Mike Cano is the Founder and CEO of Latinx Digital Solutions, a digital and traditional media strategies firm that provides planning, placement, and consulting services to brands and diverse-owned small businesses.
Born in Guadalajara, Mexico, Mike is the third oldest of seven siblings. At age five, he and his family immigrated to the United States and planted roots in Inglewood, California. Growing up in a modest household, Mike sometimes worked two jobs to pay for his education and help his family. Despite the challenges, he was the first person in his family to graduate from college.
Mike started his career as a local reporter before realizing his passion for media and transitioning to sales and marketing. He led successful marketing campaigns and played a critical role in expanding the reach and influence of leading publishers.
After spending thirty years in the media industry, he established Latinx Digital Solutions to help brands and small businesses improve their exposure, raise website traffic, boost sales, and maximize profits through hyper-local mobile, social media, and email marketing. Today, he is widely recognized as a leading expert in multicultural media sales and marketing.
Latino-owned businesses are growing faster than all other small businesses, according to a report by the Stanford School of Graduate Business. Yet, they face barriers to digital literacy to grow their business and compete in today’s increasingly online world. During the pandemic, small businesses were asked to pivot and move services and products online, but far too many underserved and limited English-speaking small businesses struggled to adapt and were left behind.
Mike is facilitating the Spanish cohort of The Center’s new Digital Literacy Accelerator Program to help women- and diverse-owned California small businesses create and implement a digital strategy. The virtual series is providing hands-on learning, resources, and one-on-one assistance to help entrepreneurs create or elevate their digital marketing, social media presence, and online sales.
“I am truly inspired by small business entrepreneurs. They work tirelessly, often sacrificing their personal lives and family time, to launch and grow their companies,” said Mike. “My advice to entrepreneurs is to spend time learning about digital marketing. The more they know, the more predictable their success will be.”
Learn more about the Digital Literacy Accelerator Program at https://thecenterbylendistry.org/digital-literacy-accelerator/.