Spend a few minutes with Nelson Hinojosa, and you’ll quickly understand that this isn’t just a banker discussing balance sheets and growth strategies. This is a man whose story is rooted in family, resilience, and a belief that leadership starts with doing what’s right, not just what’s expected. “My mother, Nancy, made me the person I am today. She instilled in me the values that have shaped my life. That true leadership starts with service and integrity, that attitude matters far more than aptitude, and that resilience and perseverance are essential to overcome life’s challenges. She taught me to face difficulties with optimism and always to push forward. Above all, she showed me that honesty is the foundation of becoming not just a good leader, but a good person.”

Born and raised in La Paz, Bolivia, Nelson made his way to the University of Notre Dame for college, then returned home to build a career in banking. After two decades in the financial services industry, he moved to Florida in 2011 and found a new professional home at Anchor Bank, where today, he serves as President and CEO. “Anchor Bank is the biggest Community Bank in Palm Beach, servicing three Counties, Palm Beach, Broward, and Miami-Dade with financial services. I am responsible for providing overall strategic leadership and direction for the organization. My job involves close interaction with the Board of Directors to establish long-term goals, ensure financial sustainability, and drive business growth. I also oversee daily operations, to build strong leadership teams to foster a high-performance value-driven culture.”

He leads his team of fifty with a clear, compassionate approach built on empathy, active listening, and a deep commitment to professional development. “I strive to lead by example with a results-driven mindset focusing on goals, timely decisions, and accountability. I encourage a respectful work environment and inspire my team to have a shared vision, challenge the status quo, and drive innovation. My approach is to value Integrity, loyalty, efficiency, and discipline while enjoying banking. I aim to maintain a calm and strategic approach, particularly in challenging situations. I encourage clarity and steadiness when navigating through change.”

It’s a viewpoint that echoes the leadership style of Corina Machado, the Venezuelan opposition leader he admires for her resilience and her voice in the fight to restore democracy in her country.” She is a person from whom I have learned many leadership lessons by following her approach. My main takeaways are that vision, having a strong and consistent purpose, inspires and directs collective effort. Integrity and authenticity foster trust. Adaptability is essential, as is flexibility under authoritarianism. Engagement builds legitimacy and resilience, and global framing alliances amplify the pressure for change, making sure you are always going forward.”

That same forward-looking mindset guided his decision to join the Economic Council of Palm Beach County. “As I got to land in Palm Beach, a county I had not even visited before, and had the challenge to run a community bank, it was a key factor for me to engage with the community leadership. Two of my fellow Board members are part of the Economic Council and suggested that I apply for membership.”

As a four-year member, he’s gained firsthand insight into the Council’s pivotal role in driving county-wide economic coordination. He’s optimistic about the business outlook over the next decade. “Based on current trends and forecasts, the County fosters a pro-business climate that encourages growth and innovation with business-friendly policies and a collaborative atmosphere. The favorable tax policies and lifestyle factors hosted a continuous influx of new residents from major financial and tech firms (Goldman Sachs, Citadel, BlackRock, Revere Payments), which is reinforcing the County’s reputation as “Wall Street South”. In the Real Estate arena, commercial and industrial have surged. My perspective is that the construction and real estate sectors will remain robust. It also appears that the County will continue to diversify into high-value industries, such as Life Sciences, MedTech, and higher education, which will create new job clusters and research and development opportunities. All this suggests that the County will be a key engine in Florida’s growth.”

For Nelson, success isn’t about status, it’s about significance and he finds that in his family. He and his wife, Gaby, live in Jupiter, where they’re raising their 13-year-old daughter, Ariana. His older children Andreas, Gabriella, and Leticia are pursuing college degrees. Beyond banking, Nelson serves on the corporate board of Jupiter Medical Center, and when he’s not focused on business or community service, he reconnects with his roots reflecting on the peace and clarity he once found riding horses Western-style through the Bolivian countryside. A reminder of where he came from and what truly matters.