BIENVENIDO

¡Saludos! Happy Friday, and welcome to the 52nd edition of Comprende.

The 3 Core Stories:

• This week we spotlight Angi Milano, a Latina founder, who’s helping financial businesses grow with purpose through her firm Maven Advisory.

• Next, we dive into Buena Vista Social Club on Broadway, a powerful new musical that celebrates Cuba’s golden age of music and the global legacy it inspired.

• Finally, we reflect on the 25th anniversary of Vive Latino, where music and activism came together once again to honor the festival’s legacy of cultural impact and social change.

So, grab your cafecito or cervecita (depending on where you are), settle in, and if you enjoy it, please forward the newsletter to friends or share it on social media! ☕️ 🍺

Meet Angi Milano: Helping Businesses Thrive through Maven Advisory

When Angi Milano’s parents made the decision to leave Buenos Aires for Chicago, they carried with them the hope of a better future. That leap of faith laid the foundation for Angi’s journey: a blend of resilience, purpose, and grit that now powers her firm, Maven Advisory.

“Knowing the sacrifice my parents made for me and my brother has given me focus, drive, and hunger to succeed,” Angi shares. “Giving up was never an option.”

After building a career that spanned banking, digital marketing, and fintech, Angi saw a gap: innovative startups with meaningful missions were struggling to break into the financial services space. Drawing on her unique experience as both a buyer and seller of fintech solutions, she launched Maven Advisory to help early-stage companies sharpen their strategy and scale with confidence.

“My journey began in banking, and that’s where I learned to navigate the financial services landscape like a pro,” she explains. “I started Maven Advisory because I’m passionate about giving back to the industry that has done so much for me.”

Through Maven, Angi is on a mission to support fintech founders, especially those from underrepresented communities, by helping them define their messaging, streamline their go-to-market approach, and connect with the right partners. She's also actively expanding her work with accelerators and incubators to mentor the next wave of entrepreneurs. “With six acquisitions in my career, I have a keen eye for what drives success and what holds companies back.” Angi explained.

Beyond startups, Angi also partners with financial institutions, using her experience on both sides of the industry to help them strengthen their fintech stack and identify the right solutions for their business.

Angi admits the road hasn’t been easy. “One of the biggest challenges has been transitioning from being employed by a company to running my own business while still working full-time,” she says. “Imposter syndrome definitely crept in.”

Still, Angi remains grounded–in her purpose and her culture. Frequent visits to Argentina, family traditions, and a strong community of support keep her rooted. And at home, her loyal (and bossy) chihuahua Coco keeps things in perspective.

The next big step? Going all-in on Maven. “There’s momentum,” she says, “and I’m excited to take the leap.”

To learn more about Angi and Maven Advisory, click the button below. Note: Maven Advisory is currently undergoing a rebrand, but you can still discover everything they offer.

Cuba Takes Center Stage on Broadway with Buena Vista Social Club

The soul of Cuba is coming to Broadway. Buena Vista Social Club, opening soon at the Gerald Schoenfeld Theatre, transforms one of the most beloved albums in world music into a vibrant stage experience–part history, part celebration, and all heart.

Written by Marco Ramirez and directed by Saheem Ali, the show blends memory, music, and history.

Based on the Grammy-winning 1997 album, the show dramatizes the story behind the recording sessions that revived traditional Cuban genres like son, bolero, and danzón, while weaving in flashbacks to 1950s Havana, when the musicians were young and singing live at the original Buena Vista Social Club venue before it was shut down following the Cuban Revolution.

At its heart is the story of Omara Portuondo, the group’s beloved “Diva,” who, at 94, still performs and continues to inspire, along with fellow icons Ibrahim Ferrer, Compay Segundo, Rubén González, and others who came together to make musical history.

But this isn’t a nostalgic replay. The production immerses audiences in the music’s raw emotion–keeping lyrics in Spanish, featuring live musicians onstage, and weaving the story through rhythm and movement. It breaks the mold of traditional musicals, blending the energy of a live concert with the intimacy of theater.

Buena Vista Social Club is more than a musical, it’s a revival of memory, a preservation of culture, and a reminder that great music knows no borders. This is Cuba, reimagined for the Broadway stage.

25 Years of Vive Latino: A Festival Fueled by Rhythm and Resistance

As Vive Latino celebrated its 25th anniversary this past weekend in Mexico City, it did more than mark a milestone, it reminded the world why this festival has become a symbol of Latin American resistance, resilience, and rhythm.

From its beginnings in 1998, Vive Latino has fused music with social consciousness. This year was no different. Caifanes used their set to speak out against femicide and migration injustices, echoing the festival’s long-standing tradition of artists using the stage as a platform for change.

Molotov also performed their anthem “Frijolero” in solidarity with immigrant communities, reigniting its powerful message in today’s political climate.

At the same time, rising voices like Macario Martínez reflected the changing face of Latin music, bringing folk storytelling rooted in lived experience. And the return of Los Ángeles Azules turned celebration into movement–reminding audiences that joy, too, can be revolutionary.

Across generations and genres, the 25th edition of Vive Latino proved what it's always stood for: music that not only moves people, but moves them toward something greater. A quarter-century in, it remains a living testament to Latinidad as both sound and social force.

How to Make: Argentina’s Provoleta

A classic Argentine appetizer that brings the sizzle of the asado to your table. It’s cheesy, smoky, herby, and made to be shared (preferably with good bread and friends).

Ingredients:

• 1 round slice of provolone cheese (about ½ to ¾ inch thick and 4–6 inches wide)

• 1 tsp dried oregano

• 1 pinch chili flakes (optional, or to taste)

• Freshly ground black pepper, to taste

• 1 tsp olive oil

• A few leaves of fresh parsley (optional, for garnish)

• Crusty bread (for serving)

Instructions:

1. Prep the cheese

   Pat the provolone slice dry with a paper towel. Lightly oil both sides to help prevent sticking.

2. Season it

   Sprinkle oregano, chili flakes (if using), and black pepper on both sides. Press gently so it sticks.

3. Heat your pan or grill

   Use a cast iron skillet, small grill-safe pan, or a metal provoleta dish. Preheat over medium-high heat until hot.

4. Cook the cheese

   Place the cheese in the pan. Cook for 2–3 minutes until the bottom is golden and crispy, then carefully flip and cook the other side. The cheese should be melted inside but hold its shape.

5. Serve hot

   Garnish with fresh parsley if desired. Serve immediately with slices of crusty bread to scoop up that melty, savory goodness.

In our last edition, we asked: Which Latin American country has an island where the locals speak a dialect of Welsh?

The right answer was Argentina

Last week’s trivia answer is Argentina, home to a surprising slice of Welsh heritage. In 1865, a group of Welsh settlers arrived in Patagonia, seeking to preserve their language and culture away from British influence. They established Y Wladfa, a colony in the Chubut Province, where Welsh traditions, tea houses, and even the language have endured for generations. Today, towns like Trelew and Gaiman still celebrate this unique cultural blend. It’s a fascinating reminder of how migration has shaped unexpected corners of Latin America.

Question: Where did chocolate and the word itself come from?

Reply with your guess! Answers will be revealed in the next newsletter!

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