Gladys Santiago: A History of Firsts as a Latina Leader in Ohio

Por Lorena Mora-Mowry
 

ONE STORY A DAY / Una historia para cada Día during Hispanic Heritage Month 2024. In recognition of National Hispanic Heritage Month, we are highlighting stories that elevate Latino voices as they share triumphs, achievements, legacies and experiences lived in Ohio.

Gladys Santiago was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio of Puerto Rican descent and is bilingual in English and Spanish. Gladys is the first in her family to graduate from college. She is a single parent of proud-blended heritage children.

Gladys is the first Latina small business owner when she started Unitivity, Inc. in 2004, In 2009, Gladys was the only Latina CFRE in Ohio (Certified Fundraising Executive International). Gladys' record to-date: $300M+ for over 28 organizations in a variety of industries within Ohio, Illinois, Washington DC, Michigan and Ethiopia! In 2021–2023, she served as the Capital Campaign Consultant for the Northeast Ohio Hispanic Center for Economic Development’s CentroVilla25 marketplace; Grand Opening 2024.

Gladys was the First Latina School Board Member for the Cleveland Municipal School District and its representative on the National Council of Great City Schools. She served 7 years as President of Northeast Ohio National Conference of Puerto Rican Women (NACOPRW) and 2 years as 1st VP in Washington DC. Gladys is also a Gallup CliftonStrengths Trained Coach focused on innate strengths to achieve any goal. Gladys graduate of Landmark Education’s Curriculum for Living Program, The Wisdom Global Power & Contribution Program, and The Team, Management and Leadership Communication Program. Gladys served as a Coach for the International Discourse Project and TMLP.

In 2010, she earned an MBA in Entrepreneurship and Managing Innovation - Summa cum Laude from Benedictine University (Illinois). She earned her BA in marketing & economics from Baldwin-Wallace College (Ohio). She is certified in Diversity Intelligence (Northwestern University) and a Certified Volunteer Administrator.

In 2022, Gladys became an Amazon Best-Selling Author with “Overcoming Mediocrity: Limitless Women.

In 2023, leaning in to help Latinas transition smoothly through any stage of life, she designed a signature program, Your Light Rocks!™ In 2024, We Are All Human Foundation selected Gladys’ story for its national book series, “Hispanic Stars Rising: Volume V.”