As Latinos business owners, sometimes we decide to just operate within our communities, reaching out for assistance from people we know and avoiding stepping into spaces where we feel “This is not for me” because we are not represented properly or don’t feel safe and wanted.  In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, I talk with my friend Lourdes Mola, Founder and President of Lourdes Mola Solutions, who is on a mission to help large and small companies led by Latinas certify themselves as ‘Women-Owned’ businesses and ensure they have a seat at a table where over 450 corporate entities are interested in engaging in procurement opportunities with more ‘jefas’ (boss ladies).

Lourdes is a consultant for the Women Business Enterprise Council (WBEC) of Florida, assuming the role of regional director and she’s making inroads in helping Latina entrepreneurs in the Sunshine State and Puerto Rico navigate the intricacies of WBEC certification. She brings a wealth of knowledge and expertise like nobody else I know having worked with corporate giants like Disney, and in varying roles, for close to 30 years and transitioning into business ownership herself, nearly a decade ago. Plus, she gets it: we tend to be apprehensive about investing our time and energy in places and spaces we feel we have been historically viewed as a ‘persona non grata’.

First-generation born American to Cuban refugee parents, Lourdes was raised in a bicultural and bilingual household that also provided a depth of understanding that informs how she shows up in spaces where she can disrupt the status quo. Her deep understanding and respect for the influence that ethnicity, race, language, and culture have on how we engage with each other, makes her well-versed in the nuances that can hinder success if left unaddressed. She is determined to solve the underrepresentation of Latina business owners that are WBEC certified and help them navigate how to identify opportunities to scale their business and wealth.

And we made a pinky promise: I’m going to apply for WBEC certification ASAP now that I see myself represented through Lourdes. And the moment I land a new client in direct correlation to my WBEC certification, we are coming back to tell you all about the experience. GAME ON!