Graciela Tiscareño-Sato

Graciela Tiscareño-Sato is a bilingual Latina military veteran (former aviator), keynote speaker, feminist and ten-time award-winning author and publisher, with more than 18 years’ experience publishing and speaking to inspire students from preschool to B (business) school. As a globally-mobile bilingual professional, she has a special interest in using her military and professional adventures, plus hard lessons learned in 12 years of advocating for her teen daughter who is blind, to raise expectations for young Latino students, while helping ALL Americans see the positive economic and social contributions of Latinos in the USA.

Primarily a bilingual keynote speaker and publisher of uniquely inspirational, multicultural literature (including the ground-breaking bilingual Captain Mama children’s picture books featured in USA Today and based on her military service), Ms. Tiscareño-Sato also regularly serves her fellow veterans with her marketing expertise as a “Personal Branding for Veterans” instructor at universities to help them market their best assets via stories and successfully transition into the civilian world. She’s lent this expertise to Syracuse University’s V-WISE program, empowering women veterans to become entrepreneurs.

Ms. Tiscareño-Sato has shared the stage with Michelle Obama and Secretary of Education Arne Duncan. She’s been quoted in many large national publications such as Redbook, The New York Times, Costco Connection, Fox News Latino, La Opinión, NBC News and appeared on numerous radio and TV shows (NPR, Al Jazeera America, CNN en Español, Telemundo, Univision, CBS and ABC.)

Professors invite Ms. Tiscareño-Sato to lecture on social entrepreneurship and green economy innovations, central focus of her five-time award-winning book Latinnovating: Green American Jobs and the Latinos Creating Them. She’s written numerous columns about successful entrepreneurs and military veterans from the Latino community. Graciela is frequently interviewed, in English and Spanish, about her experience as a military aviator who earned an Air Medal during combat operations over Iraq and how the daughter of Mexican immigrants ended up serving onboard Air Force aircraft as an officer.

For her entrepreneurial work, in 2014 the White House recognized Graciela as a Champion of Change, Woman Veteran Leader, Congressman Swalwell (CA-15) honored her on the Floor of the House of Representatives and she received a National Business Woman Week award. She earned a Master degree in International Management from Whitworth University while on active duty. Her B.A. in Environmental Design/Architecture from the University of California at Berkeley laid the early academic foundation for her Latinnovating trademark and books. An avid alpine skier, she enjoys performing side by side with her fellow trombonist husband as a member of the Cal Alumni Marching Band as their three children carry the parade banner.