Meet the Team


  • Founder

    She has been recognized as a thought leader in social innovation and entrepreneurship and was named one of the Top 100 people to know in St. Louis to succeed in business in 2017. In 2021 Gabriela was recognized as a Top Business Mentor and in 2023 she was recognized as a Woman of Achievement, Most Influential Woman in Business, Esperanza Award Recipient, Woman of Distinction, and a Woman Who Makes St. Louis Great. She has appeared on St. Louis Public Radio, featured in the STL101 Speaking Series and on various panels on food entrepreneurship, and was recognized as a Diversity Champion by the MO Department of Transportation and a Diversity and Inclusion Champion by the St. Louis Council of Construction Consumers. September 29th is officially recognized as Gabriela Ramirez-Arellano Day!

    Gabriela sits on several boards and is trying to conquer her fear of networking and speaking in public. She is not a native St. Louisan but moved to the city in 2016 and hit the ground running. She spends her days helping small business owners reach their goals and enjoys walking and cuddling with her pups, Canek, Quetzalli, and Kari.

    Gabriela holds a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of Missouri - Columbia and a MBA from Lindenwood University. She and her husband own a Mexican restaurant and her grown children make her proud every day.  Gabriela hosts the Auténtico Podcast with new episodes to empower and showcase bilingual Latinx professionals and small business owners, share their stories and lessons learned.


  • Co-Host

    Ben Molina is a community builder, innovation advocate, and proudly from Bolivia working at the intersection of entrepreneurship, equity, and social impact. Based in St. Louis, Ben works at Cortex, one of the region’s leading innovation hubs, where he supports entrepreneurs in launching and growing new businesses that strengthen the local economy and reflect the city’s diversity. His work centers on making innovation more accessible—particularly for historically underrepresented communities.

    In addition to his role at Cortex, Ben serves as Chairman of the Board for the Hispanic Leaders Group. There, he leads initiatives to elevate the voice, visibility, and influence of the Hispanic community across the region. Whether he’s facilitating partnerships, mentoring young leaders, or creating space for community celebration, Ben is dedicated to building bridges and driving meaningful progress.

    Ben earned a Master’s in Social Work from Washington University in St. Louis, grounding his work in principles of systems change and community empowerment. He brings a social work perspective to everything he does—whether supporting entrepreneurs, mentoring emerging leaders, or fostering civic dialogue. At the heart of it all is his guiding mantra: “make others shine.”

    When he's not working, you can find Ben exploring hidden gems around St. Louis, being creative, diving into new hobbies, or having thought-provoking conversations—often behind the mic on this very podcast.

Legacy Co-Hosts

  • Alejandro Santiago Ortega

    Legacy Co-Host

  • Junior Lara

    Legacy Co-Host