I woke up on Saturday to some tragic news. Frank Amadeo, the president of Estefan Enterprises, passed away after suffering a heart attack on Friday night. He was 57 and in good health. When Emilio became a partner at L’ATTITUDE LLC, I became close to the family, but my working relationship was primarily with Frank. He ran everything from their entertainment company to their hotels and restaurants. I never saw Emilio without Frank being there by his side, making sure everything was perfect. He was a nice man and an immensely talented business person. This past Thursday, Frank and I spoke about organizing an intimate dinner at Emilio’s with a select group of Latino influencers. He was energetic and enthusiastic about what we were building together with L’ATTITUDE. The Estefans are devastated and so am I. Frank Amadeo lived an extraordinary life. He was like family to the Estefans, he worked with celebrities, attended the most prestigious events and went places most people could only dream about… and just like that, he is gone. It is a sobering reminder that everything is replaceable except our health. Sol Trujillo and I agreed that we would dedicate 2021 to the memory of Frank Amadeo. Stay safe and please be nice to one another.
There are qualities in our community that no data point can fully capture, but this episode is about one of the biggest: grit. I talk about why perseverance, resilience, family, and purpose have always been among the greatest strengths of Hispanics and Latinos, and why those strengths can be a powerful advantage in a world being reshaped by technology, wealth, and access. But grit alone is not enough. If we want to translate all of that talent and determination into lasting economic and political power, we also need stronger networks, better platforms, and more intentional leadership. The opportunity is real. The question is whether we are ready to organize around it.
For years, we’ve been told that mass deportations would mean more jobs and higher wages for U.S.-born workers. But this episode looks at why the opposite may actually be happening. I break down new research showing how immigrant and U.S.-born workers often play complementary roles in the labor market, why removing one group can hurt the other, and how these policies may be making labor shortages, housing challenges, and economic instability even worse. This is a conversation about jobs, economics, and the unintended consequences too many people still refuse to confront.
Something important is shifting, and this episode is about why it matters. For a young and fast-growing community like ours, the rise of AI may be opening doors that were previously harder to reach — not by eliminating every barrier, but by expanding access to knowledge, tools, and opportunity at a scale we’ve never seen before. But access alone won’t determine who wins. This moment calls for strategy, community, and a serious commitment to turning potential into power. The opening is real. What happens next depends on what we do with it.