2026 JEFAS® Business Excellence Summit

Building a business can be exciting, but it can also mean making a hundred decisions alone.

Sometimes what helps most is not another article to save or webinar to watch later. It is sitting across from a woman who understands what you are trying to build, asking the question you have been carrying and hearing an honest answer from someone willing to share what she learned.

That is why we created the JEFAS® Business Excellence Summit: a day for practical learning, new connections and conversations that can shape what comes next.

On Friday, September 4, 2026, JEFAS® Latinas in Business Magazine and the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship Outreach at Drake University’s Zimpleman College of Business will bring Latina entrepreneurs, business leaders and community partners together in Des Moines for the third annual summit.

Meet Our Keynote Speaker: Leia Baez

Award-winning author and speaker Leia Baez will present “There’s Power in Your Story: How Authenticity Can Fuel Business Growth.”

This high-energy, interactive keynote will explore how the experiences that shape us can also influence the way we communicate, lead and grow a business. Through personal storytelling and guided reflection, Leia will help attendees identify the parts of their own stories that can build trust, strengthen relationships and create new opportunities.

Attendees will work toward three practical outcomes:

• Identifying the experiences that influence their leadership and business decisions.
• Using authentic storytelling to build trust and stronger connections.
• Connecting their stories with greater visibility and new opportunities.

Leia is the award-winning author of A Star for Stella: A Mother’s Journey to Overcome. Her professional background includes journalism, media relations and government communications. Her 2018 Bellevue University commencement address, in which she shared her experience of rebuilding her life during a difficult period, has received more than six million views.

Two Sold-Out Summits and a New Chapter

Together, the first two JEFAS® summits welcomed more than 250 entrepreneurs and business leaders from Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and beyond. Both events sold out.

What began as an idea for bringing Latina entrepreneurs into the same room has grown into a regional gathering where attendees can find practical resources, exchange ideas and begin relationships that continue after the event.

This year marks a new chapter through our partnership with Drake University. The collaboration will expand the business education, resources and professional connections available to attendees while preserving the honest, welcoming environment at the heart of JEFAS®.

In 2025, the JEFAS® Business Excellence Summit received the Gold José Martí Award for Outstanding Event from the National Association of Hispanic Publications, one of the country’s longest-running recognition programs honoring excellence in Hispanic media.

What You’ll Find at the Summit

The Summit is designed to leave room for more than listening. Throughout the day, attendees will be able to ask questions, exchange ideas and meet entrepreneurs, professionals and organizations from across the Midwest.

The 2026 program will include:

• Nationally and regionally recognized speakers.
• Educational workshops with practical business information and resources.
• Leadership development sessions.
• Opportunities to meet potential collaborators, mentors and professional connections.
• An exhibitor marketplace featuring businesses and community organizations.
• Candid stories and lessons from Latina entrepreneurs building businesses in their communities.

Additional speakers, workshops and the complete schedule will be announced as details are confirmed.

You Don’t Need to Have Everything Figured Out

Maybe you are preparing to open your first business. Maybe you have been doing this for years and are ready to grow in a different direction. You may be advancing your career, leading a nonprofit, supporting entrepreneurs in your community or carrying an idea you have not acted on yet.

You do not need to own a business, arrive with a polished pitch or know exactly what your next step will be.

The Summit welcomes entrepreneurs, small business owners, corporate professionals, nonprofit leaders, students, aspiring entrepreneurs, business resource providers and community partners.

If you care about entrepreneurship and want to contribute to the success of Latina-owned businesses, there is a place for you in this conversation.

Join Us in Des Moines

The previous two summits sold out. Early registration is encouraged for anyone planning to join us on September 4.

Bring your questions, your ideas and a willingness to introduce yourself to someone new. One conversation may lead to a resource, relationship or opportunity you could not have found alone.

We look forward to welcoming you to the 2026 JEFAS® Business Excellence Summit.