The 2025 LatinNEXT Summit, hosted by VIVE MICHIGAN Magazine, brought together Latino professionals from across the state for an afternoon of learning, networking and inspiration at the Goei Center in Grand Rapids. Among the featured speakers were two leaders from Davenport University, Carlos Sanchez and Gilda Gely.

The summit, held this year on May 14, focused on advancing Latino leadership through mentorship, professional development and community building. The event’s two-track format—Emerging Leaders and Established Leaders—offered sessions tailored to professionals at different stages of their careers.

Gely, executive vice president for Academic Affairs and provost at Davenport University, spoke in the Established Leaders track. Her presentation, “Unlock Your Executive Potential,” encouraged mid-career professionals to pursue advanced education and executive training as tools to reach top leadership positions. She spoke with attendees about the various phases people go through within their career – momentum, plateau and cruising – and shared ways to advance by choice versus by chance. 

In each phase, she said it’s important to be reflective and critical of yourself and identify where your strengths lie. She advised that whether it is seeking micro credentials or an advanced degree, find a pain point within your organization and choose a capstone project that addresses that problem. This allows you to use your education to meet a specific need and strengthen your relationships within your organization.

“You need an inflection point, a way to stand out,” said Gely. “And remember, you cannot bargain with yourself. Go to the company, find scholarships. This is about you. The company doesn’t keep your skills; they go where you go. You take them with you.” 

Sanchez, executive director of Davenport’s Casa Latina program, addressed participants in the Emerging Leaders track with his session, “Keep Growing: How Learning Fuels Career Momentum.” He told of his personal and professional journey, the importance of establishing your own narrative, and a person’s ability to change their current narrative.

“Look around you and think of those people in your life who you respect, what qualities do they have that you want to emulate?” said Sanchez. “At this stage of your life you are already set in a lot of your ways, but if you’re conscious about taking the best of other people to emulate, you’ll be a much better person than you are right now.”

Both speakers are involved with  Casa Latina, a pioneering program launched by Davenport in 2024. Delivered entirely online, Casa Latina uses a bilingual curriculum to prepare students for leadership roles while becoming professionally proficient in both English and Spanish. The program will expand in the fall of 2025 to include three additional associate degrees and two graduate certificates.

“Events like LatinNEXT strengthen our connections within the Latino community and give us the opportunity to share what we’ve learned as leaders and educators,” said Sanchez.

Gely said, “We’re proud to support the development of Latino professionals not just at Davenport, but throughout Michigan. This summit is an essential part of that work.”

The 2025 LatinNEXT Summit featured a full agenda of keynotes, panels, and breakout sessions aimed at empowering Latino talent statewide.