Our Team
EspañolLeah Soibel
Founder and CEO of Fuente Latina
Leah Soibel, a Hispanic American and Israeli, has more than a decade of experience on the ground in Israel, the U.S, Latin America and Spain working with thousands of Spanish-language journalists and opinion leaders from around the world.
Leah established Fuente Latina in 2012 after recognizing a void in the Latino media market and in response to the growing demand by global Hispanic journalists for factual information about Israel and the Middle East in their language and in real time.
Since then, she has brought millions of Spanish speakers an accurate image of Israel and the region through international media events, expert interviews and briefings, as well as helicopter tours and many other initiatives.
Fuente Latina has grown quickly under her leadership and today is recognized as the only media organization that breaks down geographical, cultural and linguistic barriers for Spanish-language media covering Israel, the Middle East, and the Jewish world.
Leah is the go-to expert for Spanish-language media covering stories about Israel and the Middle East. She is regularly published in influential outlets such as Infobae and Univision.com, and is frequently interviewed by Spanish-language media about regional issues.
Leah established Fuente Latina after seven years at The Israel Project where she was among the original core staff in Jerusalem. Previously she worked in intelligence. She is a National Security Education Program Fellow and received an Arabic-language certificate from the American University of Cairo’s Arabic Language Institute.
She has a BA in Middle East History from Dickinson College, an MA in Security Policy Studies from George Washington University, and has completed coursework for a Doctorate in Political Science at the Hebrew University of Jerusalem.
Leah mainly splits her time between Miami and Jerusalem and is mom to toddler Zack Pedro.
RAFAEL ANÍBAL
Chief Communications Officer | Spain
Rafael has more than a decade of experience working with media in Spain, Israel, Latin America, and the U.S. He has reported for major newspapers, radio and TV stations and worked on communications campaigns for several media outlets.
As Chief Communications Director, Rafael oversees Fuente Latina’s global Spanish-language media outreach, press relations, and interviews as well as production, content, and more. He has led and organized dozens of media missions to Israel, as well as numerous international media tours with newsmakers to the U.S. and Latin America, facilitating hundreds of interviews with top global Spanish-language media outlets.
His production work for Fuente Latina has resulted in two TV Emmy awards for two major U.S. Hispanic networks.
Rafael has a BA in Journalism from the University Carlos III of Madrid, an MA in Television Journalism from the Antonio de Nebrija University in Madrid, as well as an MA in Diplomacy and Security from Tel Aviv University. He also has a Postgraduate Diploma in Digital Journalism from the Open University of Catalunya.
Rafael is based in Spain, but he is a citizen of the world.
Fabian Santillán
Chief Digital Officer | USA
As Chief Digital Officer, Fabián Santillán directs digital strategy and technological initiatives for both Fuente Latina and Activista Media brands. Santillán oversees digital business, audience development, product management, distribution, and monetization strategies to cultivate the organization’s presence online in the US and across the Spanish-speaking world.
Before joining Fuente Latina, Santillán worked at impreMedia, the largest Hispanic news and information company in the US, where he led product strategy for its news sites, including La Opinion, El Diario NY, La Raza, La Prensa, Quiero Más Fútbol, and La Vibra.
Prior to that, Santillán was the Director of News and Niche Products for Digital First Media. He oversaw the digital structure of 75 daily newspapers, 292 other publications, and 341 digital sites owned by the Journal Register Company and Media News Group. He also served as Executive Editor for El Dictamen, Mexico’s oldest newspaper, where he built and transformed the newsroom, managing a large team of journalists charged with providing local and national news for Mexican and US Hispanic audiences.
Santillán was an editor at Univision Chicago, where he integrated television, radio, and digital content.
His other journalism experience includes The Independent and Univision Television.
Laura Portela
Digital Media Director | Mexico
Laura Portela oversees digital creative production and audience engagement for both Fuente Latina and Activista Media brands. Portela has over ten years of experience in the digital marketing industry, during which she successfully led production strategies for several high-profile entertainment brands. Prior to joining Fuente Latina, she worked as a video editor for prominent Latin artists including, Christina Aguilera, Bad Bunny, Daddy Yankee, Ozuna, Sia, Alejandro Sanz, Romeo Santos, and others. She also worked with ESPN and Operation Smile, a non-profit organization.
Maria laura Garaicoa
News Manager | Ecuador
Maria Laura is a seasoned journalist with years of experience in Ecuadorian media. María has produced hundreds of news stories for Teleamazonas, La Posta, and other outlets. She led impactful investigative reports that uncovered major corruption schemes and interviewed all the presidential candidates in recent elections, a critical moment in her country’s history. María established Red de Periodistas Libres (RPL), a network of more than 2,000 journalists in seven countries, committed to freedom of expression and the rights of communicators.
Camila Montenegro
Journalist | USA
Camila is a multimedia journalist with experience spanning television news reporting, digital storytelling, and crime documentaries. Camila has worked with CNN and NBC. She is passionate about challenging mainstream narratives through journalism. She is currently working on her master’s degree in Multi-Platform Digital Journalism at Loyola University, Spain. The Ecuadorian native is now based in New York.
Esteban Almeida
Project & Product Manager | Ecuador
Esteban Almeida has extensive experience as a project manager, overseeing business projects across various industries, including technology, gastronomy, and entertainment. Almeida is a passionate mountain biker, trail runner, and food connoisseur. He earned a Product Management degree from Northwestern University.
luis miguel chavez
Audience Development Manager | Ecuador
Luis brings over a decade of media experience to Fuente Latina. Luis led the social media strategy department for La Posta, the influential Ecuadorian news outlet. He has managed a wide range of other digital platforms, including commercial and thought leadership accounts. He holds an MA in Journalism and Digital Marketing.
SARAY CHAPARRO
Social Media Manager & Content Creator Manager | Ecuador
Saray held several key positions at digital media agencies over the last decade, from idea creation to product distribution. Saray is passionate about social issues and giving voice to the unheard. Story expertise includes immigration, inclusion, and ecology. The Venezuelan native currently resides in Ecuador.
Maya Siminovich
Senior Editor | Israel
Maya Siminovich produces videos and written content for Fuente Latina that are viewed by millions of Spanish speakers worldwide.
She researches stories in the field, working with editors, and assists visiting journalists with filming and production in Israel.
Maya previously worked with EFE, the #1 Spanish-language news agency in the world, Israel’s KAN Radio, and has worked for more than 20 years as a freelance journalist for a variety of global print, television and radio outlets.
Maya was born in Jerusalem and raised between Barcelona and Madrid. She has a BA in Information Sciences from Complutense University, Madrid, an MA in Audiovisual Journalism from New York University and a PhD in Philosophy from Carlos III University, Madrid.
She speaks Spanish, Hebrew, English, and Portuguese.
PAOLA MALDONADO
Video Editor | Mexico
Paola edits videos for Activista Media’s social networks. Paola brings years of experience in the audiovisual arts. She has a strong background in video post-production and art direction for advertising campaigns and E-learning companies, including Crehana. She has a degree in communications.
Sara González
Digital Media Producer | Mexico
Sara is a skilled audiovisual creator with a strong background in journalism and more than a decade of experience in content production.
Sara’s storytelling has touched diverse audiences spanning a wide range of topics from news to entertainment.
Her career began as a television editor at Azteca Deportes transitioning later to digital content production at Grupo Imagen. She has worked on a variety of brands including Excelsior Digital and Salud180.
Enrique Domínguez
Digital Designer | Mexico
Enrique Domínguez is a highly skilled media professional with over 13 years of experience in design and graphic arts, specializing in brand consulting, creative processes, and typographic innovation. He has worked with top brands including, Unilever, The Coca-Cola Company, Kellogg’s, Listerine, NAPA, Cinépolis, Harley-Davidson, Coldwell Banker, and others. Domínguez received the Best Brand Award at the World Brand Design Awards 2022 in London, England, for his work with Activista Media. His work has also been recognized by the CLAP Awards and the prestigious a! Diseño magazine.
Alain Osorio
Graphic Designer and Illustrator | Mexico
Alain designs all our branding, graphics and visual production.
Alain has worked on numerous designs, illustrations, and animation for local and international artists, as well as projects for brands including Comercial Mexicana, Amnesty International, Volaris, the language startup Poliglota, and others.
He studied Industrial Design at UAM Xochimilco University.
GERALDINE GASCON-CAVADA
Operations Coordinator | USA
Geraldine ensures all Fuente Latina departments operate smoothly. She has years of experience in the nonprofit sector and enjoys making a positive impact in the world. Before joining the team, Geraldine managed a department and led community outreach along with volunteer services at a hospice. She holds an MA in Public Administration with a focus on Nonprofit Management from Nova Southeastern University, and a BA in Psychology & International Communications from Florida International University. She is from Caracas, Venezuela.
YURENA DRIGGS
Development Associate | USA
Yurena organizes fundraising efforts and spearheads development strategies at Fuente Latina. Yurena brings over a decade experience from the nonprofit world, where she oversaw multi-million-dollar budgets and led projects that enhanced community outcomes. She maintains strong relationships with donors while contacting potential funders. Prior to joining the team, she served as Program Manager at The Children’s Trust of Miami-Dade County. She holds a BA in Business Administration from the University of Central Florida.
KARINA GONZÁLEZ
Content Creator | USA
Karina Gonzalez has been working in the digital space for over six years. In 2020, she grew a TikTok account to over 150K followers in less than six months, leading her to host a podcast for the television network Investigation Discovery. Born and raised in Puerto Rico, Karina currently resides in Miami.
MARIA LEAL
Content Creator | USA
María Leal is a seasoned journalist from Los Angeles, California. A proud Mexican American, Leal is deeply connected to her heritage and culture, which has fueled her drive to amplify underrepresented voices in the media. Her career has taken her from traditional TV broadcast stations to digital news. When not working, Leal enjoys spending time with family, traveling, hiking in the great outdoors, visiting Disneyland and attending music concerts. She graduated from California State University, Northridge.
CAMILA GIRON
Content Creator | Ecuador
Camila is a content creator at Activista Media where she produces explanatory videos on a wide range of topics for Gen Z audiences. Camila is a Colombian journalist with experience as a reporter, presenter, and digital audience manager for Latin American media where she covered mental health, gender, and pop culture issues.
Yiara garcia
Health Reporter & Content Creator | Ecuador
Yiara is a medical doctor, humanitarian, and entrepreneur who utilizes her unique expertise to report on health issues for a Gen Z audience at Activista Media. Doctor Yiara led several social programs with the International Red Cross in her native Ecuador and collaborated with various international organizations focused on food security programs in Latin America and the Caribbean. Yiara founded a non-profit organization offering alternative treatments for cancer patients, including music and laughter therapy. She is currently in the Amazon, working as a rural doctor, providing essential medical care to indigenous communities. Along the way, she established her own coffee brand and is working on a book.
JULIO CESAR ACOSTA
Content Creator | Mexico
Julio is a multimedia journalist with over a decade of experience creating content for digital and traditional media. He has worked on a wide range of stories with Vice México, Publimetro, Grupo Expansión, Radio Fórmula, and others. He studied communications.
ANTHONY MENDEZ
Video Editor | Ecuador
Anthony is an audiovisual producer and multimedia editor. Prior to Fuente Latina, Anthony worked on cinematic productions and advertising projects for brands including Pizza Hut, Toyota, Audi, Nissan and Uber. News experience spans Teleamazonas, En Curva, and La Posta. He has a degree in Audiovisual and Multimedia Production and a diploma in Community Management from Letrada Academy.
YAMIL QUINTANA
Video Editor | Mexico
Yamil is a scriptwriter and post-production expert with years of experience in diverse advertising, television, and film projects. Before joining the team, Yamil worked with the European Union, the Mexican Institute of Cinematography, PepsiCo, KFC, the singer Karol G, and many others. He studied Audiovisual Communications and Filmmaking.
