Eight Figures of Colombian Descent Among the 101 Most Influential Latinos in the US
For Latino Leaders Magazine, which for a decade has highlighted the most influential Latinos in the United States, in various fields such as politics, sports, business and other areas where they have had a significant impact, there are eight Colombians in its ranking of 101 compiled for 2026. The selection includes Latino or Latin-origin personalities […]
The 2026 ranking of the 101 most influential Latinos in the United States, compiled by Latino Leaders Magazine, features eight figures of Colombian descent. Notably, Eduardo Tobon holds the 41st spot, a Colombian entrepreneur and executive who has made significant contributions in business leadership spaces. He is the president of Diners Club, an operations leader at BMO Bank, and co-founder of the Latino Leaders Index 500, which ranks the largest Latino-owned companies in the US by annual revenue.
Monika Mantilla, the 45th-ranked figure, is a Colombian businesswoman and executive in the investment and entrepreneurship world. She has been president and CEO of Altura Capital since 2005 and co-founded Small Business Community Capital, both of which focus on the business sector. The list also includes Bernie Moreno, a Republican senator of Bogota origin, who is the first Colombian-American elected in Ohio.
He is known for his close relationship with former President Donald Trump. Ruben Gallego, a Democratic senator from Arizona with Colombian ancestry, is ranked 60th. Ana Maria Porras, born in Bucaramanga and raised in the United States, is in 68th place. She is a biomedical engineer and assistant professor at the University of Florida, specializing in microbiome research.
Gersson Rosas, a sports leader with Colombian roots from Bogota, is ranked 78th. He has been an influential executive in professional American basketball, notably as the manager of the Knicks, leading them to a championship. Jesus Ferreira, a Santa Marta native with Colombian parents, is in 81st place. He is a professional soccer player in Major League Soccer and a member of the United States national team.
Lili Gil Valletta, co-founder and CEO of CIEN+ and CulturIntel, is ranked 87th. She left a decade-long career at Johnson & Johnson to focus on multicultural market analysis, data, and consulting. Lastly, Ilia Calderon, a Choco-born journalist and television presenter, is in 91st place. She is one of the recognized figures at Univision and the first Afro-Latina woman to anchor a national evening newscast for the network.
Written by urgent.news from Colombia One's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
