The following column was originally published in the Laredo Morning Times Business Journal. Laredo College participates each month and everyone is encouraged to pick up a copy of the Laredo Morning Times to catch the story first.
Column by: Amanda Flores-Del Toro, Career Services and Innovation Center Director
Entrepreneurship and leadership are deeply connected. Entrepreneurs must lead with vision, motivate teams and navigate uncertainty.
Leadership gives entrepreneurship direction, while entrepreneurship gives leadership creativity and purpose.
Together, they drive innovation, resilience and progress within communities and organizations.
Over the span of 78 years, Laredo College continues to champion innovation through programs that connect learning with real opportunity. Through the foresight of the professional LC staff, the LC Entrepreneurship Incubator was developed to build a well-rounded set of skills and help students gain the confidence to turn challenges into opportunities–a hallmark of true leadership and entrepreneurship.
The Entrepreneurship Incubator is a five-week series of hands-on workshops designed to guide students and aspiring entrepreneurs through the fundamentals of starting and running a small business. Each session focuses on a key area of business development, from idea generation and business planning to marketing, accounting and financing.
Participants engage directly with local business experts, community leaders and faculty who share real-world insights and resources to help students transform ideas into actionable business plans. The incubator emphasizes mentorship, networking and applied learning–equipping participants with practical tools to launch and sustain successful ventures.
While students who participate ultimately leave the incubator with stronger leadership, financial literacy and budgeting, business planning, networking and marketing skills, there is much more they can uncover about themselves as they strive toward new and old dreams.
The Palomino Pitch Fest is the grand finale of the incubator series. Participants who have refined their business ideas throughout the sessions present their final pitches before a panel of judges composed of faculty, local business professionals, and community partners.
The top student idea is awarded a seed funding package, which includes financial support and professional resources to assist in bringing their venture to life. This competition not only empowers students to think boldly but also strengthens ties between Laredo College and the local business community.
Both the LC Entrepreneurship Incubator and the Palomino Pitch Fest create a powerful bridge between education and economic development. For students, it’s an opportunity to gain real-world experience, confidence and exposure to entrepreneurship. For the community, it cultivates a new generation of innovators who contribute to the region’s economic growth.
The Career Services and Innovation Center staff believe a strong professional leader demonstrates vision, empathy and accountability. They inspire others through integrity and adaptability, make decisions that align with shared values and empower teams to grow. True leadership blends confidence with humility and the willingness to listen, learn and lead by example.
The incubator and the Palomino Pitch Fest are supported by LC’s Career Services and Innovation Center, which offers career services, small business development, leadership development and professional skill-building on a daily basis. Students also have access to short-term leadership certificates, which include study abroad opportunities. Together, these resources form a comprehensive ecosystem that supports students from the classroom to career or business launch.
Laredo College’s professional development approach is grounded in engagement and mentorship. The college’s integration of leadership, entrepreneurship and workforce development ensures that graduates are not only academically prepared but also professionally ready to lead and innovate in any field.
Through the ongoing efforts of staff and faculty, Laredo College continues to champion innovation through programs that connect learning with real opportunity. The Entrepreneurship Incubator and the Palomino Pitch Fest embody the college’s mission, to inspire and transform students’ lives through affordable programs. The Entrepreneurship Incubator is committed to fostering community engagement and empowering students to become change-makers who elevate South Texas and beyond.
For more information about the Entrepreneurship Incubator or Palomino Pitch Fest, email amanda.deltoro@laredo.edu or call (956) 721-5219.