Isabel Casillas Guzman: Why Entrepreneurs Don’t Have Time to Be Pessimistic

At AVANCE Global 2026, Hispanic Executive sat down with Isabel Casillas Guzman, former Administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration and Founder and President of Avenida Advisors, for a conversation about entrepreneurship, leadership, and the future of small business in America. From making high-stakes decisions under pressure to creating greater access to capital and opportunity, Guzman shares the principles that have shaped her approach to leadership and why she believes optimism remains essential for every entrepreneur. Now, as she works at the intersection of the public and private sectors through Avenida Advisors, she is asking a new question: What will it take for small businesses to compete and thrive in a rapidly changing economy shaped by AI, new technologies, and evolving definitions of entrepreneurship? Recorded at AVANCE Global 2026 in Las Vegas. Subscribe to Hispanic Executive for more conversations with Latino leaders, entrepreneurs, investors, and changemakers shaping the future of business. #IsabelCasillasGuzman #Entrepreneurship #SmallBusiness #LatinoLeadership #HispanicExecutive #AVANCEGlobal #Leadership #LatinoBusiness