Speaking Engagement Highlight | Latinx MBA Co-Founder Jessica Leon Addresses University of Idaho’s Barker Trading Program on Access, Capital, and Leadership
- Admin Latinx MBA
- Jan 21
- 2 min read
Los Angeles, CA — January 22, 2026 — Jessica Leon, Co-Founder of the Latinx MBA Association, will serve as a featured guest speaker for the University of Idaho Barker Trading Program, one of the university’s most selective and applied finance programs.
The session underscores the growing role the Latinx MBA Association plays as a connector between higher education, capital markets, and leadership development—particularly at a moment when access to networks, capital, and mentorship continues to shape who advances in competitive finance and investing careers.
Leon will be joined by Alejandra Mojica, a finance professional and University of Idaho alumna, for a virtual discussion hosted by the University of Idaho College of Business and Economics.
Event Details
Event: Jessica Leon & Alejandra Mojica – University of Idaho Guest Speaker Session
Date: Friday, January 23
Time: 12:00–1:00 PM CST
Host: University of Idaho – Barker Trading Program
The Barker Trading Program provides students with real-world experience managing more than $1 million in assets across equities, commodities, and cryptocurrency. Through hands-on exposure to trading, risk management, and capital markets, the program prepares students for high-stakes roles in finance and graduate study.
Leon’s participation reflects a long-standing partnership with the University of Idaho. She currently serves on the Advisory Board for the College of Business and Economics, a position she has held for four years, offering industry perspective to strengthen experiential learning, modernize curriculum, and expand pathways between students and careers in finance, investing, and leadership.
During the session, Leon will share her career journey from the University of Idaho to Wall Street, venture capital, and advisory roles, focusing on:
Building opportunity without inherited networks or access to capital
Understanding how power, capital, and decision-making shape career trajectories
Advising founders, operators, and fund managers at pivotal moments of growth
Strategic lessons she wishes she had known earlier about navigating finance and leadership
The conversation will also highlight mentorship as a measurable driver of outcomes. Mojica, a former mentee of Leon, will share her own path from the University of Idaho into the finance industry, reflecting on early-career decisions, internships, and the role mentorship and sponsorship played in her advancement.
Together, their discussion illustrates how intentional mentorship and community leadership—core pillars of the Latinx MBA Association—translate into tangible results for students navigating highly competitive finance pathways.
This speaking engagement reinforces why the Latinx MBA Association has become a trusted platform for institutions and leaders seeking to close access gaps, elevate talent, and cultivate the next generation of business and finance leaders.
About the Latinx MBA Association
The Latinx MBA Association is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit dedicated to developing, empowering, and advancing Latinx business leaders to drive positive economic change across the United States. Through leadership development, mentorship, and institutional partnerships, the organization serves as a bridge between education, industry, and opportunity.
Media Contact:
Ashley Lisseth Hernandez
Head of Media, Communications, and Public Relations
(310) 896-8887
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