MOBI Celebrates LBFSV Graduation

MOBI Joins the Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley (LBFSV) in Celebrating its Newest Latino Business Academy Graduates and Receives Special Recognitions from LBFSV and Congressional Representatives

The My Own Business Institute (MOBI), located in the Leavey School of Business at Santa Clara University, was honored to attend the first 2024 graduation event held by the Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley (LBFSV) for students of its Latino Business Academy featuring MOBI’s entrepreneurship curriculum. Approximately 80 students received their Certificates of Completion from Santa Clara University and MOBI at the event held at the City Hall Rotunda in San José. Drew Starbird, Ph.D., MOBI Executive Director and Leavey School of Business Professor of Information Systems & Analytics (pictured right), congratulated the students along with remarks made by government officials and representatives at all levels.

“We at MOBI feel very fortunate to be partners with the Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley and its remarkable team,” Starbird shared. “We started working together in 2020, and since then we have issued over 1,100 Santa Clara University Certificates of Completion to students like you. Those students have gone on to start businesses, create jobs, and change lives. We are proud to be a small part of this tremendous accomplishment and your inspiring journey.”

At the event, Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley President and CEO Jesús Flores and Vice President and Board Member Angélica Flores presented MOBI a Special Recognition award. The inscription beautifully read, “For profoundly impacting the small business community. Thank you for being a cornerstone in our journey to success.” The recognition was received by Starbird, along with colleagues Jill Martin, Director, Operations and Communications, and Annasofia Zuleta, Operations and Communications Manager, as well as on behalf of Trish Kalbas-Schmidt, Partner and Curriculum Development, who was not able to attend. (Pictured left to right: Starbird, Zuleta, Martin, A. Flores, and J. Flores.)

“Thank you, My Own Business Institute, for all your support and for continuing to be: The most structured and comprehensive resource for entrepreneurs looking to start or expand a business!” said Jesús Flores, President and CEO, Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley.

Together MOBI and LBFSV also received a Congressional Resolution from the offices of Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren and Congressman Ro Khanna. Presented by representatives to Angélica and Jesús Flores. The honor is in recognition of the partnership and its impact on the Latino small business community. MOBI is grateful for this very special partnership and the opportunity to make a positive impact together. (Pictured above left to right Yvonne Inciarte, Senior Advisor for Legislative Outreach, Office of Congressman Ro Khanna, Esther Peralez-Dieckmann, District Chief of State, Office of Congresswoman Zoe Lofgren, A. Flores, and J. Flores. Pictured below Starbird and Peralez-Dieckmann.)

The Latino Business Foundation Silicon Valley helps very small businesses and organizations survive and thrive. LBFSV helps the city of San José retain its rich diversity, even as the city attracts development from multinational corporations and large retail outlets. Through the Latino Business Academy and utilizing MOBI’s free online entrepreneurship curriculum, LBFSV offers its course to participants in the U.S., Mexico, and around the world as Business Management for Small Businesses in English and Gestión Empresarial para Pequeños Negocios in Spanish. As stated on the website, “The program addresses the need to strengthen and provide tools for better business management in our business community, which is one of the objectives of Latino Business Academy.”