Today is National Latina Day and actress Stephanie Beatriz is the new ambassador for the Jefa-Owned campaign to celebrate Latina-owned small businesses across the U.S. Beatriz, a long-standing advocate for Latina equality and representation across industries, is partnering with PepsiCo and the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce to spotlight Latina-owned small business and bring awareness to the unique challenges Latinas face throughout their entrepreneurial journeys.
“We’re connecting National Latina Day to the Jefa-Owned campaign to create a national movement to support Latina-owned businesses in your communities,” Beatriz told REMEZCLA. “It’s important to celebrate and uplift hard working Latinas who put their heart and souls into what they do.”
At the Jefa-Owned campaign’s launch preview at Bistró Casa Azul, which the main photo of this post features one of the owners Maria Gonzalez, in New York City, Beatriz reminisced on the “steep learning curve” she faced at the start of her career, adding that the grants and mentorship offered through programs like one are crucial to ensure success in the long run.
“When I started out as an actress, I didn’t know anyone in the industry. All I knew was how to act and I made mistake after mistake. I would go home and think about everything I had done each day and wished I had someone to hold my hand during the process, to guide me through. If only I would have had a mentor to bounce ideas on how to hit the mark,” Beatriz said at the Casa Azul event. “This program is incredible because it lifts up female business owners who have done so much for themselves but now get this extra help in the direction they are already headed.”
PepsiCo’s Juntos Crecemos initiative will award $200,000 in grants to 20 women entrepreneurs in the food and beverage category to grow and scale their business as well as offer business-building resources, enhance business visibility, and build community for Latina entrepreneurs. The grant application period will be open from August 20 to September 27.