About Me.

Marisela Barbosa Cortez is a legacy-driven Latina social entrepreneur, author, and civic leader who founded The Time is YA! ecosystem to advance education, entrepreneurship, and civic leadership within Latino communities. She is the Founder and CEO of The Time is YA!, a consulting firm supporting organizations and entrepreneurs in leading with clarity and purpose, and the Founder and Executive Director of The Time is YA Network, a nonprofit dedicated to building community power through education, advocacy, and economic wellness.

 

With a strong background in civic engagement, Marisela specializes in building culturally competent strategies that drive economic opportunity and long-term community change. She is a skilled connector and partnership builder, known for transforming challenges into meaningful, sustainable solutions that uplift underserved communities. Her work spans business development, strategic planning, and operations management, helping organizations and entrepreneurs lead with clarity, purpose, and values.