Las Vegas, USA - June 2, 2026 — Monica Robles, Founder & President of Asociacion de Emprendedor@s, was celebrated with the Entrepreneurial Excellence Award at the Founders 2.0 Conference and was recently featured in New York’s Times Square. Her recognition highlights her entrepreneurial leadership and commitment to expanding business education and leadership development opportunities for the monolingual Hispanic community. The three-day business conference, held from April 7–9, 2026, at the Bellagio Hotel & Casino in Las Vegas, USA, convened founders, entrepreneurs, innovators, and business professionals to exchange ideas and explore entrepreneurship, leadership, and business growth.
Monica Robles founded Asociacion de Emprendedor@s after identifying a critical need for accessible business education within Spanish-speaking communities. Her entrepreneurial journey began in 2016, when she created the Emprendedor@s Program through her business, Heart Centered Leadership Coaching & Consulting Group.
It was initially designed to support women who had experienced domestic violence by providing micro-business development and pathways toward independence. As the program evolved, Monica recognized that these resources were equally needed by both men and women and expanded the initiative accordingly.
In 2018, she established Asociacion de Emprendedor@s, determined to address the lack of high-quality business education in Spanish in the United States. For two years, Monica taught the program free of charge while learning the process of registering a 501(c)(3) organization and building the nonprofit from the ground up.
Her strategic leadership translated into measurable growth and broader community impact. What began as a grassroots educational effort grew into an organization serving communities throughout Southern California and the Imperial Valley. Asociacion de Emprendedor@s secured its first grant, followed by a $35,000 award that enabled Monica to hire her first team member. Despite pandemic-related contract pauses, she continued to build partnerships and strengthen relationships with local cities and organizations.
These efforts contributed to revenue growth from zero to more than $479,000 and supported expansion into cities including San Bernardino, Anaheim, Corona, and Bellflower. Since 2016, the program has graduated more than 1,800 individuals through its business education initiatives and has introduced dedicated workbooks and additional resources designed to strengthen entrepreneurial and leadership development.
Monica’s approach distinguishes itself through the Emprendedor@s Program’s comprehensive model, which integrates personal empowerment, leadership development, and technical business knowledge needed to satisfy legal and operational requirements. Rather than focusing solely on business training, the program is designed to help participants recognize and develop their own leadership potential while gaining practical entrepreneurial skills.
Her leadership and community impact have been recognized through numerous awards, speaking engagements, and media features. Monica received the 2021 SCORE OC Hispanic Initiatives Special Champion Award and was named Woman of the Year by Congressman Lou Correa in 2021. In 2022, Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes recognized her with the Women of Distinction honor.
Monica’s work and organization have also been featured in Fortune Magazine, Para Todos Magazine, The Press Enterprise, KVCR Latino Voices, and CEO Views Magazine, which recognized her as one of the Most Inspiring Women Leaders to Watch in 2025.
This recognition at the Founders 2.0 Conference reflects Monica Robles’ dedication to entrepreneurship, leadership development, and community empowerment through business education that expands opportunities and strengthens long-term economic participation.
The Founders 2.0 Conference is a three-day business event that brings together entrepreneurs, founders, investors, and business leaders to explore innovation, entrepreneurship, and organizational growth. Through keynotes, panel discussions, and networking opportunities, the entrepreneur conference encourages conversations around leadership, business development, and emerging industry trends. Hosted in global destinations such as Singapore, Dubai, and Las Vegas, the event also recognizes individuals and organizations demonstrating entrepreneurial impact and leadership across industries. For more information, visit www.founders2conf.com.