As a small business owner, when I think about sustainability and positive social and environmental impact, it’s intuitive for me to have it as our foundation. For me, they’re not buzzwords we want to use so we “look good”. They’re building blocks by which our ancestors lived. It’s in our culture to work with our environment and to use our business as a force for good.
ENTER B CORP.
If you look through our website or have seen our packaging you’ll notice that we’re B Corp certified. If you aren’t familiar with it, think of what fair trade is for coffee. It’s a third-party assessment that measures a company’s impact on its governance, the community, the customers, and the environment. Long story short, it’s a way to tell you and our stakeholders that we aren’t just saying we’re doing good, it’s woven into our foundation. (Read more about B Corp and its standards here).
Now that you know what B Corp is, you’ll start to recognize the certification everywhere. Patagonia, Eileen Fisher, Ben & Jerry’s, Innersense, and Vital Farms are just a few of the big names. But the movement is so much bigger than that. Across the world, B Corp, both large and small, are redefining business, including in Latin America, where B Corps or Sistema B are leading the charge.
Through this journey, I’ve had the privilege of learning from and connecting with three incredible Latina entrepreneurs who are not just leading businesses—they’re creating movements. Each of these women is using their platform to challenge the status quo, uplift communities, and drive meaningful change.
MEET CAROLINA MIRANDA FROM CULTIVATING CAPITAL
Carolina and I were connected through a mutual friend back in 2021. We were privileged to work with her and her team for our certification, and currently our recertification. I was immediately drawn to her energy and her spirit not only because of our common name, her Central American roots, and her curly hair but also because of her passion for helping businesses.
Through Cultivating Capital she challenges businesses, both small and large, to be intentional with how they operate, engage in practices that advance the well-being of all lives, seek solutions that encourage collaboration and connectivity, and much more. Thanks to her work, countless businesses have successfully become B Corp certified, proving that ethical business is not just possible—it’s essential.
I asked Carolina how her heritage has influenced her work and this is what she shared.
“As a Latina immigrant, my heritage has helped me to see the challenges that marginalized communities face. This perspective has shaped how I approach sustainability - it's not just about the environment for me, but also about creating a more just society where all beings can live with dignity. This is why I chose to become a B Corp Consultant so that I can do my part to create a better world by helping people to use business as a force for good.”
I strongly encourage you to connect with Carolina if you have any questions on how to become B Corp Certified or how to weave sustainable practices into your business (click here to connect with her).
MEET AURORA ARCHER FROM THE OPT-IN
Aurora and I were first connected through the Level program - a program that connects women of color entrepreneurs and B Corp Certification consulting firms through the B Corp Certification process. When you meet her, she is someone you can’t forget. She is someone who looks at fear in the face and tells it to step aside.
Through her work at The Opt-in, Aurora is dismantling the dominant cultural patterns that hold businesses back and cultivating evolved leaders who prioritize human-centered workplaces and meaningful connections. She doesn’t just talk about change—she embodies it.
Personally, I love talking to Aurora because she always gives me the courage to be me, to be unapologetically Latina. So, I asked her how her heritage influences her approach to sustainability and creating a positive impact through her business and this is what she shared.
"My Afro-Latina heritage roots me in the wisdom of interconnection—honoring the land, our ancestors, and collective well-being. Sustainability, for me, is about building businesses that nourish people and the planet, ensuring all can thrive."
Aurora is a force and I strongly encourage you to connect with her. Learn more about her services here or how you can get her to speak at your organization.
MEET BEATRIZ ACEVEDO FROM SUMA WEALTH
I remember hearing Beatriz speak at the Champions Retreat in 2024. She did not shy away from telling the room, a room mostly comprised of white men, that Latinos cannot and should not be overlooked. We’re a young and growing population with an unmatched impact on the economy.
After her speech, I went up to her to congratulate her and tell her just how much her words meant to me as a fellow Latina business owner in that room. That moment stuck with me because Beatriz is doing more than just talking about the influence Latinos have—she’s making sure our community knows it, owns it, and wields it.
Through Suma Wealth, Beatriz and her team are breaking down barriers in financial education, making wealth-building tools accessible to the Latino community, and ensuring that our economic impact translates into generational prosperity.
I also asked Beatriz how her heritage influences her work, and this is what she shared:
“My heritage as a Latina immigrant is deeply woven into every aspect of how I build and lead businesses. In our culture, sustainability isn’t just about environmental responsibility—it’s about resilience, resourcefulness, and lifting up our communities so that we can all thrive together. At Suma Wealth, we take a holistic approach to financial sustainability, ensuring that Latinos—and anyone looking to build lasting generational wealth—have the tools, education, and access they need.
Creating a positive impact isn’t just a business goal—it’s a responsibility. Growing up, I saw firsthand how financial literacy and economic opportunity could change the trajectory of entire families. That’s why we designed Suma to be a place where our community feels seen, heard, and supported in their financial journeys.”
If you’re interested in learning more about Suma Wealth check out their website here!
BUSINESSES CAN BE PROFITABLE YET STAY TRUE TO THEIR ROOTS
As you can see B Corp has become more than a certification for us. It’s been a way to connect with Latinas whose work proves that businesses can be profitable yet stay true to their roots.
Carolina, Aurora, and Beatriz are just three women who remind us that sustainability and impact are not new concepts in our culture. They are traditions passed down by our ancestors—practices of resilience, community care, and respect for the land.
What we’re doing now is simply reclaiming that wisdom and proving that business can be a tool for justice, empowerment, and transformation.
If you’re a fellow entrepreneur or someone who shops with intention, I encourage you to connect with these women and other B Corps. They’ve been putting in the work and uplifting communities long before it was a trend.
P.S. B Lab's Level Program is currently open and accepting applications now until March 25th, 2025! Click here for more info!
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