Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month 2025: Building Legacy Through Mentorship

Crystaline Lopez
Sep 15
4 min read

Updated: Sep 19

Each year, from September 15 to October 15, we celebrate Hispanic Heritage Month — a time to honor the extraordinary impact of Hispanic and Latino communities on America’s culture, economy, and identity. For me, this month is more than a commemoration. It’s a reminder of how far we’ve come, the values that guide us, and the responsibility we carry to open doors for others.

As a proud Latina entrepreneur, my journey is rooted in faith, grit, and perseverance. But it has also been fueled by the mentorship and support of others who believed in me, and in turn, by my commitment to mentor and champion other Latinas pursuing their dreams. Hispanic Heritage Month is about celebrating not just what we build, but also how we invest in the next generation.

Built Businesses: A Legacy of Growth

The growth of Hispanic-owned businesses is one of the most inspiring stories in our nation today:

Hispanic-owned businesses now represent 14.5% of all U.S. businesses — more than 5 million firms employing nearly 3 million people. (source: SBA Office of Advocacy)
Together, they contribute an estimated $800 billion annually to the U.S. economy. (source: Culture Banx)
Growth has been explosive: between 2019 and 2023, Hispanic-owned businesses grew by an average of 34% annually, compared to about 1% for all U.S. businesses. (source: Joint Economic Committee)
Since 2018, the number of Latino-owned employer firms has grown by 44%, reaching approximately 465,000. (source: The Brookings Institution)
These aren’t just statistics. They represent millions of stories of people who, like me, started with very little but refused to let circumstances define their future. I began with no financial safety net, no inherited business, no easy path. What I had was a dream, faith in God, and the grit to push forward despite the odds. From those beginnings, I built a consulting firm that today serves clients nationwide.
But my story is not only about building my own business. It is about creating pathways for others.

The Power of Mentorship: Lifting as We Climb

One of the greatest lessons I’ve learned as a Latina entrepreneur is this: true success is not measured solely by what we achieve for ourselves, but by how we lift others along the way. Mentorship is legacy in action.

Sharon’s Story: When I first met Sharon, she was a young professional, the first in her family to graduate from college. Like many Latinas, she carried the weight of breaking generational barriers. Through mentorship, I was able to walk alongside her, offering guidance, encouragement, and practical tools for success. Today, she is thriving in her career — her story a testament to what happens when we combine grit with support. Read Sharon’s story →

Ximora’s Journey: More recently, I’ve had the privilege of mentoring Ximora, a young Latina legislative aide serving on Capitol Hill. At the start of her career, she reminds me of myself when I was navigating government service early on — ambitious, passionate, and eager to make a difference. My role has been to help guide her development, open doors, and encourage her as she grows into a powerful leader in public service. See more about Ximora →

Latina Foundation Partnership: Mentorship doesn’t happen only one-on-one — it also happens through platforms that empower many. That’s why I was proud to sponsor the Latina Foundation’s Jefas on the Move program this year. This initiative equips Latina entrepreneurs with mentorship, training, and resources to launch and scale their businesses. Watching these women graduate from the program, equipped to take bold steps into entrepreneurship, was a powerful reminder that when Latinas support Latinas, we create ripple effects of opportunity. Learn more about Latina Foundation →

The Latina Foundation, Jefas on the Move Graduation

These stories remind me that our community’s strength is not only in what we build, but also in how we invest in others.

Traits That Fuel Our Success

The explosive growth of Hispanic-owned businesses doesn’t happen by chance. It is fueled by values that run deep in our culture and identity:

Family Loyalty – Businesses often begin with family support, with relatives stepping in as investors, staff, and cheerleaders. Family is the backbone of entrepreneurial risk-taking.
Faith in God – Spiritual grounding is a source of resilience and hope. Faith has carried me personally through setbacks and fueled me to keep going.
Community & Collaboration – Hispanic business owners share advice, customers, and opportunities. We see strength in helping one another succeed.
Resolve and Relentless Grit – We are no strangers to setbacks, but we rise again and again, determined to succeed against the odds.
Creativity and Servant Hearts – Our businesses blend cultural heritage with innovation, and at the core is service: to uplift others and meet community needs.
These values are not just strategies for business growth; they are strategies for life.

The Road Ahead: Closing the Gap

Despite the progress, challenges remain. If Hispanic business ownership matched our population share of 19%, America would gain over 800,000 additional businesses, generating more than $1 trillion in revenue and $250 billion in payroll. (source: The Brookings Institution)

That potential reminds us why access to capital, mentorship, and networks matter. It’s why I continue to invest in Latinas through one-on-one mentorship and partnerships with organizations that equip women to thrive. Closing the gap requires all of us to extend a hand to the next entrepreneur in line.