Four Decades Inside the Rooms Where Leaders Are Made
Pegine Echevarria, MSW, CSP, didn't learn leadership from the sidelines. She lived it, built businesses around it, challenged it, and helped others master it.
From a teenage gang member in the Bronx to an entrepreneur building businesses in Europe, to becoming a nationally recognized leadership authority working with Fortune 500 corporations, government agencies, and military leaders, Pegine's journey is anything but conventional.
She's been the outsider, the entrepreneur, the decision-maker, the advisor, and the woman who dared to challenge how things have always been done.
Her perspective comes from more than four decades of navigating power, corporate politics, human behavior, and organizational culture—and discovering what truly makes people and organizations thrive.
Those experiences shaped Be Powerful. Be You.™ and its 16 Laws, her philosophy for leading with authenticity, courage, strategic influence, and personal responsibility.
Her belief is unwavering:
People create culture. Culture creates performance. Performance creates prosperity.
Florida-based. Nationally recognized. Globally experienced.
Be Powerful. Be You.
“Pegine is a powerhouse of inspiration. From the gangs of New York to the boardrooms of government and corporations, she checks some pretty big boxes!”
THE POWER OF RECOGNITION
She walks the talk.
Pegine Echevarria is a three-time honoree of the speaking profession, inducted into the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame and Hispanic Speakers Hall of Fame, and named a 2025 Legend of the Speaking Profession. She is the only Latina and one of only eight women inducted into the 60-member Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame, alongside renowned speakers including Tony Robbins and Jack Canfield.
Her leadership extends far beyond the stage. As CEO of Team Pegine, Inc., she built a company recognized as the #3 Fastest-Growing Privately Owned Company in North Florida and earned national recognition as one of three Women Who ROCK IN BUSINESS, honored by Macy's and Minority Business Enterprise Magazine at the WBENC Conference.
Her company earned the Department of Defense's CPARs rating of EXCELLENT for quality, service, and mission success on contracts exceeding $1 million.
Pegine's clients have included 10% of Fortune 100 global corporations, 12% of the Direct Selling News Global Top 50 companies, and every branch of the U.S. military. She has trained more than 20,000 military leaders and served as a trusted leadership strategist and advisor to executives navigating organizational culture, leadership influence, and performance.
Recognized by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) as one of 100 Global Thought Leaders in Diversity and Inclusion, Pegine has also received the SBA Women in Business Champion of the Year for Florida and Entrepreneur of the Year for North Florida honors.
For Pegine, recognition isn't the destination. It's evidence of what happens when courage, strategy, leadership, and action come together.
THE POWER OF THE WRITTEN WORD
Pegine is the author of Called to Lead: Success Strategies for Women, Sometimes You Need to Kick Your Own Butt, Bragging Rights: Transform Your Team in 21 Days, I’ve Got the Power To Lead & Think Big, and 50 Success Secrets In Business and Life of Feisty, Fearless, Focused Females. She is finishing her new book "Be Powerful Be You"
Pegine is a former Bronx gang member and was expelled from her first high school. She went on to build successful businesses in Europe and the US. Pegine is a true American success story.
Her story and wisdom are featured in many books: The American Dream, Revisited by Gary Sirak; The Art of Bouncing Back by Zelda Greenberg; Speak and Grow Rich by Dottie Walters; Breaking Through: Getting Past the Stuck Points in Your Life by Barbara Stanny; Secrets of Superstar Speakers by Lilly Walters and Powerful Self-Confidence: Developing Unshakeable Confidence (Made for Success) with Zig Ziglar, Chris Widener (Author), and Laura Stack (Author).
Pegine learned the power of the written word and the influence it has on others.
THE POWER OF THE MEDIA
Pegine is quoted in the Wall Street Journal, New York Times, Forbes, Hispanic Business Magazine, and REAL LEADERS.
She appeared on most talk shows except Oprah and Jerry Springer. Montel Williams became her mentor and guide, winning his first Emmy with Pegine.
In the social media world, Pegine is recognized as one of the leading thought leaders in leadership, self-improvement, entrepreneurship, and small business, consistently ranking in the top .1 percent of people speaking on these topics.
Pegine was the “Lessons in Leadership” columnist for The Events Industry Council’s 33 member organizations representing over 103,500 individuals and 19,500 firms and properties involved in the meetings, conventions, and exhibitions industry.
Pegine learned the power of media, social media, and being unique.
THE POWER OF LAUGHTER
As is evident from her presentations, Pegine is trained in improvisational theater, audience-interactive theater, and comedy. She performed in comedy clubs, and her BA is in Theater and Education. She specialized in interactive theater.
Pegine mastered engaging people in the power of laughter and group interaction.
THE POWER OF
EXPERIENTIAL LEARNING
Pegine doesn't believe people transform simply because they hear something inspiring.
Transformation happens when people experience, practice, and apply what they learn.
With a background in theater, organizational development, and human behavior, Pegine has spent decades designing immersive learning experiences that move people beyond passive participation into meaningful action.
She has developed and produced large-scale situational training exercises (STX) for military leaders and Fortune 50 corporations, bringing together thousands of participants to practice leadership, decision-making, collaboration, and communication in realistic, high-stakes environments.
Her expertise extends far beyond the stage. Pegine has built and led coalitions, joint ventures, and multidisciplinary teams involving more than 25 vendors, thousands of independent contractors, and complex, multimillion-dollar initiatives.
Among her most extraordinary accomplishments was producing a massive National Mall event in Washington, D.C., featuring the President of the United States and emceed by Tom Selleck. The experience required strategic planning, government coordination, large-scale logistics, and extraordinary collaboration.
Today, Pegine brings that same expertise to corporate keynotes, executive retreats, leadership development programs, and global virtual experiences. Whether engaging 20 senior executives or thousands of leaders simultaneously, she designs experiences that challenge assumptions, spark conversations, strengthen relationships, and inspire participants to take action.
Her philosophy is simple: Don't just tell people what powerful leadership looks like. Create an experience where they practice being powerful.
Pegine knows the power of experiential learning to turn knowledge into behavior, participation into commitment, and leadership development into organizational results.
THE POWER OF MENTORING
Pegine's Story
Pegine doesn’t just talk the talk. As a former gang member who transformed her life, Pegine walks the walk.
During her teenage years, Pegine ran with the “wrong crowd” on the tough streets of the Bronx. She joined a girl gang and relied on her sharp wit and dynamic personality for “street credit.”
Unfortunately, Pegine’s charm wasn’t enough to keep her out of trouble, and she was expelled from high school. She eventually graduated from a different high school after a drama teacher took Pegine under her wing. She was also mentored by an unusual Girl Scout leader named Ms. B. These women saw something in Pegine that she hadn't yet learned to see in herself. Their belief, guidance, and influence helped change the direction of her life.
The power of mentoring didn't end there. It became one of the most important forces in Pegine's business and leadership journey.
Throughout her career, Pegine has intentionally sought out business coaches, executive mentors, and leadership development opportunities. Coaches challenged her thinking, strengthened her business strategies, and helped her recognize the difference between working hard and leading strategically.
She participated in yearlong leadership development programs that expanded her understanding of how organizations operate, how decisions are influenced, how relationships create opportunities, and how leaders build the trust and credibility necessary to achieve results.
Some of her most valuable mentors were her own corporate clients. Executives and organizational leaders generously shared their insights into corporate politics, decision-making, organizational systems, and the realities of leading within complex organizations. They helped her understand that having a great idea isn't enough. Leaders must understand the people, priorities, relationships, and systems that influence whether an idea moves forward.
These experiences shaped how Pegine approaches leadership, business, and organizational culture today. She understands the power of having people who challenge your assumptions, expand your perspective, tell you what you need to hear, and help you see opportunities you might otherwise miss.
From the drama teacher who saw potential in a troubled teenager to the executives who helped her navigate complex corporate environments, Pegine's journey has been shaped by people willing to share their knowledge, wisdom, and influence.
Pegine learned that mentoring opens doors, coaching expands capabilities, and leadership development teaches you how to navigate systems, influence outcomes, and create opportunities for yourself and others.
The most powerful leaders never stop learning. And they never underestimate the responsibility they have to help others grow.
THE POWER OF CHOICE
It was then, at age 18, that Pegine decided enough was enough and became a leader in her own life. She moved to Europe, and there Pegine turned her life around. She launched two businesses in Madrid, Spain, and sold them both at a profit by the time she was 23. She has continued to make bold, brave choices throughout her career.
She knows the power of choice.
THE POWER OF SALES
After selling her businesses, Pegine returned to the United States to finish her bachelor’s degree. Her time in Europe taught her that “what you think is what you get,” sales skills are important for everyone, and that change takes guts.
Once she was back in the States, Pegine’s transformation continued. She became the top Evinrude salesperson at the New York Boat Show. She was the National Sales and Operations Manager at Pierre Cardin/Gant menswear and even opened up their Latino market.
Pegine was also President of a women’s direct sales catalog company. She has actively sold several direct sales products in her lifetime.
- Paid for college selling AVON
- Partnered with AVON and DISCOVERY TOYS to teach sales skills to high-risk girls
- Multi-generational family of direct sales business owners and customers.
Through these experiences, Pegine became fascinated with the relationship between motivation, leadership, and people. Specifically, why some people took advantage of opportunities while others didn’t, and how organizations help or hinder individual success.
Pegine learned the power of sales.
THE POWER OF BEING A ROLE MODEL
Clorox selected Hispanic motivational speaker Pegine as the spokesperson for their Dream Without Limits campaign. Her story and motivational quotes were featured in their marketing campaign and the Clorox Latino Facebook page.
Pegine’s life has been influenced powerfully by role models. Pegine inspires, giving people hope, tools, strategies, and tactics to thrive. She is passionate about making a difference in the lives of women, girls, minorities, and the military.
Pegine understands that role models have power.
THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
THE POWER OF EDUCATION AND
PERSONAL DEVELOPMENT
Pegine believes that experience teaches you what happens. Education helps you understand why. And the combination gives you the power to change outcomes.
Her fascination with human behavior, group dynamics, and organizational culture began long before she entered the corporate world. She wanted to understand a question that would shape her life's work: Why do some organizations help people thrive while others hold them back?
After earning her BA in Theater and Education, Pegine earned her Master of Social Work (MSW) in Organizational Development, deepening her understanding of how people, systems, power, relationships, and organizational structures influence behavior and performance. During graduate school, she also founded her university's Cultural Diversity Committee.
She put that knowledge into action, developing programs for girls involved in gangs and designing and directing a Latino family support center serving more than 1,000 girls monthly. The center received national recognition for its work.
Her education continued beyond the classroom. She earned an Entrepreneurship Certificate from Hofstra University, studied in Madrid, Spain, and invested in yearlong leadership development programs, executive coaching, business education, and professional study groups.
These experiences taught her to look beyond individual behavior and understand the systems, expectations, relationships, and unwritten rules that shape organizational success.
Today, she brings that perspective to her work with executives and leadership teams, helping them understand how leadership decisions shape culture, how culture influences performance, and how individuals can navigate complex organizations with greater confidence and strategic influence.
Pegine learned that education isn't simply about acquiring knowledge. It's about expanding your perspective, challenging your assumptions, and developing the wisdom to turn knowledge into meaningful action.
THE POWER OF LEADERSHIP IN A GLOBAL ECONOMY
Pegine learned early that leadership doesn't look the same in every country, culture, or organization. But the need to be heard, valued, respected, and influential is universal.
At 18, she moved to Madrid, Spain, where she lived for three years, built two successful businesses, and sold them both at a profit. That experience taught her to navigate unfamiliar systems, build relationships across cultures, and recognize that understanding people is essential to business success.
Fluent in English and Spanish, Pegine has worked with multinational corporations, global leadership teams, and organizations navigating cultural differences, complex relationships, and competing priorities.
Her company trained more than 20,000 military officers from all branches of the U.S. military and 21 allied nations in cultural negotiations and cross-cultural leadership.
She has also designed and facilitated international leadership experiences, including the Global Women's Leadership Experience, helping leaders strengthen executive presence, expand their influence, and collaborate across cultures.
Today, Pegine brings that global perspective to corporate keynotes, executive advisory, and leadership development, helping leaders communicate with clarity, navigate cultural and organizational complexity, build trust, and influence outcomes across borders.
Pegine learned that successful global leadership isn't about getting everyone to think alike. It's about understanding differences, finding common purpose, and creating results together.
THE POWER OF WOMEN AND LEADERS
Pegine works with leadership groups and speaks at conferences on how each person is unique and powerful, and how those unique talents can increase productivity, team effectiveness, and success. Her expertise in engaging, recruiting, and retaining top female talent has been used by Harley-Davidson, General Motors, and all branches of the military.
Pegine is the founder and President of Power Women Worldwide, a 1000+ membership group of global experts, authorities, and speakers who are female leaders. Women who are called to lead. The membership has Olympians, New York Times Bestselling authors, and some of the most brilliant minds in the world.
Pegine has experienced firsthand the power of women in business and leadership.
THE POWER OF BEING A CERTIFIED SPEAKING PROFESSIONAL – CSP™
THE POWER OF CSP CERTIFICATION
Excellence isn't something Pegine simply talks about. It's a standard she holds herself to.
Pegine earned the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®) designation from the National Speakers Association, the speaking profession's highest earned international measure of professional excellence.
Held by fewer than 1,000 speakers worldwide, the CSP recognizes proven expertise, exceptional presentation skills, client satisfaction, business success, and professional ethics.
For corporate executives and meeting professionals, the CSP represents confidence in hiring a seasoned professional who understands what's at stake when bringing a speaker before their most important audiences.
Pegine learned that true professionalism isn't about delivering one extraordinary experience. It's about earning trust and consistently delivering excellence.
THE POWER OF ACHIEVEMENT
From the Bronx to boardrooms, from entrepreneurship to global leadership, Pegine has built a career defined by courage, influence, performance, and results.
LEADERSHIP IMPACT
-
Trained more than 20,000 military officers from all branches of the U.S. military and 21 allied nations in cultural negotiations and leadership.
-
Presented at the Pentagon and shared keynote platforms with two U.S. Presidents, two Secretaries of State, John Maxwell, and Suze Orman.
-
Testified before the Military Leadership Diversity Commission on leadership and diversity.
-
Named one of 100 Global Thought Leaders on Diversity and Inclusion by the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM).
-
Honored by the GI Forum for her work supporting Hispanic military personnel and their families.
-
Selected by Clorox as spokesperson for its Dream Without Limits campaign.
BUSINESS ACCOMPLISHMENTS
-
Founded and led Team Pegine, Inc., recognized as the #3 Fastest-Growing Privately Owned Company in North Florida.
-
Earned the Department of Defense's CPARs rating of EXCELLENT for quality, service, and mission success on contracts exceeding $1 million.
-
Named Women in Business Champion of the Year for Florida and Entrepreneur of the Year for North Florida by the U.S. Small Business Administration.
-
Recognized by Macy's and Minority Business Enterprise Magazine as one of three Women Who ROCK IN BUSINESS.
-
Built and sold two successful businesses in Madrid, Spain, before age 23.
-
Designed and produced complex, large-scale leadership experiences involving government agencies, corporate partners, multiple vendors, and thousands of participants.
SPEAKING HONORS & PROFESSIONAL LEADERSHIP
-
Inducted into the Motivational Speakers Hall of Fame — the only Latina and one of eight women among its 60 inductees.
-
Inducted into the Hispanic Speakers Hall of Fame.
-
Named a 2025 Legend of the Speaking Profession.
-
Earned the prestigious Certified Speaking Professional (CSP®) designation from the National Speakers Association.
-
Served on the National Speakers Association Board of Directors.
-
Served on the executive committee of the Global Speakers Federation, representing professional speaking associations internationally.
-
Founded and served as president of Power Women of the National Speakers Association, a community of approximately 1,000 professional speakers, authors, and experts.
GLOBAL EXPERIENCE & INFLUENCE
-
Worked with Fortune 100 corporations, multinational organizations, government agencies, and all branches of the U.S. military.
-
Lived, studied, and built businesses in Spain, developing firsthand expertise in international business and cross-cultural relationships.
-
Delivers leadership presentations and experiences in English and Spanish.
-
Designed and facilitated global leadership development experiences focused on executive presence, cultural understanding, communication, and influence.
-
Founded Power Women Worldwide, connecting women leaders, professional speakers, authors, and experts across industries and borders.
Pegine knows that achievement isn't just about what you've accomplished. It's about the people you've influenced, the opportunities you've created, and the difference you've made along the way.
