HACE CEO Patricia Mota named one of 33 Obama Center Changemakers

Negocios Now

CHICAGO, IL — Patricia Mota, President & CEO of the Hispanic Alliance for Career Enhancement (HACE), has been selected for her leadership journey to be featured in Imagine Your Impact, a new interactive experience at the Obama Presidential Center Museum that opens to the public on June 19.

Opening to the public on June 19, the Obama Presidential Center will welcome visitors from around the world to explore leadership, civic engagement, and the power of community. At the heart of the museum, Imagine Your Impact introduces guests to a rotating collection of changemaker stories that show what community leadership looks like in action—and inspire visitors to spark change in their own neighborhoods.

Mota’s story joins an elite group of just 33 changemakers featured in the experience: leaders whose work expands opportunity, strengthens communities, and creates lasting impact across the country.

“As a first-generation Mexican-American and daughter of immigrants, I never could have imagined that my story would one day be shared as part of the Obama Presidential Center,” said Mota. “This recognition is not about me alone. It represents every mentor who opened a door, every sponsor who believed in my potential, every community member who invested in my growth, and every leader who understands that real change happens when we help others discover their own power.”

For more than two decades, Mota has devoted her career to building pathways for Latino professionals, students, entrepreneurs, and executives to reach leadership opportunities and achieve economic mobility. Under her leadership, HACE has grown from a small nonprofit into a nationally recognized workforce and leadership development powerhouse—serving more than 150,000 professionals and partnering with over 250 organizations nationwide.

Throughout her career, Mota has championed a leadership philosophy rooted in authenticity, intentionality, and community-building. Her work focuses not only on helping individuals advance professionally, but on creating environments where people feel seen, valued, and empowered to lead.

“Patricia’s impact can be measured in the thousands of lives she has touched and transformed,” said Alina Moran, Board Chair of HACE. “What makes this recognition especially meaningful is that it reflects the values she has embodied throughout her career: investing in people, building community, and creating opportunities for others to thrive. Her story reminds us that leadership is not about titles or recognition—it’s about making a difference in the lives of others.”

That impact is felt firsthand by the students she serves. “As a first-generation Mexican American student, HACE’s University Leadership Program showed me that I belong in spaces I once thought were out of reach,” said Viviana Fuentes, a student in HACE’s Leadership Program. “Through Patricia Mota’s leadership and the support of the HACE team, I gained the confidence to grow as a leader, speak in front of hundreds of professionals, and pursue opportunities that have profoundly shaped my future. HACE is a community that empowers individuals to believe in their potential, lead with purpose, and create lasting impact.”

The selection also underscores the growing importance of investing in leadership development and workforce advancement—at a moment when organizations nationwide are grappling with talent shortages, shifting workforce expectations, and big questions about the future of leadership. For HACE, the honor is a powerful reminder of what becomes possible when people are given access to opportunity, mentorship, and community support.

“I’ve always believed that dreams flourish when you cultivate them with community,” said Mota. “If my story inspires even one young person, one first-generation professional, or one future leader to believe they belong in rooms where decisions are made, then this opportunity has accomplished something meaningful.”

The Obama Presidential Center opens to the public on June 19, 2026, in Chicago’s Jackson Park. Visitors will be able to experience Imagine Your Impact and explore the stories of changemakers from across the country and around the world whose leadership is helping shape a better future.