In fact, many athletes representing Latin American and Caribbean countries in this year’s Olympics have strong ties to the United States. Some have studied in the country or hold dual citizenship. It’s a reminder that business leaders who want to reach out to Hispanic consumers in new markets can take advantage of existing bridges in order to do so. In the same way that Hispanic athletes have leveraged their mobility to represent warm-weather countries in the Sochi Olympics, entrepreneurs can leverage their mobility to make new business connections across the Latino world. Of course, recent exposure for successful Hispanics on the world stage extends beyond the Olympics as well with several critically acclaimed Latino films hitting Sundance this year.
Emerging Trend: Connecting at the Olympics
For many Latino business owners, this year’s Olympics have highlighted more than just the surprising ways that world communities are connected. They’ve also highlighted one of small business’s biggest concerns: Connectivity. With journalists sending in stories via smartphones and bobsledder Johnny Quinn tweeting his successful efforts to break out of a hotel bathroom, it’s clear that consumers expect constant updates from the personalities and brands they follow. Whether you follow the Olympics seriously or just catch a few events, there’s no denying that the participation of Latin countries in this year’s winter games provides a great metaphor for the growing influence of Hispanic players in the global business world.