Company: BeLIVE Coaching and Consulting, Rhode Island
Company Description: BeLIVE is a professional development, leadership and DEIB coaching and consulting practice that focuses on the meaningful transformation of professionals, leaders, and the culture of entire organizations.
Nomination Category: Individual Awards Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Women Helping Women - Social Change
 Nomination Title: Ilhiana Rojas Saldana
- Briefly describe the nominated individual: history and past performance (up to 200 words):
Total 193 words used.
Ilhiana is a seasoned business executive who is passionate about elevating unheard voices and igniting and empowering underrepresented professionals, especially Hispanic Women to achieve leadership positions and reduce the gender and pay gap across a variety of industries, sectors and regions. She is a certified expert in leadership and DEI best practices that focuses on building resilient, collaborative, and high-performing leaders and cultures that help women thrive. She has coached and trained hundreds of women of all levels, helping them break glass ceilings and accomplish meaningful impact in their respective communities worldwide. She has also been the driving force in the launch of four women’s leadership development programs in Europe, LATAM, and the US. She recently co-founded her second company United Latinas, specifically devoted to empowering, amplifying, and connecting Hispanic Women to elevate their leadership presence to drive social impact. Prior to starting her first company, Ilhiana was a highly respected global business leader with two decades of comprehensive Business, Brand marketing, and Sales expertise and extensive global experience across various industries. In addition Ilhiana serves in different Boards and organizations supporting initiatives that center on the empowerment of women and Hispanic Population.
- Outline the nominee's achievements since July 1 2020 that you wish to bring to the judges' attention (up to 250 words):
Total 250 words used.
Coached and trained hundreds of Women to help them grow their career, strengthen their leadership skills, elevate their voices to stand out, helping reduce the gender and pay gap. Works closely with Women ERGs/BRGs to help members build self-confidence, visibility and create more inclusive and psychologically safe cultures for them to thrive. Has been the driving force in the launch of four women’s leadership development programs in partnership with different organizations in Europe, LAM and the US. Published “Extraordinary Latinas” best-selling book to elevate the stories of 12 Latinas. The book helped build the visibility of the co-authors and helped open many new doors to them building credibility and recognition. Creates yearly spotlight campaigns during Women’s month and Hispanic Heritage month in social media to highlight the accomplishments of rising women and Latinas who seldom get the visibility to the incredible things they have accomplished.
Past Board member and current Board Advisor to the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce supporting hundreds of Latino & women-owned small business launch and grow, partnering with state agencies and government officials, especially through the pandemic, to provide equitable funds and support. Supports the Center for Women and Enterprise and Social Enterprise Greenhouse organizations through their accelerator programs to help women launch and grow their small businesses Co-founded United Latinas devoted to empowering, amplifying, and connecting Hispanic Women to elevate their leadership presence to drive social impact. Is a Founding Advisory Board member of GetWIse providing ondemand advice for women to build their businesses.
- Reference any attachments of supporting materials throughout this nomination and how they provide evidence of the claims you have made in this nomination (up to 250 words):
Total 81 words used.
ALPFA is the Association of Latino Professionals for America, the largest Hispanic non-profit focused on empowering and developing the next generation of Latino leaders for the nation. Every year ALPFA recognizes the 50 Most Powerful Latinas, 25 Latinas to Watch and 25 Rising Stars all of them Latinas who are changing the narrative and creating positive impact: in businesses, in their communities. Ilhiana was recognized as one of the Latinas to watch in 2021 for her work elevating other Latina voices.
- Which will you submit for your nomination in this category, a video of up to five (5) minutes, explaining the achievements since July 1, 2020 of the nominated woman, OR written answers to the questions? (Choose one):
Written answers to the questions
- If you are submitting a video of up to five (5) minutes in length, provide the URL of the video here, OR attach it to your entry via the "Add Attachments, Videos, or Links to This Entry" link above, through which you may also upload a copy of your video. If you are submitting written answers to the questions for this category, provide them in the spaces below:
Co-President of United Latinas - A collaborative organization devoted to empowering, amplifying, and
connecting Hispanic Women and allies to elevate their leadership impact and presence: https://www.unitedlatinas.com/aboutus
Publishing Author of Extraordinary Latinas Book to elevate the stories of 12 incredible Latinas. Became a Bestselling Book : https://www.extraordinarylatinas.com/
- Explain why the achievements you have highlighted are unique or significant. If possible compare the achievements to the performance of other players in your industry and/or to the nominee's past performance (up to 250 words):
Total 135 words used.
Ilhiana is the primary breadwinner of her house and has accomplished all the highlights above (and many others) in addition to being a mother of two kids, being always present in their lives highlighting how to manage work-life balance. As a motivational speaker, Ilhiana shares her personal experiences as a woman and a leader to inspire and empower other women through her experiences of resilience and courage. In many cases, she has been the only one (only woman, only Latina) having to navigate many microaggressions, disparities, and racial injustices, working twice as hard as others to gain visibility, credibility, and support to reach her goals and then share them with others. It has been these challenging experiences that have fueled her to fight for social change to help level the playing field for underrepresented women.
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