Velocity Volumes III: Where Will The Next Generation Of Leadership Come From?
At Velocity 2025, we brought the classroom to the conference, hosting education thought leaders to discuss what it truly takes to prepare the next generation of talent for a 21st-century economy.
From Gen Z to Gen Alpha, U.S. Latino talent represents one of the fastest-growing and most influential forces shaping America’s workforce. Yet, the gap between traditional education systems and modern workforce demands continues to widen. Closing that gap isn’t just an education challenge — it’s an economic imperative.
“The talent is already here. We’re not going anywhere!” – Fidel Vargas, President & CEO, Hispanic Scholarship Fund
As The New Mainstream Economy continues to be one of the strongest and fastest growing cohorts in the U.S., the institutions, companies, and leaders that invest in Latino talent today will define tomorrow’s leadership, innovation, and growth.
“It’s about human capital. The people. We are about the future of the workforce.” – Deborah Santiago, CEO, Excelencia in Education
Higher education is at an inflection point. As technologies like AI reshape entire industries, students and institutions alike are being forced to rethink what to study, which skills matter most, and how to prepare for a workforce that’s completely unprecedented.
Colleges and universities are under pressure to move faster, adapt curriculum, and better reflect the industries and communities they serve. Preparing the next generation isn’t about small adjustments. It requires rethinking access, affordability, workforce alignment, and the role education plays in driving economic mobility — especially for Latino students, who will make up a growing share of the U.S. workforce.
“The revolution is happening right now due to the convergence of technological breakthroughs and the most dynamic labor market in human history. We need to change the model of higher education.” – Dr. Julio Frenk, Chancellor, UCLA
Preparing students for a changing workforce doesn’t happen in theory alone — it requires exposure, access, and real-world connection. That’s why we partnered with Arizona State University to sponsor students to attend Velocity.
Surrounded by leaders across industries, students used Velocity as an early stepping stone in their careers: networking, meeting recruiters, and engaging in conversations directly tied to their fields of study.
But don’t take it from us.
Gen Z is already reshaping the economy in real time, and Latino Gen Z is a major force within that shift. Every 20 seconds, a U.S. Latino turns 18, and today, 25% of Gen Z identifies as Latino — a clear signal of where the future workforce and consumer base is headed.
As one of the fastest-growing and most influential segments of this generation, their spending power, cultural influence, and digital behavior are redefining how brands operate and how markets evolve (with Gen Alpha close behind). This is the lifelong, brand-loyal, increasingly educated consumer and market influencer. And there’s no question that it’s the cohort that will shape industries for decades to come.
As Gen Zers move from the classroom into the workforce — with younger cohorts still in school and older ones already shaping industries — the connection is clear: investing in Latino talent isn’t just about building a pipeline. It’s about unlocking the future of economic growth.
The future of leadership, innovation, and economic growth depends on how well education systems respond to this demographic reality. Latino students are not a niche audience — they are the future workforce.
We began this conversation in 2025, and we’re continuing it in 2026.
At Velocity 2026, leaders from universities, think tanks, and academic institutions across the nation will join us to discuss how education must evolve to power the next generation of leadership. And we want you to hear from them.