The award-winning author and speaker will present “There’s Power in Your Story: How Authenticity Can Fuel Business Growth” on Sept. 4 in Des Moines.
DES MOINES, Iowa — Award-winning author and speaker Leia Baez will deliver the keynote address at the 2026 JEFAS® Business Excellence Summit on Friday, Sept. 4, at Drake University’s Olmsted Center in Des Moines.
Her keynote, “There’s Power in Your Story: How Authenticity Can Fuel Business Growth,” will examine how entrepreneurs can use their lived experiences to strengthen relationships, build trust and create new business opportunities.
Through personal storytelling and interactive reflection, Baez will invite attendees to consider the experiences that shaped them and how those moments influence the way they communicate, lead and present their businesses. The session will connect authenticity with practical business needs, including visibility, customer trust and professional relationships.
Baez is an inspirational speaker and the award-winning author of A Star for Stella: A Mother’s Journey to Overcome. Her professional background spans journalism, media relations and government communications.
A South Omaha native, Baez earned a journalism degree from the University of Nebraska at Omaha and a master’s degree in public administration from Bellevue University. Her 2018 commencement address at Bellevue, in which she shared her experience of rebuilding her life during a difficult period, has received more than six million views.
The third annual JEFAS® Business Excellence Summit is presented by JEFAS® Latinas in Business Magazine in partnership with the Pappajohn Center for Entrepreneurship Outreach at Drake University’s Zimpleman College of Business.
The first two summits sold out and welcomed entrepreneurs, business owners, professionals and community leaders from Iowa, Nebraska, Illinois and beyond. This year’s program will include educational workshops, leadership development, networking, an exhibitor marketplace and stories from women building businesses throughout the Midwest.
The Summit is open to entrepreneurs, professionals, students, nonprofit and community leaders, aspiring business owners, resource providers and others who support the growth of Latina-owned businesses.
Event details
2026 JEFAS® Business Excellence Summit
Friday, Sept. 4, 2026
9 a.m.–4 p.m.
Olmsted Center at Drake University
2875 University Ave., Des Moines, Iowa
General admission is $100. Tickets are available through Eventbrite:
REGISTER FOR THE 2026 JEFAS® BUSINESS EXCELLENCE SUMMIT
About JEFAS® Latinas in Business Magazine
JEFAS® Latinas in Business Magazine is an award-winning publication produced by Hola America Media Group. The magazine shares the stories of Latina entrepreneurs across the Midwest and connects readers with business resources, professional insights and opportunities to build relationships through its publications and signature events.
Media contact
Tar Macias
CEO, Hola America Media Group
Co-founder, JEFAS® Business Excellence Summit
JEFASMagazine.com
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