Lea Landaverde is the founder of Riqueza Collective, an organization committed to fostering financial empowerment in unseen communities and empower the next generation of wealth creators. Landaverde finds flexibility in her role as founder and as a content creator, focusing on two questions every day: “How can Riqueza be a resource to our community?” and “What financial lesson can I teach today?”
What is your greatest career accomplishment to date?
My greatest accomplishment has been being able to take my career to the next level and represent our community on the Hill. I have been a part of two activations that have allowed me to use my voice and speak to Congress and staff on small business issues, as well as the importance of financial education for entrepreneurs. I hope to continue being an activist in these causes!
What is your greatest personal accomplishment to date?
I am genuinely proud of who and what I’ve become in the last few years. I used to dream of being a high executive at my prior role in investment banking and never thought entrepreneurship was for me. It was scary jumping ship and taking a risk, but it has allowed me to believe in myself more. I have been able to learn to trust my intuition and really shoot for the stars. Building this confidence is an accomplishment I’m proud to have achieved.
What do you do today to impact your community?
Not only does my company host local events, but I am big on supporting the queer POC community in Dallas. I am blessed to have taken the role of director of education for Texas Latino Pride, where I can help run initiatives to help lead events and workshops for the LGBTQ+ community.
Where do you see yourself in five years?
In five years, I hope to create the first digital credit union for the people by the people. My dream is to evolve Riqueza into a major financial powerhouse that serves our communities needs and pushes economic growth to help bridge the wealth gap.
What is the biggest issue that you want to help solve, and why?
I want to help bridge the wealth gap by providing financial resources, services, and education to our community in Spanish and English. I want to help our comunidad build trust in us to help guide them as they create their riqueza (wealth). For so long our community has feared the financial system, according to the FDIC, 30 percent of Hispanic/Latine individuals are unbanked or underbanked, and one of the big reasons is because they lack trust in the system. Not only is there lack of trust, but there is a large wealth gap to solve. According to the Financial Reserve, Latine households hold twenty-two cents to the dollar of white households’ wealth, and I want to help change this.
What is a moment when you realized the impact of your work?
When I received the first message from a friend who I had helped start their bookkeeping process for their business, telling me how grateful they were for my help. Then when I started creating content around business and personal finances, even more DMs started rolling in. From people being grateful about the fact I helped them open a high yield savings account to even start their journey investing . . . it has been the most rewarding experience being able to see the impact of my work.
Who inspires your leadership?
My leadership is inspired by my father, as I watched him run his landscaping company my whole life. I lead with my heart and passion for the community.
What is a surprising hobby or interest that helps you stay creative and energized?
I am a yogi at heart which allows me to keep my mind and body balanced, but something most people don’t know is that I LOVE SLIME. For some reason the textures, the smells, and the squishiness do something to me that I can’t stop playing with them.
What is your Latino background?
I am Salvadoran American. I was born and raised in Saint George, Utah. My dad and mom are both from El Salvador and migrated as teenagers to the US over twenty-seven years ago.
What song do you listen to that motivates you?
“SAD GIRLZ LUV MONEY ft. Kali Uchis and Moliy” by Amaarae.
