Women Raise the Game Shines in Downtown Los Angeles
On November 12, stars lit up the Grammy Museum in Downtown Los Angeles for the first annual Women Raise the Game conference. On the rooftop, Latina leaders in sports and entertainment shared wisdom and celebrated trailblazing achievements. Tish Galindo, founder and CEO of the 360 Agency, launched Women Raise the Game to expand opportunities for Latinas in male-dominated industries. This inaugural conference celebrated Latina pioneers and fostered impactful networking, achieving tremendous success with a packed turnout.
Women Raise the Game: Empowering Women in Sports
Tish Galindo opened the evening, thanking collaborators and emphasizing the motto: “Nothing great is made alone.” Then, Mistress of Ceremonies Pili Montilla, Emmy-winning producer and TV host, introduced the first panel, “Changing the Game: Building Power and Unity for Women in Sports.” Renata Simril, CEO of L84, moderated a panel featuring Daysi Garcia, a law student organizing gang-intervention boxing programs, Iris Diaz, Director of Marketing and Brand for the 2026 FIFA World Cup, and Alana Meraz, founder of Latinx in Sports.
Garcia, the subject of an upcoming documentary produced by Simril, reflected on overcoming challenges shaped by her upbringing. “I grew up in the hood, and I own that. It’s a good thing because it brought me here,” she shared. For her part, Meraz highlighted mentorship as the key to breaking barriers and uplifting other Latinas. Diaz encouraged cultivating a positive attitude and warned against competition among Latinas. “Don’t step on your Latina girls! You don’t wanna be the only one,” she said.
Women Raise the Game: Authenticity as a Superpower
The second panel, “Authenticity as a Competitive Advantage: Women Shattering Industry Barriers,” was hosted by Tania Mercado of Intuit. It featured Karina Martinez, co-founder of Latina-focused sports media company DRAFTED, Priscilla Chavez, Business Development Manager at PCL Construction Services, and Maria Garcia, Divisional Director of Banking at JPMorgan Chase.
Martinez, who identifies as “a proud member of the LGBTQ+ community,” discussed embracing individuality, noting she was the only speaker wearing sneakers. She shared her firm belief in the importance of showing up authentically so others might feel comfortable doing the same.
For her part, Chavez emphasized raising intercultural awareness in professional spaces, adding that, most of the time, people who don’t immediately understand us “simply don’t know better.” Similarly, Garcia revealed she entered the finance world because she didn’t see enough Latinos having crucial conversations about money. “It’s not just about having a great job,” she said. “What are you doing with the money you’re getting from your great job?” She concluded on a triumphant note, stating that our mottos—from “Sí, se puede” to “Échale Ganas”—speak to the resiliency that is the very foundation of our heritage.
Women in Entertainment Share Their Stories of Resilience
Finally, the panel “Voices of Change: Trailblazing Paths in Entertainment, Music, and Advocacy” brought together Latinas from various creative disciplines. Ruben Garcia, Co-Head of Cultural Business Strategy at CAA, introduced us to three stunning women: Jennie Carreón, a government relations strategist who recently worked with Firma Jalísco to champion Latino-led films; Bonnie Abaunza, a social impact producer who has worked on activism campaigns in conjunction with films like Hotel Rwanda and Roma; and Lupita Infante, a GRAMMY-nominated mariachi singer whose music carries a message of empowerment.
Carreón revealed that Latinos make up just 2.8% of Hollywood screenwriters. That’s why she’s passionate about telling Latino stories in a holistic way—and why, she reminded us, Latinas in the film industry need to be persistent. “If you’re interested, keep knocking on doors,” she told us.
An Evening of Inspiration
For her part, Infante, granddaughter of famed Mexican artist Pedro Infante, shared her experience as a woman in a genre of music that is still largely male-dominated. Abaunza reminded us that a fighting spirit rather than a sense of defeatism is essential for social and political progress. Working with Amnesty International, she spent time with former child soldiers and victims of genocidal rape. Through it all, she remained motivated by a verse from the Talmud: “You’re not obligated to complete the work, but neither are you free to abandon it.” She offered a heartening example from her career: after she organized for Yalitza Aparicio, star of Roma, to join her in addressing Mexican UN representatives about Convention 189, which protects domestic workers, the convention was ratified.
Lupita Infante closed the conference with a moving performance of “La corona es mía,” accompanied on guitar by her husband. As attendees left the event, the empowering energy of the evening resonated. Every woman walked away inspired to embrace her crown and raise the game in her field.
