Every year from September 15 to October 15, organizations across the United States mark Hispanic Heritage Month, a celebration of the history, culture, and contributions of Americans with roots in Mexico, Central and South America, the Caribbean, and Spain.
The dates are deliberate: September 15 is the independence anniversary of five Central American nations, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico and Chile following on the 16th and 18th.
For companies, universities, and associations, it has become one of the most meaningful moments on the calendar to bring in a speaker whose story turns a celebration into something audiences carry with them.
Below are the Hispanic and Latino speakers we recommend most, and how to choose the right one for your event.
What makes a great Hispanic Heritage Month speaker
The strongest choices do more than commemorate the month. They connect a personal story of heritage, resilience, or achievement to a lesson an audience can use, on leadership, perseverance, belonging, or the immigrant experience.
The best of them work year-round and simply resonate with particular force in the fall. That is why the speakers below are drawn from space exploration, public service, journalism, medicine, and business rather than a single mold, and why several also rank among our most requested diversity and inclusion speakers.
Our picks: the best Hispanic Heritage Month speakers
José Hernández
Former NASA astronaut and the inspiration for the film A Million Miles Away.
José Hernández picked crops alongside his migrant family in California and did not speak English until he was twelve. NASA rejected him eleven times before he flew to the International Space Station, becoming the first migrant farmworker in space, a journey that inspired the Amazon Prime film A Million Miles Away.
His keynote turns that story into a moving, practical lesson in perseverance, goal-setting, and STEM advocacy.
He is a standout for corporate celebrations, universities, and any audience where the message is that no dream is out of reach.
Peabody Award-winning journalist and author of Perfectly You.
Mariana Atencio
Mariana Atencio is one of the most recognized Latina journalists in the United States, a Venezuelan-American broadcaster who has reported from the front lines of some of the biggest stories of her generation. She speaks on authenticity, belonging, and turning what makes you different into your greatest strength, a message rooted in her own experience of building a career and an identity across two cultures.
Warm, high-energy, and fluent in both English and Spanish, she is an ideal fit for corporate celebrations, employee resource groups, and leadership programs that want a voice audiences connect with instantly.
Rosario Marín
The only immigrant in over a century to serve as Treasurer of the United States.
Rosario Marín arrived in California from Mexico City at fourteen speaking no English. Decades later, her signature appeared on every US dollar bill in circulation, as the 41st Treasurer of the United States and the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in her administration.
She speaks on the American Dream, immigrant resilience, and Latino leadership, and connects powerfully with English- and Spanish-speaking audiences alike.
Her story, from a 99 percent Latino city she once led as mayor to the halls of Washington, makes her a defining voice for events on leadership, public service, and leading with authority across two cultures.
Founder of KIND and a Shark on ABC’s Shark Tank.
Daniel Lubetzky
Daniel Lubetzky, the Mexican-born son of a Holocaust survivor, built KIND into one of the most successful better-for-you brandsin the world, then turned his focus to bridging divides through his nonprofit work.
He speaks on entrepreneurship, purpose-driven business, and turning empathy into a competitive advantage.
For corporate audiences, he offers the rare combination of a genuine self-made success story and a bigger message about building companies, and a society, that hold together.
Andrés Oppenheimer
Pulitzer-shared journalist, CNN en Español anchor, and bestselling author.
Andrés Oppenheimer is one of the most influential Latino journalists in the Americas, a longtime Miami Herald columnist and CNN en Español anchor whose reporting shapes how the hemisphere understands itself.
He speaks on the future of Latin America, innovation, automation, and what it takes for the region and its diaspora to compete globally.
For events that want substance and a sweeping, informed view of where the Hispanic world is heading, he is a commanding choice.
The first Latino “AI physician,” and a consultant for NASA and IBM.
José Morey
José Morey is a Puerto Rican physician and technologist working at the frontier of artificial intelligence in medicine, withadvisory roles spanning NASA, IBM, and beyond.
He speaks on AI, the future of healthcare, and how Latino talent is shaping the technologies of tomorrow.
For audiences that want a Hispanic Heritage Month keynote pointed at the future rather than only the past, he connects heritage to innovation in a way few speakers can.
Ariel Coro
Cuban-American technology and transformation expert.
Ariel Coro arrived from Cuba as a young immigrant and became one of the most recognized Spanish-language voices on technology and personal reinvention.
He speaks on digital transformation, adapting to accelerating change, and empowering the Latino community to thrive in a tech-driven economy.
Bestselling author, life strategist, and former CNN en Español host.
High-energy and deeply relatable, he is a strong fit for corporate and community audiences that want inspiration grounded in practical guidance.
Ismael Cala
Ismael Cala is a Cuban-American broadcaster and bestselling author who reaches millions across the Spanish-speaking world with his message of emotional intelligence, resilience, and mindful leadership.
He speaks on personal growth, well-being, and leading with balance in high-pressure environments.
For Hispanic Heritage Month events that lean toward inspiration and personal development, he is among the most beloved voices available.
Ernesto Zedillo
Former President of Mexico and director of the Yale Center for the Study of Globalization.
Ernesto Zedillo led Mexico through a pivotal era and has since become one of the most respected voices on globalization, economics, and international affairs from his base at Yale.
He speaks on the global economy, trade, and the forces shaping the Americas.
For flagship events and audiences that want a statesman’s perspective and genuine intellectual weight, he brings a rare level of authority.
Venezuelan-American author of The End of Power and one of the world’s leading columnists.
Moisés Naím
Moisés Naím is among the most widely read thinkers on power, geopolitics, and global affairs, a Venezuelan-American author and columnist whose work is followed by leaders around the world.
He speaks on how power is shifting, the forces reshaping democracies and markets, and what it all means for business and society.
For senior audiences that want a keynote of real depth, he closes a Hispanic Heritage Month program on a note of serious, global insight.
How to choose the right speaker for your event
Start with the outcome, not the topic.
A university celebrating first-generation students will be moved by José Hernández’s journey from the fields to orbit; a corporate leadership summit may connect more with Rosario Marín on leading across cultures or Mariana Atencio on authenticity and belonging.
Consider language, too: nearly all of these speakers move fluidly between English and Spanish, which matters for bilingual audiences and employee resource groups.
And because the best Hispanic Heritage Month speakers are booked well ahead for the September-to-October window, planning early is essential.
Our guide on how far in advance to book a keynote speaker lays out the timeline.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is Hispanic Heritage Month?
Hispanic Heritage Month runs every year from September 15 to October 15. It begins in mid-September because September 15 is the independence anniversary of five Central American countries, Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua, with Mexico celebrating on September 16 and Chile on September 18.
Who are the best speakers to book for Hispanic Heritage Month?
Among the most requested through Aurum Speakers Bureau are astronaut José Hernández, journalist Mariana Atencio, former US Treasurer Rosario Marín, KIND founder Daniel Lubetzky, and journalist Andrés Oppenheimer, alongside voices in medicine, technology, and global affairs. The best choice depends on your audience and goal, whether that is inspiration, leadership, entrepreneurship, or global insight.
How do I book a Hispanic Heritage Month speaker?
Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau with your event date, audience, and objectives, and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours to match you with the right speaker. Because demand peaks for the September-to-October window, it is best to begin the conversation several months in advance.
Hispanic Heritage Month is at its most powerful when the speaker on stage does not just mark the date but gives an audience a story and a lesson that outlast it.
Whether your event calls for a NASA astronaut, an award-winning journalist, a former US Treasurer, or a global thinker, the right voice turns a celebration into a moment people remember.
To find the speaker who fits your audience, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau and one of our founders will respond within 24 hours.
