Stephanie Gómez is a passionate community builder, entrepreneur, and first-generation Latina from Chicago’s Northside whose Colombian heritage inspires her to create authentic spaces where Latinas can embrace their full potential. As Founder and CEO of Rise & Thrive Latinas (RTL), Stephanie has cultivated a vibrant community guided by values of collective healing, genuine connection, and personal fulfillment. Under her visionary leadership, RTL has welcomed over 160 mujeres into safe spaces where they feel truly seen, heard, and empowered. The company’s signature RTL Book Club has become a beloved gathering place for meaningful conversations through works by Latina authors, featuring engaging discussions with writers who reflect our diverse experiences and stories. Stephanie has expanded RTL’s reach by establishing the RTL Conveners Council, a passionate network of ambassadors who organize local gatherings throughout Chicagoland, ensuring more Latinas have access to these transformative connections.
When she’s not nurturing the RTL community, Stephanie serves as Director of Career Launch Chicago with City Colleges of Chicago, where she develops youth apprenticeship programs that connect students to meaningful educational and career opportunities. Stephanie holds degrees from Northeastern Illinois University (BA in Sociology with a minor in Latinx Studies) and the University of Florida (MA in Latin American Studies). Her leadership has been further shaped through the University of Chicago’s Civic Leadership Academy and the Mujeres de HACE Entrepreneur program.
