Racial economic inequality is a serious issue. The implications go far and wide and I don’t think it hyperbole to say it poses an existential threat to the nation’s economic well-being. If we don’t do much better, our overall economy will suffer. The recent awakening by corporate America to the problem has prompted dozens of company pledges to make capital investments to help boost minority-owned small businesses, and diversify their leadership. I’ve written about this before and I’ve spoken with leaders of some of the companies that made commitments, and I have generally felt an honest intent to make a difference.
However, while some see this as an encouraging step forward, others cynically see a pot of gold. This past month, I was invited to sit on a board of advisors for a company that is expanding its consulting services to include diversity training for the real estate industry. On the surface, this seems fine, except that the company itself has no track record of diversity, has almost no diversity on their staff or leadership, and is best known for producing conferences and one of those “most influential” lists where the only diverse faces are typically at the bottom, huddled together like that scene in Animal House where Kent and Larry were rushing the Omega House.
The issue I have with this company is it trivializes a critical problem by turning a movement into a racket. I worry companies will take the easy way out by hiring fly-by-night diversity consultants rather than making material efforts to bring about honest change. Solving the problem of racial economic inequality is difficult, but it shouldn’t be complicated. Companies can help the cause and help themselves by hiring more diverse leaders in decision-making roles, plain and simple…and some companies are already way ahead. While most Fortune 1000 companies struggle to have one Latino on their board, the Target Corporation has three, and while the tech industry blames their lack of diversity on a limited pipeline of diverse talent, Cisco Systems has two Latinas in their C-suite. Companies can also help by prioritizing supplier diversity. The talent is there, it’s only a question of how much companies choose to prioritize the issue. And if your company needs a consultant, there are plenty of Latino-owned corporate consulting firms with strong track records who can help you out. Send me a note and I’ll be happy to connect you to one of them.
In this episode, I talk about why progress rarely comes from perfect ideas or moral certainty—and why waiting for purity often keeps us stuck. Idealism can feel virtuous, but history shows that real change happens when people are willing to act, accept imperfection, and move forward anyway. For our community, that means choosing momentum over stagnation, results over symbolism, and responsibility over comfort. If we’re serious about building power, dignity, and lasting progress, this is a conversation we need to have—honestly and without illusions.
In this episode, I talk about something we’re almost never encouraged to say out loud: wealth is power—literally. Not likes, not outrage, not visibility. I break down why real influence comes from ownership and leverage, not consumption; why income feeds families but equity builds dynasties; and why a wealthy Latino with a clear purpose shouldn’t be seen as a problem, but as proof of what’s possible. If you’ve ever felt uneasy talking about money or ambition, I’d love for you to watch this one and think about what “owning more” could look like for you and our community.
For a long time, Latinos in America were told a comforting story: work hard, be loyal, and eventually the power would follow. In this episode, I talk about why that story was never completely true—and why visibility, outrage, and good intentions still don’t translate into real power. I lay out what every successful group in this country eventually figured out about leverage, capital, and building our own institutions, and why 2026 has to be the year we stop waiting for permission and start playing a different game. If you’re ready to think beyond parties, elections, and slogans, this is where that conversation begins.