From Comadres to Collaborators: Rethinking Networking in Hispanic/Latinx Culture
In honor of Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, IntiNova Consulting is proud to highlight and honor the culture, community, and roots that shape our work. One thought-provoking theme we’ve been reflecting on is the concept of networking—what it means within our community and why it matters.
Hispanic/Latinx entrepreneurs are among the fastest-growing groups of startup business owners in the U.S. Yet when it comes to accessing resources outside of our immediate circles, networking can feel challenging. For many monolingual Spanish speakers—or even English speakers navigating unfamiliar systems—networking can be intimidating.
Within our collectivist culture, networking is not always seen through the transactional, American perspective. Instead, it’s often tied to feelings of pena (shyness or discomfort) when asking for help, support, or services. From lived experience, I’ve observed that within the Latinx community, we tend to practice a kind of unintentional cultural humility. We turn to our trusted networks—our comadres, friends, and family—for guidance, resources, and advice. But stepping outside that circle of trust can feel difficult.
And yet, that’s exactly where opportunity lives.
This Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, I invite my fellow community members to reflect on your own networks. Who are the comadres, colleagues, or friends you can lean on—or uplift—to level up? Sometimes it only takes one connection:
A bodega owner introduced to a small business bank to better understand the loan process.
A local daycare connected to free marketing resources to help them reach more families.
Networking doesn’t only happen in formal spaces like academia, conferences, or industry mixers. In our communities, we network subconsciously every day. When we ask, “Do you know someone who can help with this?” and pass along a recommendation, we are practicing networking in its truest, most communal form.
The challenge—and the opportunity—is to bridge the gap between this natural, community-driven style of connection and the formal networks that often unlock larger resources. If one of us can be that connector, others will follow. And together, we rise.
About the Author
Gladys Muñoz, MPH is the Founder and Chief Executive Officer of IntiNova Consulting. With a passion for economic equity and inclusive growth, Gladys helps small business owners turn strategy into sustainable success. She brings both professional expertise and lived experience to empower entrepreneurs—particularly within the Hispanic/Latinx community—to thrive and expand their impact.
✨ At IntiNova Consulting, we believe that every business has the power to grow through connection, strategy, and community. Contact IntiNova Consulting today and let’s build networks that truly work for you.