SomosVC has appointed José Piñero as Executive Director, effective immediately, to lead the organization's mission of expanding representation for Latino/as and allies in venture capital. Piñero brings over 20 years of experience in business leadership, nonprofit governance, and Latino/a empowerment to the role. His appointment comes at a time when diversity in venture capital remains a critical issue, with Latino representation particularly low across the industry.
In his new position, Piñero will focus on broadening opportunities for Latino/a and allied talent in venture capital, strengthening partnerships with venture firms, corporations, and foundations, and growing the organization's reach through scalable programs, heightened visibility, and advocacy. The organization operates as a 501(c)(3) non-profit focused on unlocking opportunities for Latino/as and allies in venture capital through programs including fellowship and mentorship initiatives, Avanza Summit, Eleva, Emerging Manager Showcase, and Annual Summit.
"We are thrilled to welcome José Piñero as our Executive Director," said Joanna Lichter, Board President of SomosVC. "José brings a proven track record in fundraising, organizational leadership, and board governance. More importantly, he has been a national voice for Latino/as and allies for decades. His vision will enable SomosVC to strengthen the VC talent pipeline, elevate emerging managers, and deliver measurable impact for our partners and the ecosystem."
Piñero's background includes senior leadership positions at Microsoft and Procter & Gamble, as well as significant nonprofit experience. He previously chaired the board of Hopelink, the largest community services nonprofit in Seattle's Eastside, where he co-led a multi-million dollar capital campaign. He has also served on the boards of Global Partnerships and the International Coaching Federation Foundation. Nationally recognized as the "Top Coach for Latinos," Piñero is also the creator of the Latino Career Test™, demonstrating his long-standing commitment to Latino professional development.
"I am honored to join SomosVC at such a critical moment for Latino/a and allied leadership in venture capital," said Piñero. "SomosVC is uniquely positioned as the premier VC pipeline and ecosystem builder for Latino/as and allies — combining talent development, data-driven thought leadership, and convening power. Together with our board, staff, and partners, we will expand opportunities for Latino/a and allied talent, strengthen the ecosystem, and build an institution that funders, corporations, and VCs will proudly continue to support."
The organization is recognized for its data-driven thought leadership, including its flagship impact report. With a mission to build the next generation of innovators, investors, and leaders for Latino/as and allies, SomosVC partners with venture firms, corporations, financial institutions, law firms, family offices, and philanthropic organizations to deliver measurable ecosystem ROI and long-term impact. Additional information about the organization's work can be found at https://www.somos.vc.
For HR vendors serving the talent management and diversity sectors, this appointment signals increased focus on Latino representation in venture capital. Organizations like SomosVC create new opportunities for vendors offering diversity recruitment solutions, leadership development programs, and inclusion analytics. As venture capital firms face growing pressure to diversify their talent pipelines, partnerships with organizations like SomosVC may become increasingly important for accessing underrepresented talent pools.
The appointment reflects broader industry trends toward addressing diversity gaps in high-growth sectors. With Latino professionals significantly underrepresented in venture capital leadership roles, initiatives like those led by SomosVC could reshape talent acquisition strategies across the financial services industry. HR vendors may need to develop specialized solutions to support these emerging diversity initiatives, creating new market opportunities in executive search, leadership development, and diversity measurement tools.
