We believe that connecting people and ideas creates a world that works for all. This principle has never been more crucial than during Hispanic Heritage Month, as we celebrate the extraordinary contributions of Hispanic and Latino communities while acknowledging the challenges they continue to face in our current political climate.
Why Hispanic Heritage Month Matters More Than Ever
Hispanic Heritage Month, observed annually from September 15 to October 15, honors the histories, cultures, and contributions of American citizens whose ancestors came from Spain, Mexico, the Caribbean, and Central and South America. This year, the celebration takes on added significance as Hispanic and Latino communities navigate an increasingly complex political landscape.
With immigration policy, voting rights, and representation at the forefront of national discourse, the voices and perspectives of Hispanic and Latino leaders, thinkers, and changemakers are essential to building understanding and creating meaningful progress. By 2045, Latinos will make up 1 in 4 Americans and are projected to be 78% of new entries into the labor force in the next ten years. These communities represent not just historical contributions, but the living, breathing future of American innovation, leadership, and social change.
The Power of Hispanic and Latino Leadership
We're proud to publish authors who embody the transformative power of Hispanic and Latino leadership. Our collection celebrating Hispanic Heritage showcases voices that are reshaping how we think about leadership, social change, and community building in our current political moment.
The Power of Latino Leadership by Juana Bordas
Juana Bordas takes us on a transformative journey to the heart and soul of Latino leadership, offering 10 principles that illustrate the inclusive, people-centered, socially responsible, and life-affirming ways Latinos have led their communities. In our current political climate, where divisive rhetoric often dominates headlines, Bordas's model offers a blueprint for leadership that is uniquely suited to our multicultural, global age.
Her newly expanded second edition includes crucial insights on intergenerational leadership—particularly relevant as six out of 10 Latinos are millennials, representing the largest generational shift in history. This book demonstrates that Latino leadership isn't just powerful and distinctive; it offers lessons that can inform leaders of every background.
At a time when traditional leadership models seem inadequate for addressing complex societal challenges, Bordas shows us leadership rooted in community, collaboration, and collective empowerment. Her principles provide an alternative to the zero-sum political thinking that characterizes much of today's discourse.
Auténtico by Dr. Robert Rodriguez and Andrés T. Tapia
Rodriguez and Tapia tackle what they call the "4 percent Shame"—the shockingly low percentage of Latino corporate executives today. Their research reveals the external forces of conscious and unconscious bias and the internal tensions many Latinos face about whether to assimilate, opt out, or double down on their cultural identities while advancing their careers.
Drawing from interviews with highly successful Latino executives across generations, this book provides essential guidance for navigating corporate America while staying true to one's cultural identity. In our current political climate, where questions of belonging and representation are hotly debated, "Auténtico" offers a roadmap for professional success without sacrificing authenticity.
The book's insights are particularly relevant as political rhetoric around immigration and cultural identity intensifies. Rodriguez and Tapia show that the solution isn't choosing between success and cultural authenticity—it's finding ways to thrive precisely because of, not despite, Latino identity and values.
Their work addresses one of the most pressing issues in today's workplace: how to create environments where diverse talent can succeed without having to hide or minimize their cultural identities. This isn't just about Latino advancement; it's about creating more inclusive, innovative, and effective organizations for everyone.
Thriving in the Fight: A Survival Manual for Latinas on the Front Lines of Change by Denise Padín Collazo
Denise Padín Collazo brings a deeply personal perspective to the challenges facing Latina activists in today's intense political environment. As the first Latina, first woman of color, and first woman to raise a family while staying in community organizing work at Faith in Action—an international network of 3,000 congregations and 2 million members—Collazo understands the unique challenges of fighting for change while facing racism and sexism.
Her book, winner of the gold medal at the International Latino Book Awards for Best Latina-Themed Book and Best Self-Transformational Book, offers three keys to thriving in social change work: leading into your vision, living into the fullest version of yourself, and loving past negatives that hold you back.
In an era where activism and political engagement are more crucial than ever, Collazo's guidance helps ensure that changemakers can sustain their work for the long haul. She recognizes that Latina and all women of color activists do their best work when they are thriving, not simply surviving.
Her manual is particularly vital as we face ongoing political challenges around immigration, voting rights, economic justice, and representation. Collazo provides practical strategies for maintaining focus, morale, and energy while engaging in the exhausting but essential work of social change.
Leadership Models for Our Time
These authors don't just represent Latino voices in publishing—they offer leadership models that our entire society desperately needs. In a political environment often characterized by division, short-term thinking, and zero-sum competition, they demonstrate alternatives rooted in community, authenticity, sustainability, and collective empowerment.
Bordas shows us inclusive leadership that brings people together rather than driving them apart. Her principles offer politicians, business leaders, and community organizers a different way of thinking about power and influence.
Rodriguez and Tapia demonstrate authentic leadership that doesn't require people to choose between advancement and identity. Their work provides a model for how organizations can become more innovative and effective by embracing rather than suppressing cultural diversity.
Collazo offers sustainable activism that can maintain momentum for the long-term change our society needs. Her strategies help ensure that the energy and passion driving social movements don't burn out before achieving meaningful progress.
The Current Moment: Challenges and Opportunities
Today's political climate presents both significant challenges and unprecedented opportunities for Hispanic and Latino communities. Immigration debates dominate news cycles, voting access remains contested, and economic equity continues to be a pressing concern. At the same time, demographic shifts are creating new opportunities for Latino political and economic power.
Our authors provide roadmaps for navigating this complex landscape:
When political rhetoric dehumanizes immigrants and communities of color, Bordas's model of people-centered leadership offers a powerful counter-narrative that emphasizes dignity, inclusion, and collective empowerment.
When workplace discrimination and glass ceilings persist, Rodriguez and Tapia provide strategies for advancement that don't require abandoning cultural identity, showing how authentic leadership can actually be a competitive advantage.
When the work of social change feels overwhelming, Collazo's survival manual offers practical tools for maintaining energy and effectiveness in the fight for justice.
Beyond Representation: Transformational Impact
These books go beyond simply increasing Latino representation in leadership—they offer transformational approaches that can benefit leaders and organizations of all backgrounds. The leadership models they present aren't just "Latino leadership"; they're evolved forms of leadership that our interconnected, diverse world requires.
In a political environment that often rewards division and short-term thinking, these authors demonstrate the power of approaches rooted in community, authenticity, and long-term vision. They show us that the solutions to our biggest challenges may come from perspectives that have been historically marginalized.
Taking Action Beyond October 15
Hispanic Heritage Month shouldn't end on October 15. Here are ways to continue supporting Hispanic and Latino voices and the transformational ideas they champion:
Implement inclusive leadership practices from Bordas's model in your organization. Create environments where diverse perspectives aren't just tolerated but actively sought and valued.
Support authentic advancement by applying lessons from Auténtico to reduce bias in hiring, promotion, and leadership development. Help create workplaces where people can succeed because of, not despite, their cultural identities.
Sustain social change efforts by using Collazo's strategies to support activists and changemakers in your community. Invest in approaches that help people thrive in the long-term work of creating a more just society.
Center Latino voices in discussions about the future of leadership, given their projected role in the American workforce and their distinctive approaches to community-building and collective empowerment.
The Leaders We Need Now
In our current moment of political division and uncertainty, we need leaders who can build bridges, heal communities, and create sustainable change. The Hispanic and Latino authors in our collection offer exactly these kinds of leadership models—approaches rooted in community, authenticity, justice, and long-term thinking.
These aren't just books by Latino authors; they're books that demonstrate why Latino perspectives are essential for solving the challenges facing all of us. They show us leadership that is collaborative rather than competitive, healing rather than harmful, and sustainable rather than short-sighted.
Building the World We Want
As we observe Hispanic Heritage Month, we're reminded that the future of American leadership will be significantly shaped by Latino voices and perspectives. The authors in our collection aren't just preparing for that future—they're actively creating it through their work, their writing, and their leadership.
They remind us that effective leadership comes from understanding diverse perspectives, that sustainable change requires community-centered approaches, and that the solutions to our biggest challenges often come from those who have been historically marginalized.
During Hispanic Heritage Month and beyond, let's not just celebrate Latino contributions to our past—let's actively engage with Latino visions for our future. The leadership models, advancement strategies, and activism approaches offered by our authors provide roadmaps for creating the more just, inclusive, and effective society we all need.
Explore our complete Celebrating Hispanic Heritage collection to discover these transformational voices and more.
