Overview:
Victoria Garcia sits down with us to discuss why she founded The Latina Owned Collective and what it has accomplished so far.
Victoria Garcia remembers the shock she felt when she first learned that Latinas lose thousands of dollars each month to the wage gap. That frustration, mixed with the struggles she saw fellow entrepreneurs facing, pushed her to create something new: The Latina Owned Collective, a network designed to fight inequality while uplifting Latina-owned businesses.
“I started The Latina Owned Collective for two reasons: 1) COVID’s impact on minority women and 2) Latinas have the biggest wage gap of all racial groups,” Garcia said. “Latinas lose an average of $2,538 every month due to the wage gap—I was appalled by those statistics, so I decided to do something about it.”
Born in Mexico City and raised in Colorado, Garcia grew up bilingual and bicultural, an experience she says deeply impacted her personal identity and leadership journey. As someone who understood how to navigate two different cultures, she noticed the struggles Latina entrepreneurs face when building their businesses in systems not built for them.Â
“These identities have absolutely shaped what I do professionally and certainly have shaped everything that I’ve done on behalf of and with The Latina Owned Collective,” she said. “The incentive for starting The Latina Owned Collective was to provide a community that would support and amplify the work of Latina-owned businesses.”
What began as a response to unfair wage inequality has grown into a flourishing network: The Latina Owned Collective. Through events, mixers, workshops and partnerships, The Latina Owned Collective became more than just a support system—it’s a platform that supports Latina-owned businesses while also providing a space for women to network, collaborate and grow their business.
One of the countless women this organization has helped is Maritza Aguirre Sanchez, a senior at the University of Colorado Boulder. Sanchez is the founder of Maritza’s Treats, a small business where she makes, sells and delivers desserts.
“I’ve been holding off on promoting my business too much due to time constraints and wanting to finish up my last year of college,” Sanchez said.
In early August, Sanchez was invited by Garcia to a pre-event mixer with the Latina Owned Collective, where she provided some of her homemade goods and networked with Latina entrepreneurs. The group partnered with WeFranch for this mixer, an organization that connects aspiring entrepreneurs with franchise opportunities.
“I felt intimidated at the moment because I was the only college student there,” Sanchez said. But after connecting with professionals, she realized “that everyone was faced with the same struggles.”
For Sanchez, the event was encouraging. “I felt moved and grateful to attend,” she said. The experience gave her the opportunity to connect with people on LinkedIn and business pages on Instagram. She hopes that these new relationships will lead to more sales and collaborations across Colorado.
“I think it’s important to host these events like this,” Sanchez said. “It doesn’t matter if you’re a student, an established business or close to retirement—as long as there are people from different backgrounds willing to talk about what they do, how they do it, or even give advice.”
Experiences like those Sanchez had at The Latina Owned Collective’s events are a clear indicator that the work it does makes an impact. Talented entrepreneurs like Sanchez are taking full advantage of these supportive spaces to grow their business and build community with other Latina business owners, which was exactly what Garcia hoped for when founding this organization.
“I have a newsletter that goes out to the community as well,” Garcia said. “So women can get the word out on what they do for their business and how they serve the Latina community.”
The Latina Owned Collective is currently preparing for its next major event, a Halloween-themed meet-up in October focused on overcoming financial fears. While details are still being determined, the theme is clear: uplifting female entrepreneurs to face financial difficulty with confidence.
“Transferring that generational wealth to anybody and creating something that lasts,” Garcia said. “We’re thinking about the future, about passing down knowledge, resources, and opportunities. That’s what The Latina Owned Collective is all about.”
To learn more about The Latina Owned Collective, follow them on Instagram, @latinaownedcollective, and Maritza Sanchez @maritzas_treats.
