is using his social and financial capital.Follow Berto on Instagram @berto_aguayo and on his LinkedIn. Follow Increase The Peace Chicago on Instagram @itp_chicago and on their website. Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMovesFollow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaroMain podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST, an Afro-Latina-owned boutique podcast production and copywriting studio.

Mi gente! Welcome back to a very special episode of Moneda Moves. It’s no secret that this year has been a challenging one for Latino-centered companies and business owners. From shifting economic tides to political uncertainty, the landscape is testing us—but also pushing us to innovate and build smarter.As some of you may know, I had the honor of moderating a panel at SXSW all about the state of Latino startup hubs across the U.S.—and today, I’m thrilled to bring you that conversation as a live podcast episode!This panel was packed with real talk and insight from powerhouse women in business and investing. We explored what it really looks like to build in this moment: the challenges, the strategies, and the money moves Latinos are making as we continue to chase generational wealth.Yes, things feel uncertain right now. But uncertainty is also a call to strategize, not just survive. As a community, we can plan, pivot, and uplift one another.Here’s one thing we do know: Latinos now hold the fifth-largest GDP in the U.S.—and Latinas are leading the charge in new business creation. The women on this panel are proof of what’s possible, and I can’t wait for you to hear their wisdom.Here’s who joined us down in Austin in our LIVE podcast with our friends (who we did angel investing training with just last year!) at Inicio, impact-focused organization that supports and invests in early-stage Latino-led startups, working to close the capital gap and grow Latino entrepreneurship across the U.S:🎤 Eneida Roman is the President & CEO of Amplify LatinX, a business organization advancing the American economy by championing leadership representation, economic mobility, and public policy solutions that consider the immense contributions of Latino Americans. 🎤 Jessica Salinas serves as Co-President of New Rising Ventures and New Media Ventures, impact investment funds supporting entrepreneurs who are innovating for social and political power, respectively. 🎤 Maria Jose Palacio is a fifth-generation Colombian coffee farmer with an unwavering passion for empowering her community. Born and raised in a celebrated coffee region of Colombia, Maria spent several years working in design in New York City before her heart led her back to her roots in 2016. Witnessing the struggles of her loved ones in Colombia to make a living through coffee farming, Maria knew she had to take action by co-founding Progeny Coffee. With a fierce commitment to uplifting others, Maria overcame numerous small business obstacles to co-create a thriving distribution platform that empowers coffee farmers and helps lift them out of poverty. In this week’s episode, we’re tapping into the power and responsibility of Latino startup hubs.Late last year, our friends at Inicio Ventures launched a landmark startup hub report spotlighting 18 Latino startup hubs across the U.S.—regions that are home to over 35 million Latinos and brimming with entrepreneurial potential.These hubs are more than just business clusters—they’re centers of innovation, job creation, and economic momentum, led by Latino founders, funders, and ecosystem builders working to uplift their communities. And while the persistent capital gap is real—with Latino founders and funders each receiving less than 2% of startup funding—this report is less about what’s missing and more about what’s possible when we come together.Follow Eneida on Instagram @amplifylatinx and her website.Follow Jessica on Instagram @jsalinas011 and her website.Follow Maria on Instagram @mjpalacio1 and her website.Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMovesFollow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaroMain podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.Podcast production for this episode was provided by Sarah Tulloch and her podcast production company, CCST.

Pulse check, mi gente: How are we? January was a very, very long month and came with multiple challenges for our community. And while these threats against ours and diverse communities across the board are flooding our newsfeeds, we must also seek and distribute resources that are available in these trying times. You can find information on immigrant rights here and updates on how the ACLU is responding here. This is a marathon, not a sprint. We must believe we will get through this together. If you feel moved to, this is a great time to get involved in your local and extended communities also being directly impacted by executive orders. Feel free to tag @monedamoves in any helpful posts or link resources in our Substack comments. We know that there is power in a community, especially at an economic level. Research shows that Latinos are the fastest-growing group of new business owners, we create new jobs with these businesses, and we have extremely strong purchasing power ($3.4 trillion to be exact). The broader Latino community and our smaller, more local communities have immense economic power that we can use to strengthen our communities. But in order to access that economic power, we have to work together and we have to strategize. By working together, we can be the beneficiaries of our own economic strength. We can do that by focusing on our communities and putting money into our own communities. Small businesses have gone viral via online platforms, and not only gained social popularity, but have had economic success through their customers’ support and by catering to the needs of their audience Latino-owned businesses offer real, tangible value to their consumers, but it can’t do that if no one knows they exist and economic support. This week’s guest is ensuring the world knows about incredible Latino-owned businesses. Danny Miró-Chinea is a fellow advocate for the U.S. Latino community, dedicated to creating opportunities for our communities and celebrating Latino excellence through entrepreneurship, storytelling, and community building. As the founder of Comprende, Danny’s platform is designed to uplift the U.S. Latino community by supporting Latino founders, amplifying their businesses, and sharing inspiring stories of impact. Comprende operates as a weekly newsletter and creative agency focused on the U.S. Latino demographic and is working on building a marketplace to connect consumers and companies with Latino-owned businesses. Through Comprende's creative agency, Danny has collaborated with startups like Suma Wealth, equipping Latinos with financial tools and resources as well as influential organizations like the Latino Donor Collaborative, shaping the narrative around Latino contributions. In this week’s episode, I sit down with Danny to talk about the role of community building and mentorship in entrepreneurial spaces, the impact of AI on budding Latino-owned businesses, and how building a business can be used as a vehicle to affect positive social change. Latinos have an impressive economic power, and today, Danny’s going to teach us how to leverage that power as both a business owner and a consumer. Follow Danny on Instagram @comprendelatino and his website. Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound. Podcast production for this episode was provided by Sarah Tulloch and her podcast production company, CCST.

Welcome back, Moneda Moves community. Following an eventful start to this week in news, we have another amazing journalist on the podcast, Cora Cervantes, who spoke with Latinos all last year leading up to the election which landed Trump in office. She’s here to share what she heard on the ground from Latinos, many of who are business owners, and their biggest concerns they want to see addressed – inclusive of economic issues. And before we dive in, we would be remiss to not acknowledge the way our Latino communities (plural) will be disproportionately targeted ahead of mass deportations set to start this week. As a platform that stands behind first builders, rewriting our narratives that exemplify our collective force, and tools for empowerment – we acknowledge how damaging the combination of rhetoric and actions on behalf of the new administration can and will be. During this time, we will be leaning into our personal community on the ground. We’ve also found Eliza Orlins, New York City public defender, and her explainers particularly helpful as of late. As you know, this season we’re focusing on 2025 economic trends, how they affect our entrepreneurial community, and how our community will move the American economy. We have a memorable lineup for you and can’t wait to share the information and resources we’re producing this season. As many of us know, 2024 was a tough year for small businesses. Average revenue was up, but so were expenses, according to Biz2Credit. Breaking down the numbers and net-net, profits were down: average monthly earnings for small businesses in the first 11 months of 2024 was about $86,000 - more than $60,000 lower than in 2023. Some entrepreneurs found themselves in the red in some cases, as this week’s guest independent journalist Cora reported. When interviewing working-class Latinos about their businesses in 2024, she found that people were struggling to keep up with the current economic climate, let alone improve their economic standing. It can also explain why Latinos voted with the economy among their top concerns. This week’s guest, Cora, is an independent journalist based in Los Angeles. She covers politics, immigration, climate change, and race and culture with an equity lens. She has a network television and cable news production background at NBC News and MSNBC. She has produced digital stories for multimedia outlets, including NBC News, Al-Jazeera, Latino USA, palabra, High Country News, and Narratively. Cora is a graduate of Columbia University and holds a Master’s degree from New York University’s Arthur L. Carter Journalism Institute. She currently serves as a board member of NAHJ’s Los Angeles Chapter. Cora spent much of 2024 speaking with working-class Latinos about their businesses and how they perceive the economic environment in the United States. Small business owners are holding out hope that the economy will improve. But with the rising cost of goods eating away at their profits, they’re eager for change. As a result, in the 2024 election, several sources she spoke with voted with the hope that the new president would improve the economy and protect their businesses. In this week’s episode, we sit down with Cora to talk about what she learned while covering Latino business owners and their votes, as well as the coverage we can expect to see more of within the Latino community in 2025. We're discussing everything from why some Latinos voted the way they did to how stricter immigration policies could affect our day-to-day lives. The Latino community is incredibly diverse, and our reasons for what we do and who we vote for are layered. By having boots on the ground via journalists who speak with working-class business owners, we gain a better understanding of what they’re experiencing and why. No te lo quieres perder. Follow Cora on Instagram: @cora_cervantes Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound. Podcast production for this episode was provided by Sarah Tulloch and her podcast production company, CCST.

Can you believe it? We have arrived at the last installment of 2024 with Moneda Moves, and thank you for joining us this year! Throughout this season, we continued to cover top Latino entrepreneurs and leaders in the space looking to close capital gaps in our ecosystem, starting with my hometown, Chicago, the wider Midwest, and beyond. This week, we’re coming back to our roots and talking about how Latino culture is influencing purchasing power. Little Village, a neighborhood in the southwest side of Chicago, is named the "Mexico of the Midwest" and generates over $900 million annually through its Latino-owned businesses. People come from all over the U.S. to experience the very specific type of nostalgia they can usually only find in Mexico. My immigrant parents sure did as I was growing up. It was here where we could find the botanica with medicinal herbs we were looking for or specific ingredients for a dinner with a taste of the motherland on Sunday afternoons. Customers come for the food, the street vendors, and the experience of feeling at home in a familiar place. This kind of success has the potential to be a blueprint for Latino communities all over the U.S., and this week’s guest is sharing how we can both protect this wealth and strengthen it. Jennifer Aguilar is the Executive Director of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce, where she leads the mission to foster the growth and prosperity of businesses in Little Village while harnessing the community's rich cultural heritage to create fresh opportunities. In her role, Jennifer orchestrates the comprehensive planning, coordination, and execution of all facets of the Little Village Chamber of Commerce and Little Village Special Service Area #25. This includes staff management, operations, programs, projects, and services. With over a decade of experience, Jennifer has excelled in safeguarding corporate brand image and reputation through adept management of public and private stakeholder relationships. Authenticity is at the heart of Little Village’s success. With traditional street vendors, quinceañeras, and over 100 restaurants, the corridor's success comes from knowing what its customers want. That includes products that are not only culturally comforting but also good for them. During her time at Nostro Queso, Jennifer found that customers prefer to buy organic, preservative-free products and are willing to pay higher prices for products in places like Little Village than they would in chain grocery stores. She says that customers who come to shop at Little Village would rather pay for traditionally made products than anything else. But when towns like Little Village become popular, large corporations often move in, which can negatively affect the community when not done responsibly. In this week’s episode, Jen talks about what’s going well in Little Village’s economy and what we can do to protect it. $900 million is just the beginning. There is so much more that the people of Little Village can accomplish if given the opportunity. To make sure they do get that opportunity, Jen is working with the community to ensure they have the chance to own their spaces, limit the negative side effects of gentrification, and thrive in this generation and the next. No te lo quieres perder. Follow Jen on Instagram: @jenmydear @littlevillagechamber Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound. Podcast production for this episode was provided by Sarah Tulloch and her podcast production company, CCST.

Que tal, Moneda Moves community? As both an employee and an entrepreneur in the financial industry, Juan knows just about everything there is to know about a business’s finances. He knew exactly what founders would need from a financial program like Lazo in order to grow their businesses, so he built it! Juan created a company that empowers Latino business owners through their finances and ensures they can scale their businesses. Juan Manuel Barrero, a three-time entrepreneur, hails from Trenque Lauquen, a small town in Argentina, where he grew up in an accounting family business. Now based in Miami, he is building Lazo, a venture enabling him to make a significant social impact and transform his lifelong industry. His efforts benefit countless entrepreneurs while revolutionizing the sector. Driven by the desire to create a substantial social impact, Juan aims to innovate and disrupt the CFO and legal tech SaaS industry. He recognizes the potential of AI, automation, and standardization in building scalable products. As the CEO of Lazo, he founded and leads the top gateway for Latin American startups in the U.S. Through partnerships with early-stage startups, Juan helps structure their data and provides a comprehensive VC-ready SaaS solution to address their finance, tax, legal, and investor relations needs. Finances have always been a huge part of Juan’s life. His father was a CPA in a small town in Argentina, and he has been helping his father with the family business since he was a kid. As an adult, he also became a CPA and worked for major corporations for five years before becoming an entrepreneur and creating his own business, just like his father. His dad even became his first partner! It’s because of his experience in leadership positions and his community of Latinos in the financial industry that he created a program to give back to his community. It hasn’t always been easy! From discovering his company was not sustainable to receiving hundreds of “no’s” from investors, he has experienced all the highs and lows of being a founder. He’s had to let go of businesses he wasn’t truly aligned with and find his true purpose before creating Lazo. Now, after years of recalibrating and redefining his purpose, Lazo is the number one pick for Latin American startups. No te lo quieres perder. Follow Juan on Instagram: @joinLazo Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound. Podcast production for this episode was provided by Sarah Tulloch and her podcast production company, CCST.

This week, we’re highlighting a cross-border trailblazer who is dedicated to bringing financial news in context for Spanish speakers in the United States. Our guest, Enrique Castro, is dedicated to bridging the financial education gap he’s noticed in Latino populations by sharing the knowledge he’s learned firsthand and creating a connection to current affairs. Each week, Enrique empowers his audience by sharing the latest financial news that impacts their families’ economies. He also shares inspiring stories of Hispanics in the United States who are transforming and strengthening the community. By advocating for his community on a local level and an international level, he is bringing financial literacy to those who need it most. Enrique Castro is an economist, podcaster, and Director of Membership and Corporate Relations for the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. As a Director, a role he accepted earlier this year (congratulations Enrique!) he uses his position to support Latino businesses in the Greater Austin area. His experience as a multi-hyphenate business owner has helped him understand the challenges of the needs of other small businesses. As host of the Economics and Finance podcast Taco Financiero, he is focused on documenting the Latino community here in the United States and speaking to how current affairs impact this community. Before moving to the US, Enrique was born and raised in South Mexico where he studied economics at ITAM (Instituto Tecnológico Autónomo de México) and developed economic development policy experience while serving at the Mexican government. Many external factors affect our personal finances - including upcoming elections, the cost of living, and the rate of inflation. But not everyone knows how to make sense of these external factors in the context of their everyday finances. This is why Enrique has made it his mission to educate the Latino community and let us know exactly what we should expect. In this week’s episode, we'll talk about his experience working as an economist and an entrepreneur, his story of how he immigrated to the U.S., the macro trends that he's watching this year, and how the election may impact entrepreneurs. No te lo quieres perder. Follow Taco Financiero on TikTok and Instagram: @tacofinanciero Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound. Podcast production for this episode was provided by Sarah Tulloch and her podcast production company, CCST.

Welcome to the 2024 season of Moneda Moves mi gente. This year, we are speaking with leaders in the Latino entrepreneurship ecosystem who are paving the way. And among them is Rocio van Nierop is Co-Founder and Executive Director of Latinas in Tech. For more than 15 years, she has been working in the tech industry and is and advocating for Latinx diversity and inclusion. Today, Latinas in Tech consists of almost 30,000 women working at more than 100 of the top technology companies worldwide. As We All Grow cites, she now works with lawmakers at the city, state, and federal levels to help change the system from outside the tech ecosystem. So I saw it fitting to ask her about her take on DEI in this year, a year where diversity equity and inclusion is being challenged by the right. No te lo quieres perder. Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.

When Miguel Leal saw American shelves representing Mexican food, he noted there was a big opportunity to create this offering: a CPG company that is both culturally-relevant and convenient. Enter SOMOS Foods, which makes Mexican food with authentic recipes and plant-based, Non-GMO ingredients. Tacos, tostadas, nachos and chilaquiles are all ready in ten minutes. His experience in building successful food brands is extensive. He previously helped accelerate growth at KIND Snacks, where he served as Executive Vice President Marketing for three years. There, he first connected with SOMOS co-founders Daniel Lubetzky and Rodrigo Zuloaga. He is a Mexican-American food industry veteran who comes to SOMOS following two years as the Chief Marketing Officer at Cholula. Before then, he was at Danone and Diamond Foods working on the Kettle brand. His food career began at PepsiCo's Frito-Lay managing the Lay's potato chip category for nearly three years. Miguel moved to the United States to receive his MBA from The Wharton School at UPenn. A fun fact: Born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, Miguel's favorite Mexican meal is home-cooked picadillo with rice and beans. Follow SOMOS Foods on Instagram: @eatsomos Find SOMOS Foods online: https://eatsomos.com/ Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.

It’s the last episode of the first season of 2023 and I couldn’t think of a better topic to close this season about multi-hyphenates than with an episode on storytelling. If you’ve listened to this podcast before, you know I’ve spoken about this: The power of storytelling. It has the power to shape reality, attract and grow our businesses. Today, we are speaking with an expert in the industry on the PR side: that’s Karina Martinez, founder of The Avana House. It’s a public relations and storytelling agency founded to reshape media narratives through storytelling. In 2018, Martinez opened the doors to the agency with the intention to celebrate leaders, flavors and brands that represent what our diverse BIPOC communities look like. The name Avana is an homage to Havana, Cuba where Martinez’s parents were born. In just a few years The Avana House led storytelling for some of the fastest-growing emerging brands and created moments in publications like The Today Show, Food & Wine, and The New York Times. Today, we speak with Martinez about her calling to increase representation and authentic stories in media, leveraging data to do so and how her unique journey into PR has defined the way she runs her business and built her team. Follow Karina on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/karina-martinez-001/ Follow The Avana House on Instagram: @TheAvanaHouse Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.

Marcia Chong Rosado (she/her/ella) faces multidimensionality head on. She holds multiple identities within her work, but also in her personal life as she’s navigated cultures across continents, socioeconomic spaces, and industries. Her goal? To bridge venture and civic engagement worlds. Personally, Marcia operates within and outside of evolving labels, including identifying as multiracial from diverse ancestors, Ecuadorian, as an immigrant to the United States. Today, she is a Director at Cinematica Labs, focused on building mission-oriented entrepreneurial ecosystems in partnerships with ecosystem builders, like Pharrell Williams’ Black Ambition. Marcia is a Coach with the National Science Foundation’s Convergence Accelerator program uplifting teams of scientists addressing national-scale societal challenges. She is also involved in civic engagement as a Commissioner on the Worcester County Commission on the Status of Women to promote rights and opportunities for women and girls, and as an Advisory Board Member for the Commonwealth Seminar, a privately funded program focused on “Opening the Doors of Government to Everyone”. Marcia’s work in venture ecosystem building, startups, nonprofits, and partnerships has been noted by Amplify Latinx, HBCUvc 31 under 31, Boston Business Journal, Harvard Law & Policy Review, and Forbes. We speak with Marcia about the navigating identity, community and venture ecosystem building in the startups ecosystem and what an equitable future looks like. Take a listen. Connect with Marcia Chong Rosado on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marciaxchong/ And on Instagram: @marciaxchong Follow Moneda Moves on Instagram: @MonedaMoves Follow your host Lyanne Alfaro on Instagram: @LyanneAlfaro Main podcast theme song from Premium Beat. Our music is from Epidemic Sound.