Meet Rocio Flores | Founder and CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Rocio Flores and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Rocio, how does your business help the community?
Brillantes Emprendedoras Latinas de Los Angeles (B.E.L.L.A.) was born out of a need and desire to support our local Latina entrepreneurs and elevate the Latina voice. Creating a sense of belonging lies at the heart of everything we do. We are committed to providing a safe and inclusive environment where every member of our community can freely express their authentic selves. By nurturing this supportive ecosystem, we strive to break down barriers and pave the way for success. Our comprehensive range of resources, knowledge, and tangible opportunities is designed to empower Latina entrepreneurs at every stage of their journey. From providing crucial information on accessing capital to offering transformative educational programs, we ensure that our community members have the essential tools needed to thrive. B.E.L.L.A. is proudly fiscally sponsored by the CAMEO Network (California Association for Micro Enterprise Opportunity)

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
I am the Founder of Brillantes Emprendedoras Latinas de Los Angeles (also known as B.E.L.L.A., which in Spanish means beautiful) B.E.L.L.A. is a community organization that was created 3 years ago to support Latina entrepreneurs in Los Angeles with an emphasis in the Eastside and South LA area. Our vision is to elevate the Latina entrepreneurial voice and we do that through highlighting women’s stories via our interview platform. We also host an online marketplace, provide small business educational programs, host events and offer micro-grants and microloans. We are proud to strategically partner with organizations such as Bet Tzedek and TMC Community Capital to provide resources to our communities. What we are most proud of is the community that we are building. A community that embraces you as you are and values your genuine authentic self. The sisterhood and collaboration that exists is special. I started B.E.L.L.A. as a response to a need and where I saw a gap in opportunities for Latina entrepreneurs. Coincidently I did my doctoral dissertation on the barriers to growth for Latina entrepreneurs and found throughout my research that often times access is the barrier, and the opportunity to connect and engage in a circle of support is critical to success. I want the world to know that Latina emprendedoras are couragous, brilliant and creative women. They are committed to their purpose, their families and their communities. It’s time we paid attention and invested our time, energy and resources to uplift one another.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If a friend from out of town was visiting, I would take them on a tour of Los Angeles by visiting Latina owned brands, store fronts and pop ups. I would take them to mom and pop restaurants, and of course can’t leave out my favorite – coffee shops! Of course, a stop by Universal Studios to visit Harry Potter world could be included in the agenda as well!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I definitely want to dedicate the success of our organization to the Latina women who are a part of our community. We are who we are because of them; their active engagement, vulnerability, desire to thrive and building of community. I also want to acknowledge our program partners whom have made our programming possible. With their partnership, we are able to provide tangible and accessible tools and resources. Our funders, sponsors and supporters help our mission come alive and we appreciate the trust they have in us to live out our purpose. Our organizational board provides the leadership and accountability we need to ensure quality and valuable services. On a personal note, I want to give a huge shoutout to my kids. They motivate me everyday to be a better version of myself. To show up as my true self, acknowledge my mistakes and appreciate every single breathe of life and precious moments. My husband, who supports my personal and professional aspirations and goals. My parents have been my greatest role models – their hard work, dedication, love, faith and belief in me have given me the resilience and strength to keep going in the toughest times.

Website: www.bella-entrepreneurs.org

Instagram: @bellaentrepreneurs