Omar Courtz, Saiko and More Creatives “Leave Their Mark” at Billboard Latin Music Week 2024

Four Latino creatives — Kike Baez (fashion designer), Omar Courtz (artist), Saiko (artist) and Yudy Arias (celebrity coach) — gathered at Billboard Latin Music Week 2024 on Tuesday (October 15) to discuss how they are actively using the their platforms to uplift and inspire their community and future generations with their art.

Below, see memorable quotes from each speaker on the moderated “Deja Tu Huella: Inspire Who's Next” panel Billboard Español's Isabella Raigoza.

Omar Courts: “Dad Yankee gave me the opportunity to work with him and he performed at my first huge concert. He has been a great inspiration to me since I was a child. This is how I leave my mark, because I want my fans to identify with me. It was important to have my idol with me so that I can inspire other artists like me.”

Yudy Arias: “As a family, we managed to come from scratch to achieve great things, we always work without expectations. Work with love because the most important moments were with family. There are crazy moments in fame but that's not all. Everything comes, everything goes and everything changes, but family is always there and be happy with that.”

Saiko: “When I started making music, I had no goals. This year I released an album, I've done pitches and at the end of the day, I know I'm just a normal kid and maybe I can inspire other artists. I'm excited to be heard in Chile, Mexico and other countries, but there's nothing like being crowned and being a prophet in your own city… and for me that's the best thing there is.”

Kike Baez: I stayed very true to my beliefs. It would have cost me twice as much, but I wanted to make it in Tijuana so a kid like me could see it was possible. For me, it's very important to inspire, create culture and keep creating.

For the past 35 years, Latin Music Week has become the one, steadfast foundation of Latin music in this country, being the most important—and largest—gathering of Latin artists and industry executives in the world. Latin Music Week coincides with the 2024 Billboard Latin Music Awards airing at 9 p.m. ET on Sunday, October 20, on Telemundo. It will be available simultaneously on Universo, Peacock and the Telemundo app and in Latin America and the Caribbean through Telemundo Internacional.