Hannah Fry
Mathematician & Broadcaster; Author of Hello World: How to be Human in the Age of the Machine
Rosario Marín
41st Treasurer of the United States | First Mexican-Born & Immigrant Treasurer | CA State Agency Secretary | Bestselling Author & Latino Leadership Icon
The only immigrant in more than a century to serve as Treasurer of the United States, Rosario Marín brings a story of reinvention that few public figures can match. From arriving in California at fourteen with no English to signing the U.S. dollar bill, her keynotes on the American Dream, Latino leadership, and resilience move audiences across every sector, culture, and language.
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Rosario Marín biography
The story of Rosario Marín is one of the most extraordinary in American public life. She arrived in California from Mexico City at fourteen, speaking no English. Decades later, her signature appeared on every U.S. dollar bill in circulation — making her the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Bush Administration and the only foreign-born Treasurer in U.S. history.
Motivational speaker Rosario Marín was appointed by President George W. Bush and unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate as the 41st Treasurer of the United States, serving from 2001 to 2003. She oversaw the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, and championed financial literacy programs for the ten million unbanked Americans. Years earlier, she served as mayor and councilwoman of Huntington Park, California — a city more than 99% Latino — building the credibility that carried her to Washington.
Between 2006 and 2009, Marín served in Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cabinet as Secretary of the State and Consumer Services Agency. She oversaw nearly $9 billion in procurement, supervised California’s two largest public pension funds — CalSTRS and CalPERS — collected over $104 billion in state taxes, and led a 250,000-person workforce across consumer protection and civil rights enforcement.
Author, Activist, and Pioneer for Latino Communities
Long before her political career, Marín was already building something lasting. When her son Eric was born with Down syndrome in 1985, she found that virtually no support existed for Spanish-speaking families and founded Fuerza, Inc. — the first support group for Latino parents of children with Down syndrome in the United States. That advocacy caught the attention of Governor Pete Wilson, launching her career in public service. She later became the first Latina in California history to run for the U.S. Senate.
Her bestselling memoir, Leading Between Two Worlds: Lessons from the First Mexican-Born Treasurer of the United States, chronicles this journey. She holds four honorary doctorates and has received the Rose Fitzgerald Kennedy Award at the United Nations, the Outstanding American by Choice Award from the U.S. State Department, and the Ellis Island Medal of Honor. She is a regular political commentator on Telemundo and Univision.
As a speaker, Rosario Marín fills any room she walks into — not just because of her stage presence, but because of the weight of a story that is genuinely her own. She speaks on the American Dream, immigrant resilience, Latino leadership, and what it means to lead with authority between two cultures, two languages, and two worlds. For organizations seeking a voice who connects with English- and Spanish-speaking audiences alike and delivers substance alongside inspiration, there is no more powerful option on the Aurum Speakers Bureau roster.
Rosario Marín Speaking Videos
Rosario Marin - Leading Between Two Worlds
Rosario Marín Motivational Conference on Resilience
Rosario Marín Keynote Topics
Drawn from her bestselling memoir, this is Marín's signature keynote — the full arc of her story, told with the honesty and emotional intelligence that have earned her standing ovations on five continents. From arriving in California as a teenager with no English and a misread IQ test that labeled her intellectually disabled, to graduating with honors, founding a nonprofit, becoming a mayor, and ultimately signing the U.S. dollar bill, Marín extracts the leadership lessons embedded in every transition. What does it mean to succeed in a country that is not your birthplace? How do you build authority across two languages and two cultures? And how do you turn adversity — a child with Down syndrome, systemic barriers, political setbacks — into the fuel for something extraordinary? This is a keynote that transforms how audiences see what is possible.
At a moment when the meaning of the American Dream is hotly contested, Marín delivers a grounded, deeply personal, and unapologetically optimistic perspective. Drawing on her own journey and decades advocating for immigrant communities, she unpacks what the Dream really requires: not luck, but preparation; not connections, but conviction; not a perfect start, but the refusal to accept the labels others assign you. This keynote resonates especially in Hispanic Heritage Month events, diversity and inclusion programs, financial literacy initiatives, and organizations seeking to bridge communities across cultures.
Marín was the first Latina in California history to run for the United States Senate. She was the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Bush Administration. She led a state agency with a budget larger than the GDP of many countries. In this keynote, she translates that experience into a practical, inspiring framework for Latina professionals navigating organizations that were not built with them in mind. She addresses the mechanics of political and institutional power, the particular challenges of leading across cultures, and the non-negotiable importance of mentorship, visibility, and community. It is one of the most requested sessions at Latino leadership conferences and corporate diversity events across the United States and Latin America.
Drawing on 22 years of service at the local, state, and federal levels — including managing California's $9 billion procurement operation and overseeing two of the country's largest public pension funds — Marín delivers an inside view of what good governance looks like in practice. She addresses how leaders earn trust across stakeholders, how to manage at scale without losing sight of people, and why accountability is not a constraint on leadership but its defining trait. Tailored versions of this keynote are available for public sector audiences, executive leadership summits, and corporate leadership development programs.
Speaker topics
FAQs on Booking Rosario Marín
Why Rosario Marín?
Booking Rosario Marín brings to your stage one of the most powerful personal stories in American public life — and one of the few keynote speakers capable of giving an entire room a standing ovation in both English and Spanish. She is not simply a former government official: she is a first-generation immigrant who arrived with nothing, founded a pioneering nonprofit, became mayor of a 99% Latino city, served as the highest-ranking Hispanic woman in the Bush Administration, and signed her name on the U.S. dollar. Her keynotes on resilience, the American Dream, Latino leadership, and bicultural identity resonate at corporate events, universities, government agencies, and diversity conferences. Audiences at JPMorgan Chase, Georgia Tech, Foro Forbes México, and events in more than 15 countries have left invariably inspired and challenged. Contact Aurum Speakers Bureau to check her availability.
What is Rosario Marín known for?
Rosario Marín is best known as the 41st Treasurer of the United States, appointed by President George W. Bush in 2001. She was the first person born in Mexico, and the first immigrant in more than a century, to hold the position — a role in which she oversaw the U.S. Mint and the Bureau of Engraving and Printing, championed financial education for unbanked Americans, and became the most visible Latina in the federal government. Her name appeared on all U.S. currency issued during her tenure. She is also widely recognized for her service in Governor Schwarzenegger's California cabinet and for founding Fuerza, Inc., the first support group for Latino parents of children with Down syndrome in the United States.
What is Leading Between Two Worlds about?
Leading Between Two Worlds: Lessons from the First Mexican-Born Treasurer of the United States is Marín's bestselling memoir and the foundation of her signature keynote. It chronicles her journey from arriving in California at fourteen with no English — and a school placement test that mistakenly labeled her intellectually disabled — to graduating with honors, building a nonprofit, serving as mayor, and ultimately holding one of the most historic positions in U.S. government. The book extracts the leadership lessons embedded in her story, with particular emphasis on navigating between cultures, building credibility without privilege, and the role of family, faith, and community in sustaining ambition. The Spanish edition was published by Editorial Santillana.
What topics does motivational speaker Rosario Marín cover?
Marín speaks on resilience and the immigrant experience, the American Dream, Latino leadership and women in public life, financial literacy, public service and accountability, and effective leadership across cultures and languages. Her keynotes are highly customizable for Hispanic Heritage Month events, corporate diversity and inclusion programs, government and civic agencies, financial institutions, university audiences, and nonprofit leadership events. To check availability and fees, contact Aurum Speakers Bureau directly.
How to book Rosario Marín as a keynote speaker?
Aurum Speakers Bureau can help you book Rosario Marín as a speaker for your next event, conference, or board meeting. Simply fill out our contact form to inquire about Rosario Marín's availability for a speaking engagement. One of our booking agents will respond to your request immediately and contact the speaker to let them know you want to hire them. We will assist you with obtaining speaking fees, booking information, and confirming availability for Rosario Marín or any other top keynote speaker or celebrity of your choice.
How much is Rosario Marín speaking fee?
Rosario Marín speaking fees are determined by several factors, including the event's date, whether it's a virtual or in-person event, the duration, format, preparation required for their speech, and more. The same applies to the cost to hire any other top expert speakers and celebrities. The Speaker Fee Range listed on our website is simply a guideline and is subject to change without notice. If you would like to hire Rosario Marín to deliver a keynote speech for your event, please fill out the contact form or email us at info@aurumbureau.com with as much detail as possible. One of our experienced agents will get in touch with you and let you know exactly how much it will cost to book Rosario Marín.
How can I contact Rosario Marín?
We only work with Rosario Marín on paid speaking engagements. Aurum Speakers Bureau can assist you in booking Rosario Marín and will handle all negotiations, contracts, and logistics associated with having Rosario Marín speak at your event. We will be your sole point of contact throughout the process. Get in touch with Aurum Speakers Bureau today, and we will reach out to any motivational speaker or celebrity you want to enquire about speaking at your event. If you wish to contact Rosario Marín for any other reason, we will be unable to assist you as we are not authorized to provide personal contact information.
Can I book Rosario Marín for a virtual keynote?
Yes, Rosario Marín is available for virtual keynotes and webinars. To book Rosario Marín for a virtual event, please complete the contact form or send us an email to inquire about the special fees for virtual engagements.
