In 2007, Dr. Laura Murillo was named President and CEO of the Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Under her leadership, the Chamber has set unprecedented records in membership and revenue, becoming one of the most influential Chambers in the nation. Just two years after taking the helm, Murillo, the Board of Directors, and dedicated staff won the National and Regional Hispanic Chamber of the Year Award from the U.S. Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Throughout her exceptional leadership of the Chamber, the organization has continued to receive recognition—including Marketer of the Year by the American Marketing Association three times, and two Diversity in Business Awards from the Houston Business Journal (HBJ)—a clear testament to her exceptional leadership. In 2022, Houston Business Journal named her Outstanding Diversity Champion and also honored her with the 2023 HBJ Diversity in Business Lifetime Achievement Award. In 2023, Dr. Murillo became the first and only Hispanic featured on the cover of the Houston Business Journal and the Houston Chronicle’s Texas Inc. Magazine. Dr. Murillo is the Founding President and CEO of the Greater Houston Hispanic Chamber of Commerce Foundation. During her tenure, the Emerging Leaders Institute was established and has celebrated over three hundred graduates. She is the Founding Executive Producer/Host of the Chamber’s Radio and Television Programs on CBS - KHOU 11, Audacy, Univision (with a cumulative audience reach of 3.3 million). She is also a commentator on national media outlets and national podcaster. She holds a B.A., a Master’s Degree, and a Doctorate from the University of Houston, where she served as an Executive for fifteen years and became the youngest Director in UH history. The University of Houston bestowed its highest honor, the President’s Medallion, to the Chamber and Dr. Murillo. The University of Houston houses Dr. Murillo’s personal and professional archives. Prior to her current role, she served as an Executive at Memorial Hermann- Texas Medical Center for seven years and served on the CEO’s Executive Committee, where she was accountable for a $300 million budget, 500+ employees, and ten departments. In 2021 & 2022, Dr. Murillo was appointed to two Corporate Boards which include Prosperity Bancshares Inc., a $37 Billion+ regional financial holding company in Texas and Oklahoma, and The Plaza Group, a $650 Million+, privately held global petrochemical firm. In 2021, she was admitted into the Harvard University Women on Corporate Boards Executive Program (selected among women from across the globe). She was named as a Corporate Director Coach for 50/50 Women on Boards - Houston. She was named the “2021 Global Leader of Influence Honoree” by the World Affairs Council and received the “Women of Substance Award”. She was named Texas CEO Magazine’s “Top 30 Texas CEOs” during COVID-19 for exceptional leadership in 2020 and was featured in Global Influence Magazine’s “Championing the Success of Women in the Workplace.” In 2018, she was named Houston Business Journal’s “Most Admired CEO” and “Texas 100 People to Watch in 2022 List,” “Distinguished Alumni Award” by the University of Houston, and “Mother of the Year” by the Houston Latin American Philharmonic. She has received many state, national, and international honors including being named among the “Most Powerful & Influential Women in Texas” and the “Top Latino Leader Award” by the National Diversity Council, 2017 “Power 25 Houston Award” by Walker’s Legacy, “Woman of the Year” by Success Magazine, CKW LUXE “Top 20 Impact Maker Honoree,” the “Outstanding Community Service Award” by the Hispanic Bar Association of Houston, “2019 Civil Liberties & Justice Award,” the “Global Impact Award” by Global Seven, the “International Leadership Award” by Texas Women’s Empowerment Foundation, and the “Women of Substance Award.” The Social Book, named her as the “2023 Houston Treasure. ” Dr. Murillo was featured in the Houston Chronicle’s 2016 “Women Who Run Houston” and among the “10 Houston Latinos Who Are Making A Difference” articles. She was named Crohn’s and Colitis Foundation of America, Inc., “Women of Distinction,” and was the “Outstanding Service Honoree” by the Mexican- American Bar Association of Texas Foundation. The National MBA Organization honored her with the “Excellence Award” and D-mars.com named her as an “Icon Honoree.” She was also named “Top 10 Who’s Who in Business” and has been named among the “Top 5 C-Suite CEOs” by the Houston Business Journal. In 2014, she was honored with the “Hispanic Leadership Award” by the National Football League (NFL), 2024 Houston Humanitarian Award Honoree and 2024 Texas Children’s Champion Honoree. She is also the recipient of the 2024 International Trade Center for the Minority Business Impact Award. And, The Center for Houston’s Future, Alum. The Ohtli Award—the highest honor bestowed by the Mexican government to a Mexican American—was awarded to Dr. Murillo