GeoLatinas: a community-driven model for mentorship, belonging, and inclusive leadership in geoscience

Women in geosciences face enduring, often interconnected barriers throughout their careers. These challenges include limited access to mentorship and academic support, feeling isolated within their institutions, difficulties balancing work and personal life, and cultural or structural inequities that disproportionately affect marginalised communities. Despite the growing emphasis on diversity, many still feel pressured to minimise or conceal aspects of their identities to "fit in."

GeoLatinas emerged in 2018 as a grassroots response to these issues: a not-for-profit, international, member-driven organisation created by and for Latin American geoscientists. What started as a platform to showcase the work of Latinas in geosciences has grown into a global network built on shared purpose, solidarity, and a collective commitment to scientific excellence. Our model emphasises co-leadership, volunteer participation, and knowledge exchange to expand access to resources and opportunities, amplify diverse voices, and build a genuine sense of belonging within Earth and Planetary Sciences. GeoLatinas was built to empower Latina geoscientists, honour and celebrate our cultural identities, and enhance and strengthen our collective contribution to Earth, Ocean and Planetary Sciences.

At its core, GeoLatinas is grounded in the principles of circular, community-driven organisation. Our structure is collaborative by design, enabling and encouraging members at all career stages to assume roles that align with their interests, individual expertise, and the community's needs. Through core initiatives such as the mentoring program, virtual office (IMPETU), PERLA, Conversando con GeoLatinas, and weekly check-ins, the members of our community connect with peers and role models who understand their lived experiences and professional landscapes, often providing their first sustained support system within the discipline. Together, these initiatives collectively advance professional development, communication, visibility, and a strong sense of community. 

Here, we present the development and evolution of the GeoLatinas community as a case study for community-driven inclusivity and collaborative growth. We describe how strategic co-production, shared leadership, and culturally responsive mentorship have cultivated resilience, improved retention, fostered belonging, created safe spaces, and supported professional growth among members. Practices that offer a framework for building equitable, supportive, and thriving geoscience communities globally.