More Than a Polo Match: Inside LEN Cup 2026

Poolesville, Maryland — September 19, 2026 — With a live polo match underway at Summerhill Polo Club and 75-degree weather making for a perfect September afternoon, the field was only the backdrop for the third annual LEN Cup.

Across the grounds, Latino executives, entrepreneurs, business leaders, community partners and friends were catching up, meeting for the first time, and finding common ground across industries and sectors. Some conversations were familiar. Others were new and unexpected. All of them had the time and space to unfold.

That is what makes LEN Cup distinctive.

Now in its third year, the Latino Executive Network’s signature gathering has become an annual opportunity for Latino leaders across the Washington region to step away from conference rooms, networking events and crowded calendars and spend unhurried time together.

Three polo teams took to the field throughout the afternoon while guests enjoyed Mexican food, an open bar, live music and a DJ. Between matches, people wandered onto the field, took photos with players, got close to the horses and kept engaging conversations going well into the late afternoon.

The relaxed backdrop gave people something that is increasingly hard to find: time to connect beyond the usual introductions and deepen relationships across industries, organizations and sectors.

Around 110 guests joined LEN Cup 2026, including Nancy Ban, CEO of Mary’s Center, and Pamela Nieto, President of the LEN Board, along with LEN members, partners and guests from across the region.

For LEN, creating opportunities for those connections is part of the mission. The organization exists to connect, elevate and advocate for Latino executives, and LEN Cup brings that mission to life in a way that feels distinctly different from the usual professional gathering.

Throughout the afternoon, leaders exchanged perspectives on business, community and the issues shaping the region, including the challenges facing Latino communities and the role leaders can play in responding to them. As LEN CEO Mario Ramos put it:

“Latinos are a big part of the economy in our region. We create, we lead, we build businesses, and we create opportunities every day. But I believe we can do even more when we do it together.”

That spirit of collective possibility was fitting for Hispanic Heritage Month, offering a chance to celebrate not simply Latino culture, but the people whose leadership, businesses and ideas continue to shape the Washington region.

LEN Cup also carries a purpose beyond the afternoon itself. Proceeds help support LEN’s work throughout the year, while supporting Mary’s Center and its work in the community.

By late afternoon, the polo field had quieted, the music was winding down, and the last conversations were taking place over drinks and churros.

The third LEN Cup left behind more than photographs from a beautiful afternoon in Poolesville. It strengthened relationships, created new ones and gave a growing network of Latino leaders something increasingly valuable: unhurried time together.

That is part of what makes LEN Cup a signature gathering for the Latino Executive Network, and one that continues to grow with each year.

Missed this year’s Cup? Take a look at the LEN Cup 2026 photo gallery and get a feel for the afternoon.

Make plans to attend LEN Cup 2027.