2026 PANELIST
AARP: Lets Talk Dinero Fireside Chat
11:30 AM – 12:20 PM
Let’s Talk Dinero with AARP™, an empowering Fireside Chat featuring Beatriz Acevedo, CEO and Co-founder of SUMA Wealth, and a pioneering Latina entrepreneur, global keynote speaker, Patricia Perez, AARP California President Emeritus and member of the AARP California Executive Council leads the conversation. Learn about AARP California’s priorities from Dr. Adriana M. Mendoza, AARP California’s Associate Director for Advocacy and Community Engagement. This dynamic session will explore the intersection of psychology, culture and finances, uncovering how family narratives, traditions and lived experiences shape the way Latinas earn, spend, save and share wealth. Attendees will gain practical budgeting tools designed to fit real lives and responsibilities, while also building a deeper understanding of assets and the pathways to long-term wealth.
Patricia Perez
CEO/VPE
Patricia Pérez is CEO and owner of VPE Communications, a leading independent, and one of the Latina-owned public relations agencies specializing in reaching the nation’s multicultural markets. Patricia is a social marketing and corporate social responsibility specialist, connecting brands with social causes, motivating consumer behavior, and prompting public policy change..
Beatriz Acevedo
Entrepreneur
Beatriz Acevedo is a pioneering Latina entrepreneur, global keynote speaker,and a leading voice at the intersection of technology, capital, and culture. She is the CEO and Co-founder of SUMA Wealth, the innovative fintech powered by culturally intelligent AI that helps the next generation manage their money, grow their careers, and build long-term wealth.
Rewriting the Shelves: Latina Voices In Publishing
12:27 PM – 1:10 PM
The Latina Voice is varied and powerful. The growing influence of Latina authors who are reshaping literature, publishing, and storytelling through authentic, powerful narratives is rising. But also books on cultural taboos that help you gain perspective to reclaim your inner power. This inspiring conversation celebrates the voices breaking barriers, amplifying cultura, and creating space for the next generation of storytellers while proving that our stories belong at the center of the literary world.
Julissa Arce
Author
A leading voice on CNN, MSNBC, and NPR, with essays published in The New York Times, TIME, and Vogue.Her acclaimed books, including My (Underground) American Dream, Someone Like Me, and You Sound Like a White Girl, blend memoir, social critique, and cultural analysis to reframe conversations around immigration, identity, and what it means to truly belong.
Reyna Grande
Author
Reyna Grande’s upcoming book, Migrant Heart: Essays About Things I Can't Forget (2026), is a memoir-in-essays exploring the lasting scars of immigration, poverty, and her journey to heal.
Her diverse body of work includes her celebrated memoirs, The Distance Between Us and A Dream Called Home, and the novels Across a Hundred Mountains, Dancing with Butterflies, and the historical epic A Ballad of Love and Glory.
Denise Soler Cox
Author
Denise Soler Cox is an award-winning filmmaker and sought-after keynote speaker. She is the creator of the Top 100 podcast The Self-ish Latina. In her new book, What Will They Say?, published by Simon & Schuster’s Atria/Primero Sueño Press, she takes an unflinching look at the ten cultural taboos sabotaging Latina success and the road-tested
Naibe Reynoso
Author/Publisher
Naibe Reynoso is a journalist and a former member of the George Foster Peabody Awards board of jurors.
As a journalist she has two local Emmys. Most recently she hosted Hola L.A. on KCAL/CBS
Her bilingual children's book, How To Stuff a Piñata: Cómo Rellenar Una Piñata, won a Silver Medal for Best Bilingual Children's Fiction at the 2025 International Latino Book Awards.
Latinas in Wellness : Rest, Healing & The Modern Latina
1:37 PM – 2:15 PM
A conversation about the evolving emotional, physical, and spiritual lives of modern Latina women—from stress, burnout, and nervous system healing to intimacy, longevity, hormonal health, and living fully.
Katherine Castro
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Dr. Claudia Aguirre
Neuroscientist
Amina Zamani
Neuroplasticity Specialist
Dr. Suzanne Gilberg-Lenz
OBG/GYN
TV Host/Moderator
Dr. Claudia Aguirre is the world’s first neuroscientist to work exclusively in the beauty industry, pioneering the exploration of the brain-skin connection in beauty and wellness. Her 2015 TEDx talk shed light on the interconnection between our emotional state
and our physical state, a perspective that has not only transformed the approach to skincare but also emphasized the
importance of a holistic understanding of beauty, where mental and emotional health
play pivotal roles. She has advised leading global brands across the beauty, hospitality and wellness world, from L’Oreal and Unilever, to Headspace and Hilma. Her contributions continue to pave the way for innovative research and practices that bridge the gap between neuroscience and well being.
Amina Zamani is a neuroplasticity specialist, executive coach, keynote speaker, and founder of Zamani Coaching Group. With over 15 years of experience, she specializes in helping high-performers, including high-visibility artists and creatives in Hollywood, rewire the nervous system patterns and beliefs that strategy and willpower alone cannot reach. Her work has been featured in USA Today, US Weekly, and on CBS and ABC. Amina holds credentials from UCLA, ICF, Harvard Business School, and MIT Sloan, and co-hosts the podcast Gene & Amina: Rewire — How We Really Change with Emmy-winning broadcaster Gene Kang."
A disruptor, healer, educator and fellow of the American College of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Dr. Suzanne Gilberg earned her medical degree from USC in 1996 and completed her OB/GYN residency at Cedars-Sinai. Board certified in integrative and holistic medicine, she also holds a Clinical Ayurvedic Specialist degree. Dr. Gilberg is Chief Medical Correspondent for The Drew Barrymore Show and author of Menopause Bootcamp. She serves as Chief Clinical Officer at Monarch, transforming women’s healthcare, and co-founded Cedars-Sinai’s Green Committee. Based in Beverly Hills, she’s committed to healing individuals, families, communities, and the planet.
Award-Winning Actress & Producer Katherine is Passionate about creating and bringing to life true stories. She is the host of the Esencia Latina Wellness podcast on LatiNation Media. Katherine was named one of NBC Latino’s Top 10 Standout Latinos at Sundance and she is a recipient of the Hollywood F.A.M.E. Award for ‘International Breakthrough Artist of the Year.’ Castro’s empowering journey from TV host and actress to producer has made her Hollywood’s next powerhouse Latina.
Our Voice is Our Power: Latina Voices
2:55 PM – 3:55PM
Join us for an inspiring panel celebrating Latina voices, stories, and leadership.
Hear powerful conversations that uplift our community, spark change, and encourage others to speak up and be heard. Don’t miss this opportunity to listen, connect, and be empowered by voices that matter. Whether you are looking for inspiration, guidance, or a deeper understanding of the power of representation and community, this panel will leave you feeling motivated and uplifted.
Dr. Yasmin Davidds
Carmen McDonald
Melissa Shepard Williams
CEO of Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Found,
Executive Director
Survivor Justice Center
Psychotherapist
Latina Advocate
Cultural Affairs - LA Chargers
Dr. Yasmin Davidds is an entrepreneur, organizational psychologist, and CEO of the Multicultural Women Executive Leadership Foundation, the Women’s Institute of Negotiation, and the Dr. Yasmin Davidds Leadership Institute—organizations dedicated to the teaching, instruction, and development of leadership competencies primarily focused on women in professional, corporate, academic, and entrepreneurial settings. Dr. Davidds’ commitment to the empowerment and development of thousands of women leaders has earned her recognition and acclaim from the U.S. Congress, the California State Senate, and the California State Assembly.
Carmen McDonald, Esq., has over two decades of experience advancing justice for low-income survivors of domestic violence, sexual assault and human trafficking in primarily family and immigration law as Executive Director in March 2023. She has led the 50-year organization through a transformative rebranding and name change. Her leadership continues to strengthen the agency’s role as a leading voice for survivors in Los Angeles County and beyond. She is also a published thought leader with several op-eds based on survivors, domestic violence, and leadership.
Melissa Shepherd-Williams is a psychotherapist, consultant, speaker, and adjunct faculty member at Pacific Oaks College, where she teaches courses including historical trauma and recovery. She is also a clinician at California Institute of the Arts and serves as VP of the International Society of Black Latinos. She supports persons in moving from survival into vibrant, embodied living through work that integrates cultural awareness, historical context, and holistic wellness. She is the author of From Burnout to Bliss and Living Deliciously which inspire and inform her signature program, Unleashing Deliciousness.
Liliana T. Perez has always used her voice as a force for impact and representation. From her early career working alongside elected officials and community leaders to her current role as Cultural Affairs Director for the Los Angeles Chargers, she has been a passionate advocate for elevating Latino voices and creating opportunities for inclusion. Through her leadership, storytelling, and community engagement, Liliana continues to champion representation and demonstrate how our voices can inspire change, build connections, and empower future generations.
More Than a Market: The Power of Latinas in Beauty
3:55 PM – 4:35 PM
Latinas are not only shaping beauty trends—they are building brands, leading innovation, and influencing a global industry worth billions. Join beauty industry trailblazers Margarita Arriagada, Sonia Ramos, Fernanda Romero, and Ere Perez for an inspiring conversation about entrepreneurship, representation, and the growing economic power of Latinas in beauty. Discover how these leaders are redefining standards, creating opportunities, and proving that beauty is more than a market—it’s a movement.
Fernanda Romero
Ere Perez
Margarita Arriagada
Actress/Entrepreneur
ErePerez
Makeup Founder
Latinas in Beauty Co-Founder
Sonia Ramos
Makeup Influencer
Content Creator
Fernanda Romero is a Mexican actress, singer, and entrepreneur who serves as the founder and CEO of Vita Parfum (also stylized as Vita Perfume). Based between Los Angeles and Mexico City, she created the wellness fragrance line to be an affordable, clean alternative to luxury perfumes.
Fernanda Romero is also an actress, model and singer. She is most noted for her starring role in the Mexican telenovela Eternamente Tuya and her supporting role in the American film The Eye.
Ere Perez, founded in 2002 by Mexican entrepreneur Ere, is a clean beauty pioneer with over 24 years of experience in natural ingredients. Before clean beauty became mainstream, Ere developed high-performance, sensitive-safe formulas to simplify beauty routines and promote healthy skin including the first natural waterproof mascara made from avocado. The brand is now available in 44 countries and has evolved from a personal venture to a globally recognized movement, inspiring Latina entrepreneurs.
Sonia Ramos is a TikTok and social media influencer and skincare expert specializing in techniques for mature skin. She is well-known for her advice and tutorials aimed at those over 40. With her experience and passion for beauty, Sonia has earned a strong reputation as an expert in improving the appearance of mature skin, showing how to achieve a natural, glowing makeup look that works for older skin. She was recently name as one of the 48 Rare Beauty group of Latina women
Margarita Arriagada is an entrepreneurial Founder with a unique vision for future and strong management skills. In 2020, she launched Valdé Beauty to honor her mother and the beauty industry. As a former Chief Merchant of Sephora, she mentors and invests in brands, while also supporting Latina/e Beauty entrepreneurs as a founding Board Member ofinas In Beauty.
MC
Katherine Castro
Award-Winning Actress & Producer Katherine is passionate about creating and bringing to life true stories. She is the host of the Esencia Latina Wellness podcast on LatiNation Media. Katherine was named one of NBC Latino’s Top 10 Standout Latinos at Sundance and she is a recipient of the Hollywood F.A.M.E. Award for ‘International Breakthrough Artist of the Year.’ Castro’s empowering journey from TV host and actress to producer has made her Hollywood’s next powerhouse Latina.
Aliyah Orozco
Aliyah Orozco is a proud Mexican American TV host, international sports reporter, and founder of The Main Event, representing Gen Z through authenticity, passion, and purpose. Aliyah hosts Ganadoras on LatiNation Media, where she helps spotlight inspiring conversations and celebrate the impact of women in sports.
In the traditionally male dominated world of boxing, Aliyah has traveled the globe covering some of the sport’s biggest moments while bringing audiences closer to the athletes behind them. With roots tracing back to Chihuahua, Mexico, she carries her heritage with pride and is passionate about uplifting Latina voices and inspiring the next generation to dream boldly and pursue their passions.