If there are some words in American Society that exercise a certain magnetism and are replete with special significance, one of them is definitely “leadership”. This country was founded through the extraordinary leadership of extraordinary people, whose leadership abilities were inspired by a society that worked for progress.
American society, rich in personal initiative, is a society that has always responded quickly to challenges without waiting for state or government funding and approval. It is a society that has known how to articulate self-starting programs in diverse areas. One of these areas is leadership, where private organizations and individuals concentrate on incentives for, and the development of, national leaders. One of the most interesting organizations is “100 Hispanic Women”, which is dedicated to providing tools and strategies for the progress and development of Hispanic women in leadership roles. Basically, the organization’s objective is to train competent leaders. This is a commendable project that attempts to encourage various forms of social leadership among its members with the goal that these women become positive examples for their communities and society in general.

The organization was established by Shirley Rodríguez Remeneski in 1996, with 30 other members as a forum for individuals and organizations where politics and ideas that affect Hispanics and especially women, families, and children, could be inspired and discussed. A forum where members could work for the kind of change that translates into positive policies. As a charitable organization with no political affiliation, 100 Hispanic Women aims to eliminate social barriers, to integrate for diversity, and to increase work and opportunities that favor Hispanic women.
The mission of 100 Hispanic Women is admirable; their work in favor of positive changes and feminine leadership is responsible and based on strengthening values, respect, justice, dignity and recognition, values that are essential in constructing a truly positive and enriching leadership. We often forget that female leadership is possible without subscribing to ideologies of female superiority, or public policies that promote unfair advantages and privileges that really mock women’s ability to become leaders on their own initiative without any extra help. These ideologies, that tend to result in government sponsored equality programs that are usually considered “left” or “progressive,” often do more harm than good to female leadership.

When Latina leadership is achieved responsibly by community and society, developing clearly capable female leaders, with positive attributes and strong values, Latina leaders become a positive influence on society and part of the social enrichment of their communities as opposed to those individuals who take advantage of programs that disrespect and unfairly favor females for their sex, without taking into account their individual abilities.
100 Hispanic Women through their program “Young Latina Leadership Institute”, founded in 2002, is an example for the Hispanic community, and American society in general, of how you can strengthen female leadership in a responsible way by providing real opportunities for women, to create and develop their own programs and strategies that train and inform female leaders in areas like the economy, legislation, education, social reforms and life quality. By helping young Hispanic women master these techniques for leadership and initiatives for change, the organization allows these young women to think for themselves without force-feeding them ideologies.
In this way, leadership is promoted through preparation and the promotion of the capacities and abilities that permit Hispanic women to make their goals a reality through adequate motivation, organization and truly efficient actions. A good leader is a constant inspiration, nothing like leaders implemented by governmental programs who often only want to control people’s minds and the direction of their lives. True leadership is free and individual, creative and positive and cannot be controlled by political doctrines, or feminist discourses. Authentic leaders will always be individuals with strong values and the respect of their communities.
“100 Hispanic Women” and their “Young Latina Leadership Institute” are examples of a commitment to excellence in leadership as well as the honest work done by these women. The organization depends on more than 2,000 business people, executives, and other Hispanic professionals, representing diverse sectors such as law, finances, communications, and government for support. Because of the support and innovation of professionals actively participating in the 100 Hispanic Women initiative and others like it, we will all benefit from the guidance of authentic Latina leaders, women who through responsible, fair leadership will inspire positive change and progress in their communities and across the country.