Lou Nieto grew up fascinated by strategy.

A kid once destined for law school, he devoured battle maneuvers from historic wars and studied chess—a game he still believes doubles as a potent metaphor for life.

Nieto's interest in strategy translated seamlessly to his leadership roles in corporate America, in which he held high-ranking positions with Kraft, Dean, and ConAgra Foods. It was in business where he was able to fully realize his potential as a strategic thinker—someone who could not only revive a faltering company, like he did at ConAgra, but also set it up for success.

Retired since 2009, he continues to advise and mentor a growing community of Latino entrepreneurs, teaching each of them that it's their responsibility to define their own potential.