The Chingona Chair

Bienvenidos to Cafecito Con HACE, hosted by The Chingona Chair.

At HACE’s annual conference, our co-host Diana Sheehan sat down with Dr. Robert Rodriguez, Founder & President of DRR Advisors and a leading voice in advancing Latino leadership.

In this conversation, Robert shares insights from over two decades of research and experience, exploring where organizations still fall short—and what it really takes to build effective pathways for Latino talent. From the importance of culturally grounded leadership development to the critical difference between mentorship and sponsorship, he offers a practical and deeply personal perspective on what drives advancement.

A powerful conversation about embracing your identidad, leveraging community as a strength, and why investing in Latino talent isn’t just important—it’s essential for the future of leadership.

Bienvenidos to Cafecito Con HACE, hosted by The Chingona Chair.

At HACE’s annual conference, our co-host Diana Leza Sheehan sat down with Steven Brown, VP of Culture and Engagement at Molson Coors.

In this conversation, Steven shares his perspective on what it truly takes to build connection and belonging in today’s workplace, especially in a time where connection has become harder than ever. From navigating the impact of remote work and social dynamics to redefining culture as an ongoing, evolving practice, he offers a candid look at the realities behind the role.

A thoughtful and honest conversation about culture as a verb, the power of engagement in unlocking opportunity, and the importance of creating spaces where people feel safe to show up as their authentic selves and grow.

Bienvenidos to Cafecito Con HACE, hosted by The Chingona Chair.

At HACE’s annual conference in Chicago, our co-host Alejandra Garza sat down with Pattie Amaro, Director of Talent Acquisition at Blue Cross Blue Shield Association.

In this conversation, Patty shares her journey from growing up in Pilsen to leading talent strategy at one of the largest healthcare organizations in the country—along with her perspective on AI, career growth, and staying rooted in your values.

A short but powerful conversation about resilience, curiosity, and showing up as your authentic self while creating opportunities for others.

Bienvenidos to Cafecito Con HACE, hosted by The Chingona Chair.

At the 2026 HACE Summit, our host, Diana Leza Sheehan, sat down with Silvana Montenegro, Global Head of the Office of Hispanic & Latino Affairs at JPMorgan Chase.

From walking into her first role in Brazil feeling fear and uncertainty to becoming one of the most influential Latina leaders in corporate America, Silvana shares the moment she realized her differences were not something to hide, but her greatest strength.

A short but powerful conversation about embracing authenticity as a superpower, the critical role of sponsors who push us beyond our own limitations, and why the biggest barriers we face are often the ones we place on ourselves.

Bienvenidos to Cafecito Con HACE, hosted by The Chingona Chair.

At the 2026 HACE Summit in Chicago, our host sat down with Marissa Solis, SVP of Global Brand and Consumer Marketing of the NFL. She is the Latina architect behind some of the league's most culturally defining moments, including Bad Bunny's record-breaking Super Bowl halftime show.

A short but powerful conversation about claiming your seat at the table, leading with vision over barriers, and how one leader is changing what it means for the NFL to show up in culture and for all of us.

Bienvenidos to Cafecito Con HACE, hosted by The Chingona Chair.

At HACE’s annual conference in Chicago, our co-host Alejandra Garza sat down with NASCAR driver Daniel Suárez, the first Mexican-born driver to win a NASCAR Cup Series race. They talk about his journey from Monterrey to racing at the highest levels in the U.S.

A short but powerful conversation about breaking barriers, betting on yourself, and what it means to represent the community while chasing big dreams.

What does it really take to start—and sustain—a small business?

In this episode of The Chingona Chair, hosts Alex Garza and Diana Leza Sheehan sit down with two Little Village-raised, Chicago entrepreneurs, Daniel Silva (Te-Qu) and Roxy Delgado (Marketing Rocks) to unpack the real journey behind entrepreneurship, especially as Latino founders rooted in community.

From taking that first leap of faith to navigating uncertainty, burnout, and growth, Daniel and Roxy share candid insights on what it means to bet on yourself. They discuss the importance of building a strong foundation, knowing when to pivot, asking for help (even when it’s hard), and learning to value your work.

This conversation dives into:

• The mindset shifts required to leave traditional paths behind
• Lessons learned from scaling a business while balancing family and cultural expectations
• How to recognize when it’s time to pivot or hire support
• The challenge of pricing your services and avoiding undervaluing your work
• The power of community, mentorship, and intentional decision-making

Whether you’re an aspiring entrepreneur or already building your business, this episode is a reminder that success isn’t linear—and you don’t have to do it alone.

Key takeaway: Take action, trust the process, and build a business that aligns with your purpose and your life.

This National Small Business Week, the Chingona Chair podcast is celebrating the entrepreneurs who make their communities come alive. Lilia Arroyo Flores of Digame Consulting, sits down with two incredible Berwyn, Illinois business owners whose stories you won't forget.

First, Alex Herrera of Pink Owl Café shares how he went from immigrating from Mexico, to working factory jobs, to becoming a photographer for major Latin music acts — and how he said no three times before finally saying yes to opening a coffee shop with just $400 to his name. Alex opens up about 25 years of sobriety, the wisdom his grandfather passed down, and what it felt like to look around his thriving café and realize what he'd built from nothing.

Then, Vanessa Valentin Lebron, founder of Altura Collective, talks about leaving a 12-year nonprofit marketing career to launch her own consulting business — one that fills a critical gap for authors who need more than a publisher can offer. From launch strategy to book tours to street teams, Vanessa is the force behind the scenes making sure stories don't just get published — they land.

Together, their stories are a reminder that small business is about far more than revenue. It's about resilience, community, and the courage to bet on yourself.

This episode of The Chingona Chair is a special and deeply personal conversation about leadership that moves beyond theory into action.

Hosts Lilia Arroyo Flores and Alex Garza sit down with Devin Theobold, Director of Operations and Special Projects at HACE (Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement), and Bobbi Venegas, Executive Operations and Special Events Manager at HACE, to discuss the organization’s Annual Summit and this year’s powerful theme: Breaking Barreras: Cultivating the Power of Leaders.

Together, they explore how HACE has evolved over four decades, why Latino professionals still face a gap between access and leadership, and what intentional leadership looks like in a time of shifting corporate commitments.

The conversation also previews what attendees can expect at the April 29–30 HACE Summit in Chicago, including powerful community moments, mentorship, and honoring real barrier breakers — with keynote speaker Daniel Suárez, the first Mexican‑American NASCAR Cup Series race winner.

This isn’t just a conversation about a summit. It’s about who shapes decisions, who gets developed, and how organizations like HACE are building pathways that didn’t exist before.

🔍 Key Topics & Takeaways

• How HACE has sustained and evolved its mission over 44 years
• The gap between opportunity and leadership for Latino professionals
• Why “Breaking Barreras” is a year‑round commitment, not just a summit theme
• What meaningful mentorship and sponsorship really look like
• How Latino leaders are being prepared to influence decision‑making spaces

👥 Featured Guests

Devin Theobold Director of Operations and Special Projects, HACE Focused on designing intentional, high‑impact leadership experiences that meet the evolving needs of Latino professionals.

Bobbi Venegas Executive Operations & Special Events Manager, HACE Leads the execution of the HACE Summit and creates spaces that foster authentic connection, visibility, and leadership development.

The old playbook is dead. For decades, brands controlled the narrative — building awareness through campaigns, shaping demand through careful planning, and earning shelf space through forecasts and brand equity. Not anymore.

In this episode of the Chingona Chair, Alex Garza sits down with Lilia Arroyo-Flores of Digame Consulting and Diana Leza Sheehan of PDG Insights to dig into a fundamental shift reshaping retail: demand is now built in real time, driven by culture, creators, and platforms like TikTok and Instagram — often before brands or retailers even know what's happening.

They explore why cottage cheese became a protein superstar, how "boy kibble" went from Latino dinner staple to Fortune article, and why the brands winning right now aren't always the biggest ones — they're the ones with the most authentic permission to play.

From compressed purchase funnels to the rise of agentic AI discovery, this conversation covers what brands, retailers, and marketers need to understand about the new rules of relevance — and why the answer isn't chasing every trend. It's knowing which ones are actually yours.

Topics covered:

• How discovery shifted from brand-led to behavior-led
• Why retailers' planning cycles are leaving opportunity on the table
• The protein trend, cottage cheese, and food-as-fuel
• How creators have replaced institutions as trusted voices
• The tension between speed, relevance, and brand identity
• What "permission to play" really means — and what happens when you get it wrong