The Aspen Institute is one of the finest change-making institutions in the world, and I consider it a privilege to be a part of the Henry Crown Fellowship, which was its first fellowship program. Since its creation, many others have been started, including the Liberty and Rodel Fellowships, and several fellowships based on geographic regions, including Africa, the Middle East, China, …
As a working mother of four who is constantly traveling across the country while balancing family, community, and business, my day-to-day schedule is very full. However, if there are two things that I always make time for, it’s my family and my hobbies. Spending quality time with my husband and our beautiful children and participating in some of our favorite hobbies …
Summer is one of my favorite times of the year. Not only because of the amazing family time we share when my oldest daughter is home from college, but also because every summer it begins raining summer interns here at Pinnacle. Through the Pinnacle Summer Fellows program, we make it a priority to offer as many paid internships to deserving students …
So, you’ve just graduated after years of rigorous study, late nights, penny-pinching, hard work, and maybe just a little bit of fun. You’ve gotten that job you worked so hard for and now, you’re ready to launch your career. You’re a rocket ship, ready to take off to wild success! With any luck, soon the checks will start coming in …
Since I was a young girl, my mother and my grandmother always instilled in me the importance of becoming an independent woman. My grandmother would always say, “aprende a vivir sola.” She, of course, did not mean “you will never get married,” which is how this phrase is often used. What my grandmother meant was “learn to be a self-made …
As Pinnacle Group continues its global expansion, establishing its presence in developing markets, I recently traveled to Chile for the remarkable opportunity to speak at a series of leadership events hosted by the U.S. Embassy and Becarius for Impact. These meetups with Chilean entrepreneurs and thought leaders were part of the Embassy’s initiative to further cultivate the country’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. …
It was such a privilege to kick off the Women of Innovation Summit powered by Dallas Startup Week on April 3rd, which brought together top innovators, change makers, and entrepreneurs. These are the North Texas women launching ideas that will change the course of business and tech across the nation and beyond. Personally, it was very meaningful for me to …
As the daughter of immigrants and the first person in my family to graduate from college, I was honored to speak at the Hispanic Scholarship Fund’s (HSF) Entrepreneurship Summit last month in San Jose, California. The annual conference is a very special event that brings together entrepreneurs and HSF scholars – Hispanic students who are leaders both within their schools …
March 8 will always hold a very special place in my heart since Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner proclaimed it Nina Vaca Day last year. It was particularly special receiving the recognition on International Women’s Day moments before being named Woman of the Year by the magazine Solo Mujeres while surrounded by family in my mother’s hometown of Houston. Most importantly, the Nina …
The Hispanic Women’s Network of Texas defines a Trailblazer as someone who has opened the door for other women and has achieved significant success despite obstacles they may have faced along the way. Nina Vaca, entrepreneur, philanthropist, civic leader, and founder of Pinnacle Group has proven to be a Trailblazer.