Commentary: Now is the time to unleash our entrepreneurial spirit

By CESAR CONDE*

When most Americans talk about the Hispanic community, the focus is on its size and its growth. And for good reason. The U.S. Census confirms that there are now more than 50 million Latinos in the United States and that within our lifetimes, 1 in 4 Americans will be of Hispanic descent. 

But those numbers are really only part of the story.

According to the Kauffman Foundation’s index of entrepreneurial activity, Hispanics are the most entrepreneurial ethnic group in the nation. The U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce reports that there are three million Hispanic-owned businesses in the United States, which, combined, generate around 2 million jobs and more than $420 billion in revenues annually.   

It is not just about how many of us there are – it is about the amazing things that we are doing. And more importantly, the amazing things we will do tomorrow. 

This rising generation of Hispanics is educated, creative, and hungry to unleash their potential. All that they need is the opportunity – the guidance of a mentor, the support of a financial institution, the encouragement of a leader, and yes, the support of institutions like Univision and the Kauffman Foundation. 

We have a gift for entrepreneurship, and now is the time to unleash our entrepreneurial spirit and reach our full economic potential. 

We are showing all those entrepreneurs-in-waiting that their dreams are attainable. We are demonstrating that we are committed to informing and, more importantly, empowering our audience. 

In that spirit, I am happy to announce that we will be launching a new initiative, which will focus on addressing the financial issues that matter to our audience and also providing our community with the information and resources that will help them succeed.  

Our plan, and vision, is to maximize the Hispanic opportunity by supporting the entrepreneurial spirit of our community.  We will accomplish this by covering all aspects of your financial life – from paying for college and managing a budget, to starting a business and planning for retirement.  

We know that these efforts will help create jobs and will provide a foundation for growth and success in our community. My commitment to you is that we at Univision will keep you informed of our efforts and plans so that, together, we can empower Hispanics and continue to excel as a community.  

*Cesar Conde is the president of Univision Networks and these remarks are translated from a speech made during the Global Entrepreneurship Week event, Unleashing Idea, on November 14^th in Washington, DC. An edited version of the event entitled Liberando el espíritu empresarial will air on Univision this Saturday December 3^rd at 11am ET/PT in most markets, please check your local listings.