What does it mean to truly belong? In this powerful episode of The Latino Majority, Sylvia Banderas Coffinet shares a deeply personal journey shaped by identity, resilience, and the pursuit of belonging. Born in Guadalajara and raised in a mixed-status immigrant family in East Los Angeles, Sylvia reflects on growing up undocumented and the profound impact that experience had on how she sees herself—and the world around her. As a child, she encountered exclusion in its most painful form, particularly during the era of anti-immigrant legislation in California. But rather than internalize those narratives, Sylvia questioned them. She recognized early on that the stories being told about her community did not reflect the truth she lived. That realization sparked a lifelong commitment to storytelling—and to ensuring that Latinos have ownership over their own narratives. Throughout the conversation, Sylvia connects her lived experience to her leadership philosophy. Drawing from the strength of the women in her family and the wisdom of her teachers, she shares how empathy and toughness are not opposing forces—but complementary ones. Like water, true strength can be both gentle and unstoppable. This episode also explores the evolving media landscape and the growing importance of authentic, community-driven storytelling. Sylvia emphasizes that while traditional media has often failed to fully represent Latino voices, a new era is emerging—one where creators, platforms, and individuals are reclaiming their stories. At its core, this conversation is about raíces—roots. About remembering who we are, reclaiming our narrative, and building a future grounded in truth, unity, and cultural pride.   Topics Discussed in This Episode • Growing up in Guadalajara and early cultural influences • Living in a mixed-status family and the experience of being undocumented • The impact of anti-immigrant policies on identity and belonging • Understanding exclusion—and why belonging is a fundamental human need • How teachers and mentors shaped confidence and self-belief • The balance between empathy and toughness in leadership • Lessons from matriarchal strength and feminine leadership • Discovering purpose through storytelling and narrative ownership • Challenges and transformation within the media and advertising industries • The importance of "for us, by us" storytelling • Reclaiming Latino identity and rejecting limiting narratives • The need for unity and collective progress within the Latino community Connect with Sylvia Banderas Coffinet • 4As (American Association of Advertising Agencies) • LinkedIn: Sylvia Banderas Coffinet • The Latino Majority Podcast

*]:pointer-events-auto scroll-mt-[calc(var(--header-height)+min(200px,max(70px,20svh)))]" dir="auto" data-turn-id= "request-WEB:6762c475-6736-4f03-a27e-606fc9c371a8-31" data-testid= "conversation-turn-6" data-scroll-anchor="true" data-turn= "assistant"> What does it take to turn curiosity into a career that reaches millions? In this episode of The Latino Majority, Fernando Palomo shares his journey from a young boy in El Salvador, waking up early to watch Olympic documentaries, to becoming one of the most recognizable voices in global football. Long before the broadcasts and stadiums, there was a deep obsession with understanding sports, collecting newspaper clippings, reading everything he could find, and dreaming of becoming an Olympian. When that dream fell short, a new path revealed itself. At just 15 years old, Fernando knocked on the door of a TV station with nothing but preparation and belief. That moment sparked a career built on discipline, storytelling, and relentless growth. Today, through his work with ESPN, he brings audiences into the emotion and intensity of the game, making them feel every moment, not just hear it. This conversation goes far beyond sports. Fernando reflects on loss, identity, and the pressure to perform, drawing powerful parallels between athletics, business, and life. From embracing competition to finding purpose through storytelling, his journey is a masterclass in resilience and perspective. At its core, this episode is about embracing the obstacles, trusting the process, and understanding that the path forward is built through challenge, not in spite of it.  

What does it mean to be seen—not as a trend, but as truth? In this powerful episode of The Latino Majority, Karla Martínez de Salas—Editor-in-Chief of Vogue Mexico and Latin America—shares her journey from El Paso to the highest levels of global fashion media. Raised in a bicultural environment where identity was fluid but not always fully understood, Karla didn't fully confront what it meant to belong until she stepped into elite spaces where she was often the outsider. From cold-calling internships in the late '90s to navigating the cultural codes of New York, Paris, and beyond, Karla built her career through curiosity, resilience, and an ability to adapt without losing herself. She opens up about the realities of breaking into an industry shaped by privilege—and the importance of relationships, work ethic, and cultural awareness in staying there. Now leading Vogue Mexico and Latin America, Karla is doing more than editing a magazine—she's reshaping the narrative of beauty and representation. By prioritizing local voices, spotlighting Afro-Latina and Indigenous women, and challenging Eurocentric standards, she's helping redefine who gets seen and celebrated on a global stage. At the heart of this conversation is a powerful idea: that perspective matters. That being an outsider can become your greatest advantage. And that storytelling—when done with intention—can shift culture. From the groundbreaking Yalitza Aparicio cover to elevating emerging creatives across Latin America, Karla shares how authenticity, cultural pride, and local storytelling are driving the future of fashion and media. This episode is ultimately about identity, belonging, and the responsibility of shaping how a community sees itself—and how the world sees it.

What does it mean to truly be seen? In this powerful episode of The Latino Majority, Audrey Ponzio—founding partner of APC Collective—shares a deeply personal journey from El Paso to the highest levels of corporate communications. Raised in a community where identity was simply lived, not questioned, Audrey didn't fully confront what it meant to be Latina until she left home and entered spaces where she was suddenly "othered." From being the only multicultural voice in the room to navigating tokenization, microaggressions, and the weight of representation, Audrey opens up about the hidden cost of rising through corporate America—and the strength it takes to lead with authenticity. Along the way, she reveals how her upbringing, her instincts as a communicator, and her commitment to excellence became her greatest advantages. At the heart of this conversation is a simple but profound idea: "the nod." That unspoken moment of recognition between people who share lived experience—a quiet but powerful acknowledgment of resilience, identity, and belonging. Audrey challenges us to think bigger—not just about representation, but about ownership. Building our own tables. Supporting our own stories. Using our economic and cultural power intentionally. Because the Latino community isn't a supporting character in America's story—it's central to it. This episode is ultimately a love story—about identity, about community, and about learning to see yourself fully… and then helping others do the same.

What happens when a young girl in Mexico City refuses to accept that soccer "isn't for girls"? For Adriana Peñón, that early challenge became the foundation for a lifetime of leadership. Today, as CEO of Decathlon Americas, Adriana oversees markets across the United States, Mexico, Canada, Brazil, Chile, and Colombia — but the fire that drives her began long before the boardroom. It began on the field, asking a simple question: Why not me? Raised between Mexico and the United States, Adriana learned early that identity is fluid. In Mexico, her Latina identity blended into the majority; in Silicon Valley, it became one of her most defining characteristics. Navigating those different environments shaped her perspective on power, representation, and the danger of reducing the Latino experience to a single narrative. For Adriana, leadership isn't about fitting into existing structures — it's about expanding the space so others can belong. In this conversation with host Pedro Antonio Guerrero, Adriana shares lessons from scaling global businesses at companies like Meta, PayPal, and McKinsey, and what it truly takes to lead a brand across cultures and continents. From democratizing access to sports to shifting from a mindset of scarcity to one of abundance, she reflects on the importance of curiosity, resilience, and empathy — especially in moments when you feel like the only one in the room. Ultimately, Adriana reminds us that the story of the Latino majority isn't written in the language of "I." It's written in the language of we — community, shared identity, and a collective belief that opportunity should be accessible to everyone.

For Eduardo Placer, the story starts at home. Raised in a Cuban household shaped by exile, education, and resilience, he learned early that how much you know is how much you're worth. Knowledge was currency. Self-awareness was survival. He spent fifteen years as a professional actor before founding Fearless Communicators. Today, he coaches presidential candidates and Fortune 500 leaders, helping them find the narratives that define their leadership. He calls himself a "story doula." The work turned deeply personal during a night stranded alone on a Colorado mountain in a blizzard. With no service and no rescue in sight, Placer faced a choice: either fear would narrate the story, or he would. That moment reinforced what he now teaches leaders across industries. Storytelling is not performance. It is power. As a queer Latino navigating masculinity, perfectionism, and entrepreneurship, Placer understands that the stories we inherit are not always the ones we are meant to keep. In this episode of The Latino Majority, he joins Pedro to explore authorship, identity, and why reclaiming your narrative may be the most important leadership decision you make.

For Oscar Pulido, the story begins in Queens.  Raised as a first-generation Colombian American, he grew up watching his parents navigate sacrifice, immigration, and opportunity—lessons that would quietly shape how he leads today. Long before becoming a Managing Director at BlackRock or the host of The Bid, Pulido learned the value of humility, bilingualism, and earning trust in rooms where you may not always feel like you belong.  Those early experiences became professional superpowers. As his career advanced, Pulido discovered that leadership in modern finance isn't defined by authority or fear, but by communication, accessibility, and relationships. In an industry often perceived as closed or intimidating, he has made it his mission to demystify markets, expand access, and empower communities—especially Latinos—to move from participation on the margins to ownership in the future.

Since 2011, Mario Carrasco has built a successful cultural insights agency alongside his cofounder Roy Eduardo Kokoyachuk: ThinkNow. Carrasco and the agency partner with influential brands and government institutions to pull back the curtain on what shapes consumer behavior using data—particularly Hispanic and Latino consumers. ThinkNow has produced a multitude of research since its founding, including Carrasco's work on the Hispanic Millennial Project and We are GenZ studies. The agency established itself at the forefront of data-driven insights. As 2025 comes to a close, ThinkNow and Carrasco are doing what had yet to be done: determine the impact of immigration raids on Hispanic communities and the economy, while providing actionable insights for how brands can step in to support Latino consumers.

The first-generation son of Cuban immigrants. The first in his family to earn college degrees, a bachelor's degree at Brown University and then a JD from Rutgers Law School. Andrés Acebo could have gone on to bigger and greater opportunities in new cities, new countries. But he chose to return to the New Jersey community where he grew up, where he serves as the youngest university president in the state. His lived experience empowers his service to the students of New Jersey City University, which he's successfully brought from fiscal emergency to positive recovery. It's a privilege that Acebo doesn't take for granted, and he sees the impact of his work reflected back at him on campus every day.

Fernando De Leon counts himself as one of the luckiest guys in the world.   The Mexican American billionaire grew up in Brownsville, Texas, and Matamoros, Mexico, graduated cum laude from Harvard, and began his career as an analyst at Goldman Sachs before launching Leon Capital Group. The humble real estate company in Texas has grown into a powerhouse with businesses across financial services, healthcare, and real estate. Along the way, De Leon hit billionaire status and receiving a self-made score of 10 from Forbes—putting him in the ranks with twenty other people with the same score, including Oprah. De Leon is deeply committed to giving back through his family foundation, which focuses on tackling poverty in South Texas and northern Mexico, and through the De Leon Scholars Program, which invests in the next generation of changemakers across the state to Texas. In a special live taping of The Latino Majority podcast held at The Alumni Society's Leadership Summit in Chicago, De Leon shares his story of resilience and success from humble beginnings to becoming one of the few Mexican American billionaires.