We were lucky to catch up with Annie Gamez recently and have shared our conversation below.

Annie, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. We’d love to have you retell us the story behind how you came up with the idea for your business, I think our audience would really enjoy hearing the backstory.

I am a professional events manager who leads high end events–from galas, dinners with ultra-high net worth individuals, show premieres, and more. Throughout my work, I noticed that people attending the events I worked so hard to produce didn’t look like me, even while living in a diverse city like New York. Since I was fairly new to the city, I brainstormed how to make new friends, so I decided to merge my passion for community building and highlighting Latinx brands with my events management expertise because I wanted to put our cultura front and center while meeting new people along the way.

Cultura Takeover at the start wasn’t the social club it is now; the original idea was to host events highlighting brands only, and at some point, I played with the idea of doing an e-commerce site carrying different goods– but as any entrepreneur knows, you have to pivot based on feedback, research findings, and a more aligned vision. The first event I did was a Market pop up with 19 BIPOC brands, 100+ guests, food, and music for Hispanic Heritage Month. I single-handedly managed it from start to finish–it was intense, but a huge learning curve. Since then, our Market has grown to 25 vendors, around 800 guests, sponsors, and it has become our annual tentpole event.

We have now transformed into monthly empowering and self-care events for Latinas to connect, encouraging them to take up space, and practice mindful connection. In July, we are launching our Takeover Series — which are curated experiences across entrepreneurship, wellness, and connection. All of our offerings fuel our mission: intentional curation, bold storytelling, and deep community care.

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I am a Peruvian immigrant, a connector, a cultural curator, and now the proud founder of Cultura Takeover–a community centered social club in NYC hosting uplifting curated experiences for Latinas, encouraging them to take up space, thrive, and celebrate their joy.

I got into this work because I saw a gap from my background in event production and partnerships where I didn’t see events that reflected our cultura. I wanted something different — elevated experiences con corazón (from the heart) and intentionally made. I’ve always loved the magic of bringing people together and I wanted to do it in a way that centers us — our stories and our joy. Now, Cultura Takeover moves through two main pillars: Takeover Events — which are curated experiences across entrepreneurship, wellness, and connection. And our Cultura Shop— a pop-up marketplace that celebrates and supports Latino-owned brands. Together, they reflect our mission: to uplift la cultura with intention.

What sets us apart is how deeply we root everything in culture, joy, and community care. If there’s one thing I want people to know about Cultura Takeover — it’s that we’re here to remind our community that we don’t need to fit in. We were born to take over and take up space.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Starting a business has been one of the most cathartic experiences of my life. It brought up self-doubt I didn’t even realize I was carrying.

My relationship with self-doubt traces back to losing my mother at sixteen—a traumatic experience that left me with a silent, heavy guilt I carried for decades. As a child, I had internalized the idea that somehow, I was at fault. Without realizing it, this shaped how I saw myself as an adult: questioning if I could lead a team, be trusted to spotlight others’ businesses, or build a community.

I had to unlearn the belief that my past dictated my future. I realized that my doubts had tried to protect me—but at a cost. By being gentle, graceful, and forgiving, I learned to fully step in my sacred ground because I now trust that the desires planted in my heart and mind are there for a reason: because I am more than capable of achieving and excelling at them.

Self-doubt still whispers occasionally, but it no longer defines me. Releasing its grip has been key to stepping fully into my power as an entrepreneur—and as a woman.

Can you tell us about what’s worked well for you in terms of growing your clientele?

For Cultura Takeover, growth has never been surface level—it’s been about showing up, fully and authentically, both online and in real life. Our community can feel when intention is real, and that’s been the north star from day one.

I built our social club by leading with heart first: putting my true desire to empower our community at the center of every post, every event, every interaction. And importantly—following it up with action.

One of the best examples is our annual Mercadito pop-up. We don’t just talk about highlighting Latinx entrepreneurs—we create space for them to thrive. Last year, we hosted 25 vendors and drew nearly 800 people. Moments like that aren’t just great for visibility—they’re proof that when you lead with real connection and purpose, your community shows up for you too because they see true value in our offerings.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://culturatakeover.com
• Instagram: @culturatakeover

Image Credits

Karla Olaya
Marcela Zedano