Walking out into the bright morning light, you can’t help but be swept up in the energy of a youth football camp on the Northside of Houston. Dozens of kids are tearing across the field, their helmets bouncing off tackling pads as they go. At the heart of the action is Javier Loya – his eyes are fixed intently on the players as he watches with a keen sense of enthusiasm.
He remembers what it was like when he was one of these kids, relying on discipline, grit & a scholarship to get him the break he needed. Now, as the first Hispanic minority owner in the NFL, he’s right in the thick of things, fist-bumping players as they go through drills.
“Football was my doorway,” Loya says, “But now my job is to help others walk through theirs . But they gotta be willing to take the next step when opportunity comes knocking – it’s not gonna fall in their lap.”
Houston is a city where nearly half the population identifies as Hispanic, but leadership representation in corporate board rooms, civic councils & investment networks still has a long way to go. Loya reckons the next era of progress won’t come from waiting around for access to get handed on a plate – but from talented Hispanic leaders going out there & grabbing them for themselves.
A City Rich in Talent – But Talent Needs to be Tapped
Houston’s Hispanic community is a hotbed of entrepreneurs, a resilient bunch with a rich cultural heritage. New businesses are popping up all over the place ; & young professionals are graduating in record numbers.
But Loya & other leaders would like to make it clear that representation isn’t just about demographics – it’s down to hard work, preparation & being bold enough to take that leap of faith.
“The challenge isn’t that Hispanic professionals have got talent – it’s whether we are making the most of that talent by stepping up & getting involved in the areas of leadership are built – capital networks, mentorship circles, corporate decision-making spaces.”
So instead of getting bogged down on structural limitations, the conversation now is about what you can do to make it happen. Access is out there , but you need to have the wherewithal to go out & get it.
The Making of a Leader – Javier Loya’s Path to Success
Loya’s journey from his disciplined upbringing in El Paso to the Ivy League & then to the top of the energy sector has been a real rollercoaster ride. He’s a shining example of the importance of stepping up to challenges rather than backing away from them.
“Football taught me to compete,” he says, “Columbia taught me that the world was a much bigger place than I ever imagined. But it was on me to do the work to meet that challenge.”
After college, he founded OTC Global Holdings, which eventually turned into the world’s biggest independent commodities interdealer brokerage. After that, he got to work on developing technologies to serve the Corporate Utility industry as Chairman of GETCHOICE, & that launched him on his journey to becoming a minority owner of the Houston Texans.
But as Loya always says, success without impact is just incomplete.
“I made myself a promise: if I made it to the top, I’d use what I’d learned to help elevate others . Not by handing out easy answers, but by showing people what’s possible when talent meets opportunity.”
Competence + Cultural Identity = Your Competitive Advantage
Loya’s philosophy really aligns with what he told at the White & Case Collective Heritage panel – diversity isn’t about checking a box. It’s a performance driver.
“Diversity in business is key, not because of equity & inclusion, but because when you empower competent leaders to bring their whole identity into the board room, you expand opportunity – and innovation.”
For Loya, cultural heritage isn’t a weight or a blip on the radar – it’s a real source of strength.
“I’ve been able to use my cultural heritage to my advantage, balancing out the language of business with the rhythm of my heritage,” he says.
Houston’s Hispanic professionals can unlock the same advantage by tapping into their own background rather than trying to leave it behind.
Proactive Leadership – What the Next Generation Must Do
Loya’s message to the next generation of Hispanic leaders is clear: talent is already out there in abundance – now you just need to take it to the next level.
Here’s what he thinks the next generation needs to be doing :
- Get out there & grab opportunities with both hands – Seek out mentors, enter new industries, get some leadership training under your belt & show up where the decisions get made.
2. Let your cultural identity sharpen your leadership – Authenticity builds trust. Trust builds influence.
3. Build credibility through hard work & competence – Merit is the foundation that gets representation moving.
4. Grow a business, not just a career – Entrepreneurship expands economic power & visibility.
5. Invest in the community – Scholarships, career mentoring, civic engagement & financial literacy are all key to building a strong pipeline.
Why Representation Matters for Houston’s Future
In a city as dynamic as Houston, representation is not just a nice-to-have – it’s a necessity. When capable Hispanic professionals reach boardrooms & executive roles:
- Innovation accelerates – new ideas start flowing
• Capital starts flowing in to new neighborhoods
• Young people see leaders they can relate to
• Business ecosystems start getting fresh ideas
• Companies start to perform better
Visibility matters because it fuels aspiration – & aspiration fuels action.
Opening the Door Wider – Together
Back at the football camp, a young athlete finally breaks through the defensive line & sprints free. Loya nods in approval.’This is where leadership starts – not when they go “aha” and recognise it in themselves, but right from the start.’ he says ‘the door is there, open & waiting – but to take the first step still needs to be taken by every leader’
Houstons hispanic community isnt hanging about for validation, permission or any sort of comeback. The next generation is seething with potential, its people talented, driven and deeply rooted in there own culture.
Now is the moment to actually do something, kickstart those opportunities & start building a future where houstons leadership is every bit as strong and as genuinely representative of its people as it needs to be.