Niñas del Mañana in Tonatico, MX, June 2025

We spent three afternoons, about three to four hours each, with the Niñas del Mañana girls, and every session was structured yet flexible enough to adapt to the moment.

On day one, we opened with Diana’s talk. She introduced herself, shared a bit about her background and why she’s so passionate about this program, then delivered a candid message: don’t be afraid to chase your dreams and be unapologetically you. She stressed owning your voice and believing in your worth, making it clear this isn’t just motivational speech—it’s a mindset shift.

After that, we moved into icebreakers: quick “two truths and a lie,” movement-based partner swaps, stuff to get energy flowing. It broke the ice fast. Then we broke up into small groups—two to three girls with one adult—so we could dig into real conversations: what are you into, what gets you fired up, what you want to be doing in five years. No cliches, just real talk. We wrapped day one asking each girl to pick one word that captured how she felt in the moment and share it aloud. It ended the session with genuine reflection and a sense of individual expression.

On day two of Niñas del Mañana, the focus was on taking the business plans the girls had already developed virtually with us and bringing them to the finish line. These weren’t just brainstorming sessions, each team had already been working on their ideas ahead of time, and this was their moment to finalize, polish, and prototype.

Luis Cabrera led the workshop. As part of Indptos and a former Shark Tank México entrepreneur, he brought real experience and energy into the room. He treated each group like a real startup team, offering honest, practical feedback and helping them refine their mission statements, think through pricing and customer needs, and clean up any weak spots in their pitches. He asked them hard questions that founders actually face: What makes your product different? How will you deliver it? What problem does it actually solve?

After tightening their plans, the girls moved into prototyping. Using materials like paper, markers, tape, and anything else we had on hand, each team created physical mock-ups, sketches of logos, sample packaging, user interfaces, product tags, or anything that could help bring their idea to life visually. Luis made sure they stayed grounded in their mission but also pushed them to think about branding, presentation, and how to make their ideas stick. Each team had a unique concept:

• One group was developing a local tourism website, focused specifically on promoting hidden gems, businesses, and attractions in Tonatico and Ixtapan de la Sal. Their goal was to help both locals and visitors discover what the region has to offer, beyond just the obvious spots.

• Another team created a cookie business, leaning into aesthetic packaging and a strong, playful brand identity.

• Two different groups developed skincare brands, one that centered on clean, natural ingredients with a soft, minimal aesthetic, and another that was all about self-expression and confidence through vibrant design and messaging.

• One team focused on a bag company, creating prototypes inspired by individuality, culture, and empowerment. Their pitch included both visual design ideas and how their products would make people feel when they wore them.

By the end of the session, every group had something to present—something they built, refined and could take pride in. It wasn’t abstract anymore. These were businesses with thought identity, and purpose. To close the day, the girls gave us personalized tumblers as a thank-you a gesture that showed just how reciprocal the experience had become.

Day three started quieter. We gave everyone time to journal for 10–15 minutes about what they’d gained or noticed in themselves. Then we reconvened in a circle and invited volunteers to share one insight or something they’re proud they did during the program. As they shared, others left short notes or affirmations on seats or passed cards directly. Later, each team was given 15 minutes to present their business idea along with a working prototype. Participants were evaluated by a panel of judges based on the completion of their business plans, the viability of their ideas, and the quality of their prototypes. Following the presentations, one winning team was selected and awarded a prize in recognition of their outstanding work.To conclude the program, the town government joined us for an official closing ceremony, where each participant was presented with a certificate of completion, acknowledging their effort, growth, and commitment to the project. The winning team also received their prize during the ceremony.

Diana Velázquez

Diana opened the program on day one with a talk that was honest, grounded, and deeply personal. She spoke to the girls about how difficult it had been for her, as a woman, to get a leg up in business and in society. She didn’t sugarcoat anything—she talked about the barriers she faced, the way her voice was often overlooked, and the pressure to prove herself twice as much to be taken seriously. But she also made it clear that none of that stopped her. Her message wasn’t just “you can do anything,” it was “you will have to fight for it, but it’s possible, and you’re worth it.” That tone, realistic but empowering, set the foundation for the rest of the program. Diana helped the girls see that self-belief isn’t just about confidence, it’s about resilience, especially in spaces that aren’t designed for you.

Luis Cabrera

Luis played a huge role on day two as the lead of the business and prototyping workshop. He’s part of Indptos, a platform that supports and incubates independent Latin American entrepreneurs, and he’s also been featured on Shark Tank México, bringing real startup and pitch experience to the room. His presence brought legitimacy to the business component of the program. He didn’t just talk about theories, he walked the girls through what it takes to make a business work. He showed them how to define their product, know their audience, build a mission, and sketch out a working business model. Then, he helped them translate those ideas into quick prototypes, pushing them to think not just creatively, but practically. He asked hard questions and made them consider cost, value, and scalability. Throughout the workshop, he stayed approachable, curious, and fully engaged, meeting the girls where they were, but never underestimating what they were capable of.