Colombian American Latina Passionate About Empowerment
An entrepreneur whose mission is to mentors entrepreneurs
Alejandra Chaparro is a dynamic leader in multicultural media and PR. As founder of 17 Entertainment PR in New York City, she champions diverse voices through bilingual campaigns, events, and content that drive real impact. Formerly a journalist with CNN en Español and Telemundo, Alejandra combines sharp media insight with strategic storytelling to elevate brands, entrepreneurs, and political causes across NYC and Latin America.
Passionate about empowerment, she mentors women entrepreneurs with WE NYC, judge’s startup competitions, and builds community through powerful narratives. In 2023, Alejandra was honored with the Mujeres Destacadas award by El Diario for her outstanding leadership and legacy. Committed to opening doors and shaping narratives, she inspires the next generation of Latina changemakers to dream boldly and lead with purpose.
What is your backstory? Where did you grow up?
I was born in Colombia and grew up between Bogotá and Quito. From age nine, I traveled alone to visit my dad, always with a children’s book in hand. After earning a degree in Communications, I worked as a TV producer and radio host, then with Bogotá’s mayor. Driven by my passion to help others, I created a youth program with El Tiempo before moving to Miami to launch a successful journalism career.
What is your backstory? Where did you grow up? I was born in Colombia and grew up between Bogotá and Quito, Ecuador. I started traveling alone at age nine to visit my dad, and children’s books were my constant companions. I studied Communications in Bogotá, worked in TV and radio in Quito, and later returned to Bogotá to work with the mayor and launch a youth program in partnership with El Tiempo. Eventually, I moved to Miami, where I built a successful career as a journalist.
At what moment in your life did you realize entrepreneurship was your path?
Losing my job in New York City became the moment I found my purpose. With no funding and no roadmap, I took a leap of faith and created 17 Entertainment—a company born from passion, vision, and the desire to uplift others. Over the years, we’ve helped hundreds of organizations shine. What started as a challenge became the most powerful and fulfilling journey of my life.
How do you use your brand (or your business, or your platform) to create opportunities for other entrepreneurs?
I use my business and platform to empower emerging entrepreneurs—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—by offering mentorship, visibility, and access to valuable networks. We partner with startups, showcase their work through our events and media platforms, and create educational content and workshops that help them grow. I’m deeply committed to building an inclusive community where collaboration, learning, and opportunity are always within reach., and partners using the extensive network I’ve built in media, entertainment, and marketing.
Can you share a time when you faced resistance or skepticism? How did you navigate the challenge?
When I launched 17 Entertainment over a decade ago, I faced skepticism as a Latina entrepreneur with no funding or traditional background. Instead of letting doubt stop me, I used it as fuel focusing on results, trust, and my mission to elevate overlooked voices. Today, our work speaks for itself, helping hundreds of organizations grow and proving that resilience and purpose always win.
How do you ensure that your business makes a positive impact on your community?
I’ve focused on giving voice and visibility to underrepresented communities, especially women and Latina entrepreneurs. We choose our clients, stories, and platforms with purpose, mentoring leaders and creating spaces for growth. For me, impact means opening doors that were once closed and bringing others through them.
How do you want to be remembered, by future Latinas in the entrepreneurship space?
I want to be remembered as a door opener and a powerful connector. A Latina who didn’t just break barriers, but made sure others could walk through them too. I hope future Latinas see my journey and feel bold enough to start, brave enough to lead, and proud enough to take up space, because their voices matter.
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