Yuri Vega – West Michigan 25 most influential Latinos
Yuri Vega
President and Co-Founder
Holo Footwear
Yuri Vega is making an impact in her community through the gift of high-performing, low cost athletic shoes.
Holo Footwear, based in Grand Rapids, is a footwear brand focused on style and function at a price people can afford. The company currently has a team of eight people working out of its Grand Rapids office and plans to add an additional four jobs in West Michigan by the end of 2025.
Vega said she also has begun partnering with Western Michigan University on an internship program at Holo Footwear.
“I was once a young college student that craved an opportunity to gain knowledge, experience and network outside of the classroom and was very often overlooked,” she said. “I want to support all of our young and hungry professionals that are looking for opportunities to learn and grow and offer them a platform to do so.”
Vega said it’s also important to her that young Latinos see someone with a similar background as them in positions of influence to be inspired by and also to lean on as mentors.
Holo Footwear partners with other West Michigan Organizations and leaders to help drive social and economic growth. This includes West Michigan Sports Commission and Shannon Cohen with Rockstar Woman.
Vega herself is a member of the board for the Grand Rapids Public Museum where she advocates for access to the learning resources for underserved communities, as well as reflecting all communities in the exhibits.
Reflecting on her upbringing, Vega said she quickly had to learn English and assimilate to a different culture from a young age, but the adversities she and her family faced gave her the foundations needed to succeed.
“My father and mother have been a big source of admiration for me as I saw firsthand how their hard work and work ethic along with their perseverance instilled in us the same values,” she said.