Lucy Wu | Adapting to What’s Next

Sep 3, 2026 | The Business of Surviving to Thrive

THE OF BUSINESS OF SURVIVING TO THRIVE

Lucy Wu | Adapting to What’s Next

From her family’s restaurant businesses to fashion and New York real estate, Lucy Wu’s story reflects an ability to recognize opportunity, adapt to changing circumstances and keep moving forward.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

ometimes you meet someone through a colleague and quickly understand why the introduction was made.

That was the case with Lucy Wu.

Our colleague Nelson Ramos of Wells Fargo introduced us ahead of our HL | Milestone Series – New York event at Bally’s Golf Links at Ferry Point, where Lucy participated as a panelist.

Nelson thought highly of her insights, ambition and personality. It did not take long for me to understand why.

Lucy has a way of making people feel as though they have known her for years. As our conversations continued following Milestone New York, I became interested in something beyond her professional accomplishments.

Where did that entrepreneurial spirit and ability to adapt come from?

An American Dream Takes Shape

Lucy’s answer begins with her family’s journey to America.

Her father arrived in New York in 1980 without speaking English. His first jobs included working as a delivery boy and dishwasher at a Chinese restaurant.

He eventually moved into Japanese restaurants and worked his way up to assistant chef. Along the way, he recognized opportunities that might eventually allow him to build something of his own.

“He always knew he wanted to own a business; that was his American dream,” Lucy shared.

While learning the restaurant business, he quietly collected vendor information from business cards and newspaper clippings, preparing for an opportunity he hoped would eventually come.

Lucy and her mother joined him in 1983. Her mother, who had taught British English in China, handled the front of the house and accounting while her father managed the kitchen and operations.

Together with family members, they opened their first restaurant in Cobble Hill, Brooklyn, in 1986, followed by another in Park Slope around 1989.

According to Lucy’s family account, they later took over Fuji, a long-established Japanese restaurant that brought the family and eventually Lucy to Hell’s Kitchen.

Lucy Wu | In Her New York Element

Lucy was a featured a panelist at our Milestone | New York Event

From Restaurants to Real Estate

The restaurant business also introduced Lucy’s father to another opportunity: real estate.

“He didn’t understand and never trusted the stock market, but he understood real estate,” Lucy explained. “It wasn’t going anywhere; it was tangible, and it was their retirement income waiting to happen.”

Her parents became mom-and-pop landlords while continuing to operate their restaurants.

Lucy grew up watching them buy, sell and manage properties.

Years later, when she was laid off from a career in fashion, entering real estate did not feel like starting over.

“When I got laid off from fashion, real estate wasn’t a leap,” Lucy said. “It was already in my blood.”

That transition says something important about Lucy’s story.

Careers change. Industries change. Markets change.

The ability to recognize opportunity and adapt may be one of the most valuable lessons passed from one generation to another.

Today, Lucy works in New York luxury real estate, helping clients navigate decisions that extend well beyond a transaction. She also sees herself moving increasingly into a thought-leadership role while continuing to ask questions about what might come next professionally and personally.

Her story is a reminder that entrepreneurship is not always learned in a classroom. Sometimes it is learned watching your parents work. Sometimes it begins in a restaurant kitchen. Sometimes it requires leaving one career and recognizing an opportunity in another.

For Lucy Wu, adapting to what’s next is not simply about responding to change.

It is part of the family story.

EDITOR NOTES

Our relationship with Lucy Wu began through the HL | Milestone Series – New York and continued through conversations and experiences that introduced us to another side of the city. This story is part of HL | New York – People. Places. Conversations., our continuing collection exploring New York through the people we meet and the experiences we share.

CONTINUE EXPLORING: A $65 Million View of Manhattan • Going With the Flow at Milos • Becoming More Than a Visitor

← Small Business Month: A Surviving to Thrive Story

Beyond Success: What Comes Next?

Aug 28, 2026 | Culture and Influence, Women and Leadership

Beyond Success: What Comes Next?

Dr. Betty® Uribe’s ELEVATE program brings accomplished women together to examine leadership, purpose and what comes after professional success.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

n a Saturday at Pepperdine University, eight women stood before an audience to share presentations representing the culmination of months of work as participants in Dr. Betty® Uribe’s ELEVATE program. Their subjects were as varied as their professional and personal experiences. There were conversations about leadership and artificial intelligence, reflections on childhood and family, and candid stories about navigating personal challenges, loss and change. One participant spoke about overcoming ADHD and the challenges associated with preparing and delivering presentations.

There was no single definition of leadership offered that afternoon. Instead, each woman approached the subject through the experiences that had shaped her, providing a glimpse into not only what she had learned through the program, but also what she had learned about herself.

HL Media Network was invited to document the final presentations and graduation ceremony. As we recorded the participants and listened to their stories, another part of the experience became increasingly interesting. These were not women at the beginning of their professional journeys searching for their first opportunity. They were educated and accomplished women business owners, managers and professionals who had already assumed significant responsibilities within their respective careers.

Yet each had made an intentional decision to invest months of her time, along with the financial commitment required to participate in an executive development program, to become a better communicator and leader.

That decision may say as much about leadership as anything presented from the stage.

ELEVATE participants and program leaders gathered at Pepperdine University in Malibu to celebrate the completion of the program. Pictured: Stephanie Paul, Maggie O’Sullivan, Diana Jundi, Teresa Razo, Dr. Betty® Uribe, Carolyn Ebersole, Lina Safa, Marisa Sato, Maryl Petreccia, Carolina Chavez and Dawn Robinson.

Creating the Conditions to ELEVATE

For Dr. Betty® Uribe, the program grew from a question she says she has spent much of her life studying: What causes human beings to transcend and how do we create the conditions for that to happen?

Throughout her career working with accomplished leaders and organizations, Uribe says she repeatedly observed that sustainable success begins with alignment understanding who you are, what you value and what you uniquely bring to the world, and then allowing those principles to become the foundation from which you lead.

“I developed ELEVATE to give accomplished leaders space to step away from external demands and examine their lives and leadership more deeply,” Uribe explained.

The program was designed to address a broad range of areas affecting modern leadership, including values, identity, strengths, trust, relationships, negotiation, executive presence, communication, storytelling, branding, technology and artificial intelligence, strategy and legacy. Importantly, Uribe says the objective is to move beyond simply acquiring knowledge and toward putting that knowledge into practice.

“My hope was that each leader would leave with greater clarity about who they are, what they uniquely bring to the world, and how they want to use their influence in this next season of life.”

That idea the next season was particularly relevant as we listened to the women present.

The Investment in Yourself

Success has an interesting way of changing the questions we ask ourselves. Early in a career, the goals can appear relatively straightforward: find an opportunity, develop experience, earn a promotion, build a business or establish yourself professionally. Eventually, however, many accomplished professionals reach a point where the next move is less obvious.

The skills that helped someone become a successful manager may not necessarily be the same skills required to become an executive vice president. Building a successful business does not automatically prepare its founder to lead a significantly larger organization. Professional knowledge and experience can open doors, but increased responsibility brings new expectations surrounding communication, negotiation, decision-making, strategic thinking and leadership.

Throughout the ELEVATE presentations, we heard a great deal about what the participants had experienced and what they had discovered about themselves. There were moments of vulnerability and stories of perseverance. Some reflected on difficult personal chapters, including divorce, the death of loved ones and periods when life’s circumstances required them to regain their focus.

Their stories were reminders that professional development rarely occurs independently of everything else happening in someone’s life. Leadership is shaped by all of it.

Uribe describes one of the most significant outcomes of the inaugural ELEVATE cohort as “clarity accompanied by agency.”

“These leaders entered ELEVATE already accomplished,” she said. “Through the experience, they became more intentional about how they wanted to lead, make decisions, communicate, negotiate, build relationships, and invest their time.”

Their reflection papers and final presentations, according to Uribe, demonstrated greater clarity surrounding values and identity, stronger executive presence and communication, increased confidence in negotiation and decision-making, and a greater ability to recognize both patterns that needed to be released and opportunities worth pursuing.

That last point deserves attention.

Confidence at this stage of a professional career isn’t simply the ability to deliver a presentation or speak comfortably before an audience. At increasingly higher levels of leadership, confidence can mean trusting your judgment when the consequences of a decision become larger. It can mean expressing an opinion in a room filled with accomplished people, pursuing an executive position before someone else tells you that you are ready, expanding a business beyond its comfortable boundaries or recognizing that years of experience have earned you a place at the table.

The women participating in ELEVATE had already demonstrated that they possessed many of the tools necessary to succeed. Their professional accomplishments were evidence of that. Their participation suggested something equally important: successful people can recognize that there are still tools they need to acquire.

From Success to Stewardship

Something else happened as the cohort progressed. Uribe saw the participants begin thinking beyond their individual success.
She points to the trust developed among the women as an important part of the experience. That community created an environment for vulnerability, accountability, encouragement and learning that extended beyond the formal curriculum.

More significantly, she said their thinking began shifting toward stewardship and legacy.

“What have I been entrusted with? Who can benefit from what I know? What do I want my leadership to produce beyond my own success?”

For Uribe, that is the point where personal transformation has the potential to become something larger.

“That is where transformation becomes multiplication.”

It also presents an interesting evolution in the way we think about professional success. At some point, the question may no longer simply be how much someone can accomplish personally. The question becomes what their experience, knowledge, relationships and influence can create for other people.

Dawn E. Robinson, MBA, served as Master of Ceremonies for the ELEVATE graduation ceremony at Pepperdine University in Malibu.

Graduation Is a Milestone, Not an Ending

As the presentations concluded and the women were recognized for completing the program, I found myself thinking less about graduation and more about what happens afterward.

It turns out Dr. Betty® was thinking about the same thing.

“The inaugural cohort taught us something important: ELEVATE cannot end at graduation,” she said.

Uribe is now developing ELEVATE as what she describes as an ecosystem—a continuum intended to support leaders through discovery, executive development, application, accountability, integration and eventually legacy.

The journey begins with Discovery Foundations™, where participants examine their values, strengths, identity, purpose and areas requiring greater alignment. Leaders can then move into the Executive Leadership Master Certification™, an intensive experience incorporating values-centered leadership, negotiation, executive presence, storytelling and branding, trust and belonging, strategic thinking, ethical AI and real-world application.

Graduates can continue their development through the Impact Circle™, designed around ongoing reflection, accountability, peer learning and leadership development. Uribe is also building Integration & Expansion™, which will include immersive global experiences intended to deepen the work by removing participants from the pressures and routines of everyday life.

Over time, selected graduates may also return as Fellows, faculty collaborators, mentors or understudies, allowing the lessons and methodology to move from one generation of participants to another.

This begins to redefine what graduation represents.

Instead of being the conclusion of an educational experience, graduation becomes one marker along a much longer leadership journey.

What Comes Next?

That idea also raises a broader question about women and leadership.

For decades, HL has had the opportunity to meet, interview and recognize accomplished women across numerous industries and at virtually every stage of their careers. Many no longer need someone to convince them that they are capable. Their résumés demonstrate their abilities. They have built companies, managed employees, led organizations, raised families, survived difficult circumstances and established themselves professionally.

For this group of women, the conversation may need to evolve beyond simply encouraging them to succeed. The more interesting question is what they need to reach the next level.

For one woman, that may mean stronger executive communication skills. For another, it could be financial education, understanding artificial intelligence, developing strategic relationships, learning how to negotiate at a higher level or preparing to serve on a corporate board. A successful entrepreneur may need to understand capital and scaling. An experienced corporate executive may need greater visibility and relationships outside her organization before she can realistically compete for a CEO position.

There isn’t one missing skill because there isn’t one definition of what comes next.

Perhaps that is one of the most valuable lessons from spending an afternoon listening to the ELEVATE participants. Professional development doesn’t end when someone becomes successful. In many respects, success simply creates another set of questions.

Dr. Betty® sees an even longer horizon for the program. While the graduation HL documented predominantly featured women, ELEVATE itself is not exclusively a women’s leadership program. The founding cohort included one male participant who joined from Croatia, and Uribe says the next cohort, planned for this fall, will bring together a more balanced representation of accomplished women and men.

“It was an extraordinary honor to lead this founding cohort of remarkable leaders,” Uribe said. “There was something very special about watching this group challenge themselves, support one another, and ultimately discover that ELEVATE is about far more than professional success—it is about who we become, the impact we are called to make, and the legacy we are leaving behind for a time we will never see.”

As she looks toward the next cohort, Uribe believes bringing together a broader range of perspectives, experiences and leadership styles will add another dimension to the experience. Her larger vision is for ELEVATE to eventually become a global community of values-centered leaders who understand leadership as stewardship. Success, she believes, should ultimately be measured by what happens beyond the classroom: the organizations participants strengthen, the people they develop, the families and communities they influence, the decisions they make when nobody is watching and the opportunities they create for those who follow.

“That is what I believe ELEVATE can become: transformation that multiplies from one leader to another, to an organization, to a community and ultimately across generations.”

At HL, we have always been interested in asking people a deceptively simple question: What’s next?

For these eight women, we now have another reason to ask it.

They invested in themselves. They challenged themselves. They completed ELEVATE. Their graduation at Pepperdine University marked an accomplishment worth celebrating, but both the experience we witnessed and Dr. Betty® Uribe’s vision for the program suggest that graduation isn’t where this story ends.

It may be where the more interesting story begins.

Now we look forward to discovering what they do next.

Exclusive photos taken at the ELEVATE graduation ceremony at Pepperdine University in Malibu. Photos by HL Media Network.

2026 Elevate Executive Certification Program | Pepperdine University

EDITOR NOTES

HL Media Network was invited to document the ELEVATE final presentations and graduation at Pepperdine University in Malibu. What began as an opportunity to capture an important milestone became an opportunity to listen to accomplished women sharing their experiences, challenges and ambitions for what comes next.

Their stories reinforce our belief that leadership development does not end with professional success. We look forward to following their journeys and continuing the conversation about the skills, relationships and opportunities that help accomplished women reach their next level.

Milestone | Patricia Pérez: Setting the Standard

Aug 14, 2026 | Culture and Influence

HL | Culture and Influence

Milestone | Patricia Pérez: Setting the Standard

HL Media Network congratulates longtime communications executive, community advocate and 2017 Hispanic Lifestyle Latina of Influence Patricia Pérez as she begins a new chapter following nearly four decades with VPE Communications.

Photos and article by
Richard Sandoval

ome moments deserve to be recognized as milestones. Patricia Pérez’s retirement from VPE Communications is one of them.

For nearly four decades, Patricia built a career in public relations and communications connecting major corporations, public agencies and organizations with the U.S. Hispanic market. Just as importantly, she remained actively engaged with the community-based organizations and causes serving many of those same communities.

As Patricia begins her next chapter, we want to say something very simple:
Congratulations on a job well done. You have built a career to be proud of and thank you for your many years of service to our community.

A Career Built on Relationships

My memories of Patricia go back many years.

I remember crossing paths with her at numerous community events over the years. Her name would often appear on the boards of organizations and community-based initiatives, and there would be many more events, meetings and opportunities to watch Patricia and VPE at work.

Her professional career put her in the company of major brands and organizations. VPE’s client history has included organizations such as Disneyland, McDonald’s, AT&T and Farmers Insurance, along with numerous government agencies and community organizations.

That professional record speaks for itself.

But when I think about Patricia, some of the things I remember most didn’t happen from a stage or in front of a camera.

I remember the conversations.

Patricia was one of those people with whom you could have a quiet conversation and walk away with a new perspective.

She might share an insight, make a suggestion or point out something you hadn’t considered. These were valuable pieces of information coming from someone with years of experience who was willing to share some of what she had learned along the way.

There was never much fanfare surrounding those moments.

It was simply good advice.

And I appreciated it.

Serving the Market and the Community

Patricia’s career also represents an important chapter in the evolution of communications with the U.S. Hispanic market.

Through VPE, she helped bring stories, information and campaigns to the attention of audiences that historically had often been underserved or overlooked.

That work required more than delivering a message. It required understanding the communities those messages were intended to reach.

Patricia understood that distinction.

She wasn’t simply communicating to the community. She was active in the community.

Throughout her career, she contributed her time, experience and leadership to community-based organizations, civic efforts and causes. That involvement provided a perspective that couldn’t simply be learned by studying demographics or reading a marketing report.

She knew the people. She knew the organizations. She understood the marketplace and she understood the value of relationships.

Pictured among Hispanic Lifestyle’s 2017 Latinas of Influence is
Patricia Perez (is standing in the back row).

Documenting the Journey

For more than three decades, our cameras, microphones and pages have documented the people and organizations influencing our communities.

Patricia and VPE are part of that history.

VPE Communications was recognized through Hispanic Lifestyle’s Business: Surviving to Thriving series, which celebrated businesses demonstrating longevity, adaptability and the ability to grow through changing economic conditions and marketplaces.

In 2017, Hispanic Lifestyle recognized Patricia Pérez as a Latina of Influence, acknowledging her professional accomplishments, leadership and commitment to community.

That year, we also sat down with Patricia for an interview, giving her an opportunity to share some of her experiences and perspective in her own words.

Setting the Standard

There is another part of Patricia’s career worth recognizing.

She demonstrated that it was possible to operate at the highest levels of the communications industry, work with major corporate and institutional clients, and remain genuinely connected to the community.

That matters.

Influence isn’t simply about having access to important rooms. It’s also about what you bring into those rooms, the perspectives you represent and what you do with the opportunities you’ve earned.

Patricia helped set that standard.

Her retirement also represents another measure of professional success:

What she helped build continues.

VPE Communications now enters its next chapter under the leadership of longtime VPE professionals Maricela Cueva and Lorena Alamillo. Their opportunity is to build upon a foundation developed over nearly four decades while defining what comes next for the organization.

We look forward to documenting that journey.

A Milestone Worth Recognizing

We often talk about standing on the shoulders of the people who came before us.

People like Patricia helped create a foundation upon which others can continue to build.

They opened doors. They developed relationships. They demonstrated the importance and economic influence of the U.S. Hispanic market. They gave their time and experience to organizations and communities.

And sometimes, away from the cameras and microphones, they quietly shared what they had learned with someone else who could benefit from their experience.

The responsibility for those who follow isn’t simply to admire what was built.

It is to build upon it.

That’s how influence continues.

That’s how a legacy grows.

And that’s why Patricia Pérez’s retirement deserves to be recognized as a milestone.

Patricia, from all of us at HL Media Network, congratulations on a job well done.

Thank you for your service to our community, for the conversations and insights shared along the way, and for helping create a foundation upon which others can continue to build.

You have set a standard and built a career to be proud of.

We wish you much happiness and success in whatever comes next.

EDITOR NOTES

Culture & Influence is about more than documenting what is happening today. It is about preserving the stories of the people who helped create the opportunities we experience today and documenting those who will build upon them tomorrow.

Our history with Patricia Pérez and VPE Communications spans many years. We recognized their accomplishments, recorded their perspectives and watched their influence within the community.

Today, HL Media Network has the privilege of returning to that archive to recognize another milestone.

That is why we document.

Because today’s interview, photograph or conversation eventually becomes part of the record of who we were, who helped shape our communities and how the next generation moved the story forward.

What’s Next for VPE

As VPE Communications begins its next chapter under the leadership of Maricela Cueva and Lorena Alamillo, HL Media Network looks forward to continuing the conversation. In an upcoming Culture & Influence feature, we’ll introduce VPE’s new leadership and explore their vision for building upon the organization’s legacy and what’s next.

Video interview with VPE posted in 2014

← When Local Voices Go Silent Summer Vacation 2026 →

HL | Milestone Series – Honors NAWBO NYC

May 9, 2026 | Milestone

HL | Milestone Series – Honors NAWBO NYC

Empowering Women Entrepreneurs and Expanding Economic Opportunity

For nearly five decades, the National Association of Women Business Owners has served as one of the nation’s most influential advocates for women entrepreneurs. Its New York City chapter, NAWBO NYC, continues that legacy by supporting women business owners across one of the most competitive and dynamic markets in the world.

NAWBO NYC’s milestone is defined by its unwavering commitment to helping women entrepreneurs build stronger companies, expand their networks, and gain access to the resources needed to grow and thrive.

NAWBO NYC will be recognized during the HL | Milestone Series — New York, taking place on May 20, 2026. This invitation-only reception brings together a curated audience of executives, entrepreneurs, and community leaders for an evening of connection, conversation, and recognition.

👉 Event details & RSVP: https://bit.ly/4bApDkE

Through educational programming, strategic networking, mentorship, and public policy advocacy, the organization provides women business owners with practical tools and meaningful connections. Its members represent a wide range of industries, including professional services, technology, finance, healthcare, creative industries, and consumer businesses.

Beyond individual business success, NAWBO NYC plays a critical role in advancing the broader conversation around women’s economic leadership. The organization creates opportunities for members to connect with corporate partners, government agencies, and fellow entrepreneurs while championing policies that foster entrepreneurship and economic inclusion.

In a city defined by innovation, resilience, and ambition, NAWBO NYC continues to provide a powerful platform where women entrepreneurs can learn, collaborate, and lead.

At the 2026 HL | Milestone Series – New York, we are proud to recognize NAWBO NYC for its enduring contribution to entrepreneurship and for helping shape a stronger and more inclusive business community.

Milestone Highlights

Supports women business owners through education, mentorship, and strategic networking.
Connects entrepreneurs with corporate partners, procurement opportunities, and community resources.
Advocates for policies that strengthen women-owned businesses.
Builds a collaborative community of accomplished women entrepreneurs across New York City.
Helps expand economic opportunity through leadership and business development.

Website: NAWBO NYC

The HL | Milestone Series is a national platform designed to celebrate leadership across business, community, education, and innovation.

The 2026 HL | Milestone Series is made possible through the support of Wells Fargo, the series’ funding partner, whose commitment to community engagement and financial empowerment helps bring these important conversations and recognitions to life.

← HL | Milestone Series – Honors Rhina Valentin HL | Milestone Series - Honors Elizabeth C. Yeampierre →

Women | Business | Wellness Series Launches in Temecula

Mar 30, 2026 | Events, Women | Business | Wellness

Women | Business | Wellness Series Launches in Temecula

Temecula, California — March 26, 2026

In what marks the beginning of a new era for Hispanic Lifestyle’s in-person experiences, the inaugural Women | Business | Wellness Series brought together a dynamic and thoughtfully curated audience inside the women’s store at Macy’s Temecula.

Designed as an invitation-only gathering, the evening reflected a shift in how HL convenes its community—more intentional, more personal, and more connected.

Guests were welcomed with a glass of sparkling wine and a curated gift bag, setting the tone for an experience that blended professional insight with lifestyle engagement.

Event Photo Gallery

A full collection of moments from the Women | Business | Wellness Series launch is now available. From candid conversations to powerful exchanges on stage, the gallery captures the energy, connection, and experience of the evening.

A Curated Experience at the Center of It All

Set in the heart of the cosmetics and fashion floor, the event transformed a retail environment into a live forum for ideas, inspiration, and connection.

The space was filled with professional women from across the Inland Empire community leaders, entrepreneurs, business owners, and elected officials creating a room rich with perspective and shared ambition.

The energy extended beyond invited guests. Passersby paused, observed, and leaned in. Several asked how they could become part of the HL community some ultimately joining the experience in real time.

That response said everything: this wasn’t just an event it was a signal of what’s next.

Voices That Set the Tone

The evening featured conversations centered on dressing for success, presentation skills, confidence, and entrepreneurship topics that resonated deeply with attendees.

Prior to the event, Genoveva L. Arellano shared her enthusiasm:

“I have a lot to say about women, business and wellness… thank you Hispanic Lifestyle for this conversation!”

Her perspective, along with fellow speakers, set the tone for a meaningful and engaging dialogue focused on growth, presence, and leadership.

A Community Responds

The impact of the evening was best reflected in the voices of those in the room.

As shared by Jackie Scott:

“Put on your imagination cap for a second—a successful women-packed event in the center of Macy’s Temecula cosmetic department. Yes, you read that right.”

“So many women came out ready to be engaged and open… sharing valuable insight around confidence, presence, finding your voice, and styling your next move.”

“You found a special way to carry out what you do best—creating connections.”

Her reflections captured the essence of the evening—an environment where women showed up ready to engage, learn, and support one another.

Partners and Community Support

The success of the Women | Business | Wellness kickoff event was made possible through the collaboration of valued partners and community leaders.

We extend our appreciation to our host partner, Macy’s Temecula, whose team created a welcoming and engaging environment that elevated the entire experience.

We also recognize the support of our community host partners, including the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center, credit.org, and Arellano Associates, Inc..

Additional thanks to LatinosTalk for their engagement and support.

Guests also enjoyed thoughtfully prepared offerings from our catering partners, Simply Cheese and Yums by Maria, whose presentation and quality added to the overall experience of the evening.

PRESENTER

Genoveva L. Arellano is the Founder and President & CEO of Arellano Associates, Inc., a leading consulting firm specializing in public outreach and communications for transportation, urban planning, energy and water initiatives.

With more than 30 years of experience, Ms. Arellano has led the development of innovative engagement strategies that integrate digital tools, creative design, and inclusive community outreach. She provides strategic leadership on multi-jurisdictional infrastructure programs, including transportation, energy, water and other local planning projects, helping agencies incorporate meaningful public input into project development.

Her bilingual proficiency and deep connection to the Latino community have made her a trusted advisor for projects aimed at Spanish-speaking and underserved populations.

PRESENTER

Michelle Taylor is a senior operations executive with extensive experience in nonprofit financial counseling, housing programs, and regulatory compliance. At Credit.org, she serves as Senior Vice President of Business Operations, overseeing national programs in credit counseling, debt management, and housing stability. Her leadership ensures adherence to NFCC and HUD standards while advancing operational efficiency, staff development, and measurable client outcomes.

Michelle is recognized for building scalable systems, leading high-performing teams, and executing grant-funded programs with accuracy, accountability, and a commitment to financial empowerment. Her cross-agency experience makes her a trusted leader in implementing large-scale, mission-driven programs with both precision and empathy.

PRESENTER

Jackie Scott is the Director of the Inland Empire Women’s Business Center (IEWBC), where she leads efforts to help entrepreneurs start, grow, and scale successful businesses. A former entrepreneur with over 25 years of experience building and operating a wholesale distribution company, Jackie brings real-world insight to the founders and business owners she serves.

Beyond her role at IEWBC, Jackie is a recognized leader in the small business ecosystem. She serves on the CA WBC Network Steering Committee, chairs its Advocacy Committee, and holds board positions with the Microenterprise Collaborative Inland Southern California and the Association of Women’s Business Centers, where she also serves as Advocacy Committee Co-Chair.

The Beginning of What’s Next

This kickoff event represents more than a single evening it signals the launch of an ongoing series designed to elevate conversations around business, wellness, and personal growth.

With additional locations already in development, Hispanic Lifestyle is actively seeking partners who align with this vision of curated, high-impact community engagement.

Closing Perspective

What took place in Temecula was intentional.

It was a reintroduction of how Hispanic Lifestyle brings people together not just to attend, but to engage, reflect, and connect.

This is the direction forward.

How to Get Involved

This is an invitation-only experience—by design.

The Women | Business | Wellness Series is built around a curated audience of professionals, entrepreneurs, and community leaders who value meaningful connection and purposeful conversation.

There are several ways to be part of what’s next:

Attend an Upcoming Experience

Participation is limited to ensure a high-quality environment.
Priority consideration is given to subscribers of HL | Update and members of the HL Partner Network.

Become a Community Host Partner

We collaborate with organizations that are actively engaged in their communities and want to bring people together in a meaningful way.
Host partners receive a limited number of curated invitations and are recognized across our platforms.

Partner or Sponsor the Series

We are actively developing future events and welcome aligned partners who see value in connecting with a professional audience through content, experiences, and community engagement.

Submit a Speaker or Contributor

We welcome professionals with expertise in business, wellness, leadership, and personal growth to be considered for future programs.

Stay Connected

To receive updates, invitations, and announcements for upcoming events:

👉 Subscribe to HL | Update
👉 Follow Hispanic Lifestyle across our platforms