The 2026 Latina Empowerment and Development (LEAD) Conference was one of the most meaningful weekends I’ve had at Harvard so far. 

On February 6th and 7th, 300 attendees came together on campus for two days of panels, workshops, and a celebration that was centered on Latina identity, leadership, and community. As Co-Director of Community Engagement, I spent months helping plan the conference, and during the weekend, I had the chance to moderate both the Non-Profit & Public Service Panel and the Law & Policy Panel. It was an experience that made the conference feel especially personal. 

Friday began with check-in at Ticknor Lounge, where students arrived from different schools and backgrounds, turning the space into a busy and welcoming hub. After introductions, we moved to Northwest Labs for our Achievement Keynote with Danna Paola, who talked about building a creative career rooted in authenticity and independence in the global music and entertainment industries. Hearing her describe how she stayed true to herself while shaping culture on such a large scale set an empowering tone for the rest of the conference.

From there, the sessions dove straight into career paths and impact. The Finance & Technology Panel brought together professionals working across business, AI governance, and wealth planning, showing how Latinas are leading in spaces that shape economic opportunity and innovation. Later that afternoon, I helped moderate the Non-Profit & Public Service Panel, where leaders spoke about organizing, mental health, worker justice, affordable housing, and philanthropy. Listening to panelists share how they built careers rooted in community work and equity reminded many of us that public service can take many forms. The Education Panel that followed highlighted how research, policy, and teaching can all be tools to support first-generation students, address inequality, and rethink how institutions serve marginalized communities. 

In the evening, we shifted into spaces for reflection and joy. After dinner, attendees joined the “Healing Through Writing” workshop, where writing became a way to process experiences and connect with personal stories. Later that night, the Soirée Social at Queen’s Head Pub brought everyone together in formal attire under the theme “Nuestra Belleza Latina.” It was a chance to dress up, dance, and simply enjoy being in community after a full day of learning and conversation. 

Saturday started early at the Student Organization Center at Hillies (SOCH) with breakfast and mingling, followed by introductions and the Activism Keynote, the Poderistas Chingonas Table. Hearing leaders talk about organizing for immigrants, workers, and Latinx communities connected the conference to larger movements for justice. Soon after, I moderated the Law & Policy Panel, where speakers included a Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court justice, attorneys, and a Boston city councilor. Being in conversation with women working at the highest levels of law and policy, and asking them questions on behalf of the students in the room, was both grounding and inspiring. Across the hall, the Healthcare & Medicine Panel highlighted Latinas leading in cardiology, mental health, oncology, and neuromuscular medicine, emphasizing that health equity and culturally responsive care were central to their work.

The day continued with lunch, a high-energy Harvard Candela dance workshop, and a digital storytelling workshop focused on creative media and accessibility. In the afternoon, students chose between the Business & Entrepreneurship Panel and the Science & Technology Panel, both of which showed the range of spaces where Latinas are building careers, launching ventures, and pushing research forward. Throughout the day, a networking event gave attendees time to make connections, ask one-on-one questions, and build relationships beyond the panels themselves. 

We closed the conference with a final dinner and Trailblazer Keynote from Quiara Alegría Hudes, whose talk on storytelling, culture, and resilience tied together many of the themes from the weekend: using your voice, honoring your community, and trusting that your experiences are worth sharing. She also brought us behind the scenes of In the Heights, sharing what the film production process looked like and how collaborative storytelling can bring Latinx communities to the screen in powerful ways. Harvard's Candela performed again, followed by Harvard's Baile Folklórico, showcasing, filling the room with energy and tradition. That night, others joined a Self-Care Night with face masks, a movie, and snacks; a reminder that rest and joy are also part of empowerment. 

For me, what made this LEAD Conference was the feeling of seeing it all come together after so many months of work. As Co-Director of Community Engagement, I loved watching students walk into a room and light up when they heard a panelist whose story felt like their own. Moderating the Non-Profit & Public Service Panel and the Law & Policy Panel allowed me to sit at the center of conversations I care deeply about and to help shape questions that reflected what students wanted to know. I met so many incredible women, attendees and panelists alike, and left with new mentors, friends, and role models. 

By the end of the weekend, I felt tired in the best way: proud, grateful, and excited for what comes next. The 2026 LEAD Conference showed me again how powerful it is when Latinas gather to learn from one another, share space, and imagine what our futures can look like. I’m already looking forward to the next conference and to finding new ways to keep building this community.