Meet our Mentor: Nani Quinteros

The Power of Presence and Community in Mentorship

At Tara for Women, mentorship is about more than guidance—it is about presence, connection, and community. Few illustrate this better than Nani Quinteros, who describes her journey as a mentor as a deeply moving and transformative experience.

What first drew Nani to Tara was the idea of walking alongside women who are building something from the heart. She felt an immediate connection to the foundation’s mission and to the values of community, belonging, and real impact. Becoming a mentor was her way of placing her own experience in service of others, from a place of authenticity and generosity.

Her time mentoring has been marked by moments of true connection—listening, sharing, and witnessing growth unfold. Watching her mentee gain confidence in herself and in her project was profoundly inspiring, and Nani emphasizes that the process was just as transformative for her. In her words, mentorship became a space of mutual learning, where both women grew together.

Through this journey, Nani discovered that mentorship is not about having every answer ready. It is about showing up with presence, asking the right questions, and offering an external perspective when needed. She learned to trust each person’s unique timing, to release control, and to meet her mentee with empathy—understanding her fears, ambitions, and limitations while celebrating her strengths.

What sets Tara apart, Nani believes, is the deeply human approach. It is not a program running on autopilot. Instead, there is close and meaningful support where care is extended not only to the project, but to the person behind it. Everything, she says, feels infused with intention, respect, and purpose.

For Nani, this experience has also reshaped her view of leadership. She now sees that leading does not always mean standing in front or having all the solutions. Leadership can also mean sustaining others, amplifying their voices, and creating in community. That, she believes, is one of the most powerful forms of leadership.

Looking back on her journey as a mentor, Nani sums it up with gratitude:

“It is an honor to witness the evolution of a project and to learn from every entrepreneur.”