Halfway through Hispanic Heritage Month, I’ve been thinking less about a 30-day celebration and more about what it means to carry that energy, pride, and connection with us throughout the entire year.
That mindset was reinforced recently when I attended Wendy Amara’s Yes Mujer, You Can leadership event. Stepping into that room was a powerful reminder of why I co-founded ITP Beauty alongside my two incredible business partners.
As a proud Latina and the daughter of immigrant parents, so much of my journey is rooted in their sacrifices and their unwavering belief in a better future. But keeping that fire lit while building a business requires something just as important: community. The kind of community where you feel seen, understood, challenged, and supported.
It’s easy to talk about entrepreneurship in terms of growth, milestones, and the highlight reel. The reality is much more complicated. In that room, surrounded by Latinas who look like me, lead like me, and understand what it can feel like to be “the only one at the table,” we talked about the real stuff.
The fear. The uncertainty. The seasons when you question whether you’re doing enough or going in the right direction. The challenge of building something meaningful while raising tiny humans, working full-time, managing a million responsibilities, or trying to turn a side hustle into something more.
There were women working late nights after their day jobs, sitting alongside seasoned founders who were actively creating opportunities and opening doors for the next generation. Different paths, different seasons, but so many of the same fears, hopes, and ambitions.
That kind of vulnerability is powerful. It reminded me that being a BAWSE doesn’t mean having all the answers or doing everything alone. It means knowing when to lean on your community, allowing yourself to be supported, and using your own experience to make the path a little easier for the woman coming behind you.
Hispanic Heritage Month may have an end date, but the work, the pride, the connection, and the responsibility to keep moving the needle don’t.
That’s something I want to carry with me every day.
~Sharon, ITP co-founder