The U.S. Latino economy is reshaping America's economic future, and the opportunities extend far beyond one community. After attending Velocity 2026 in Los Angeles, FounderFuego® CEO Amber Tarrac and CLO Richard Lopez share powerful insights on Latino economic growth, consumer influence, business ownership transitions, and what these shifts mean for entrepreneurs, business owners, and nonprofit leaders preparing for what's next

What can Sandra Cisneros teach us about authenticity, identity, and leadership? After meeting the acclaimed author of The House on Mango Street, FounderFuego® CEO Amber Tarrac reflects on the power of embracing our cultura, honoring our stories, and building something meaningful without compromising who we are.

What does it mean to belong when your identity is shaped by more than one culture? Through the poetry and personal journey of Richard Blanco, the first Latino and openly gay inaugural poet in U.S. history, we explore how heritage, storytelling, and the search for belonging shape our identities, leadership, and the communities we build.

From working alongside his migrant farming family in California's fields to becoming a NASA astronaut, José M. Hernández built a career defined by persistence, preparation, and an unwillingness to let rejection determine his destination. After hearing Hernández share his story at Avance Global, FounderFuego® CEO Amber Tarrac and Chief Learning Officer Richard Lopez walked away with lessons every founder can use about pursuing ambitious goals, getting in the right rooms, building meaningful relationships, and being ready when opportunity finally opens the door.

What happens when Latino founders, creatives, executives, and changemakers get in the same room? At Axios Visionarios in Los Angeles, we were reminded that cultura, authenticity, relationships, and lived experience aren't things we leave behind as we grow - they're part of how we build. Here are five lessons we brought home about finding your voice, building community, creating legado, and why the right room can change what's possible next.

When FounderFuego® CEO Amber Tarrac and CLO Richard Lopez received a short-notice invitation to join a panel at Google with approximately 90 executives from the Gemini team, we cleared our calendars and made it happen. We can’t share what was discussed in the room, but we can share what the experience reinforced about building credibility, creating capacity, and being ready when the right opportunity arrives.

For more than 15 years, Richard Lopez has helped organizations strengthen their brands, communicate their value, and create opportunities that drive measurable results. From supporting global brands like PepsiCo, Norwegian Cruise Line, and Food Network to helping founders, executives, and nonprofits improve their positioning, Richard's work focuses on a simple principle: when people understand your value, opportunities follow.

FounderFuego® was born during a transformative moment in Sequoia National Park when a conversation with park rangers revealed how fire helps sequoias grow. That lesson became the foundation for FounderFuego’s mission: helping underestimated founders turn pressure, uncertainty, and challenges into growth, execution, and long-term momentum.