Hella Latin@

Melany del Carpio is a first-generation, first-born Peruvian-American who is deeply committed to empowering women of color to thrive and be unapologetically themselves in the face of societal and capitalist pressures. With eight years of experience in higher education, she made a pivotal career transition into the tech industry in 2022. Throughout her career journey, Melany has faced significant challenges, including reaching a breaking point that required her to take medical leave and reclaim her power from a toxic work environment. This transformative experience has become the foundation of her passion: supporting others in achieving success while maintaining their well-being, free from the weight of overwork and unrealistic expectations. Melany is dedicated to helping others set boundaries, reclaim their rest, and define success on their own terms, empowering them to become who they are meant to be without compromise. In this week's episode, Melany shares exactly why rest is resistance. We all have these overwhelming expectations put on us, and it feels like the end of the world if we don't meet them. Our families immigrated here for a better life, and we don't want to even think of the possibility of letting them down. But Melany's story reminds us that while their journey was a brave one, it is brave for us to live our own lives on our own terms, too. And if that means letting go of their dreams for us and getting the rest our body needs, so be it.  Keep up with Melany on her website and LinkedIn @melanydelcarpio  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoicesPodcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Cynthia Diaz is a Salvadoran-Honduran American artist, beauty visionary, and content creator from Los Angeles. As a proud first-generation Latina, she is on a powerful journey of breaking generational cycles and redefining what the American dream looks like through faith, creativity, and fearless self-expression. Cynthia first found success in the beauty industry, working with top brands and artists, using glam as her way to tell stories and uplift her community. Now, she's introduced music into her world amplifying her voice through Latin pop and reggaetón while continuing to lead with purpose and pride in her roots. Every project she touches whether it's a makeup look, a video, or a song—delivers a message. For Cynthia, art is not just a form of expression, but a calling. Through her work, she reminds other Latinas that they are worthy, powerful, and never too late to build the life they dream of. In this week's episode, Cynthia shares her mother's incredible story of crossing the border and how that resilience was passed down to her - eventually being the strength she needed to take the ultimate leap of faith and choose a creative career path. Nothing in her life has been easy, but she's been taking on every challenge with a smile on her face. Keep up with Cynthia on their LinkTree and Instagram @thecynthiadiaz.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Jasmine Romero is a first generation Salvadorian

Tiffany Leonardo

Maisa Morrar is a Palestinian woman and dedicated advocate with over 18 years of active involvement in Palestinian organizing spaces. As the daughter of Palestinian immigrants—her mother hailing from Venezuela and her father from Palestine—Maisa embodies a unique blend of cultural identity. A founding member of both the Healthcare Workers for Palestine Bay Area and the Palestinian Feminist Collective, Maisa is driven by a profound sense of justice and solidarity. Her work amplifies the voices and struggles of Palestinians, particularly through the intersection of healthcare, gender, and activism. In this episode, Maisa shares multiple anecdotes about Palestine and how it changed over the years through her eyes. She opens up about the complexities of identity and cultural preservation, the interconnected histories of Palestine and Latin America, and discusses what liberation can look like for all of us. Keep up with Maisa through Palestinian Feminist Collective and Healthcare Workers for Palestine Bay Area. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Jessica Berrocal (Chau) Ricardo is a proud Latina Muslim, first generation Colombian and Peruvian-Chinese, immigration paralegal, philanthropist and a community advocate making a lasting impact across New Jersey. In this episode, Jessica shares her journey of navigating embracing Islam through a Latino lens. 24 years ago Jessica discovered Islam after listening to the Quran in the wake of 9/11 and now you can find her breaking her fast con arepas. Being the first in her family to pave a new religious path came with cultural pushback and familial challenges, but if anything, Jessica found empowerment in her new faith. She's here to tell that story, highlight the growing presence of Latino Muslims in the U.S. and share the significance of preserving language and traditions amidst changing cultural landscapes. Keep up with Jessica on her Instagram. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

In this week's episode,  I'm talking to mi hermana Dominicana, Tiffany Leonardo, a healthcare educator who pivoted from teaching healthcare to teaching self-care. Tiffany tells us all about her career in healthcare, what it was like growing up as a first-gen daughter who was a little different than everyone else, and how she found that her family was living a life of dis-ease after three family members were diagnosed with cancer. Tune into this episode as we laugh, vibe, and unpack everything from sound healing, medical astrology, and of course, being a first-gen Latina navigating it all on her own.  Tiffany's extensive time in the operating room has fueled her passion for teaching and deepened her understanding of stress and its detrimental impact on the body. Believing that blossoming as a teacher requires being a devoted student of life, Tiffany has completed various training modalities. Her studies include Katonah Yoga with Mary Dana Abbott, Art of Assisting from Baron Baptiste Yoga, and Anatomy & Asana immersion with Emilie Perz. She has also undergone Breathwork training with Marlize Joubert, intensive Yin Yoga training with Yoga Loft, Qigong with Mark Tanaka, Sound Healing with Susy Markoe Schieffelin, and an apprenticeship in Acupressure and Yoga integration with Hydra Yoga. In essence, Tiffany's dream is to inspire individuals to explore and discover their fullest selves through a deeper connection with their mind and body, no matter the environment. Keep up with Tiffany on their website and Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

 Lariza Quintero is a first gen Colombian queen from Queens, New York. Lariza is an experienced Website and Digital Marketing professional with a strong background in SEO, media, and e-commerce. She is currently the Global B2B Website Lead at TikTok. In addition to her leadership roles in the tech space, Lariza is the founder of FOR WMN, an online brand and social platform dedicated to uplifting and empowering women through bold fashion and storytelling. Her commitment to inclusivity and representation drives her to create digital spaces that inspire confidence, creativity, and community.  In this episode, we are live and in person in New York City! Lariza and I talk about all things first gen, how she went from anthropology to tech, and why she decided to build her brand from the ground up. Keep up with Lariza on her Instagram and her LinkedIn.  Keep up with FOR WMN on their Instagram and shop from their website.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

In this week's episode, I sit down with Professor Laura Chávez-Moreno to chat about her latest book - How Schools Make Race, Teaching Latinx Racialization in America. Laura's work covers how race influences institutions, like schools, and pushes white supremacist ideology. As Latinos, we've all seen who is accepted into honors classes and who is in remedial classes, or which schools get the best books and which ones get the torn-up ones. In this very special interview, Laura shares how the concept of race works to divide us within these institutions in real-time and how we can combat it.  Laura C. Chávez-Moreno is an award-winning researcher, qualitative social scientist, and assistant professor in the Department of Chicana/o & Central American Studies and Department of Education at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA). Her work is at the intersection of education, pedagogy, language, literacy, and ethnic studies. Her research has been published in top-tier journals such as Review of Educational Research, Educational Researcher, American Educational Research Journal, Research in the Teaching of English, and Journal of Teacher Education. Y'all ready to be radicalized? Tune in! For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Tania Mercado

Meet la mujeron herself! Dr. Kay De Simone

Nancy Douyon is a proud Haitian

Katharine Pichardo-Erskine is a trailblazer who has melded political organizing expertise and executive leadership to become a widely recognized change-maker in the governmental, political, and civic arena. She took charge as Executive Director at Latino Victory with a mission perfectly suited to her 25 years of experience as a successful leader and passionate advocate: building political power within the Latino community and ensuring that Latino voices are included in the nation's policy and fiscal agenda.  Most recently, Katharine served as Senior Vice President at the MirRam Group, a top-tier New York-based strategic consulting firm where she has managed some of the firm's most prominent portfolios. Between 2018 and 2022, Katharine also led the firm's political arm, as President of the Hamilton Campaign Network (HCN). Melissa Mark-Viverito is an equity-centered activist and social justice champion with over 20 years of experience advocating at the local and national levels. She is based in New York and was is the first Puerto Rican woman to serve as a speaker for the New York City Council.  In this week's episode, we're discussing the results of the election, how it will affect our communities, and what we can do differently in the next election cycle. Most of us stayed in bed for a few extra hours the morning we got the news. But then we got up. It's ok to feel our feelings, but it's important that we don't give in to despair. We can have faith in our local elections, our community, our work ethic. It is important, now more than ever, to do the work in whatever capacity that looks like. Keep up with Melissa Mark-Viverito on her Instagram and her LinkedIn.  Keep up with Katherine on her LinkedIn and the Latino Victory website.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Lilliana Vazquez

Johanna Ferreira is a writer, journalist, and digital content creator/strategist. She previously worked as the Deputy Editor of HipLatina (under H Code Media) and is currently a freelance writer who has written and contributed compelling content for several notable media outlets and e-commerce beauty/lifestyle brands including Oprah Mag, Allure, Refinery29, Healthline, and more. A passionate storyteller with close to 10 years of experience, Johanna understands the importance of creating content that speaks truth and representation of marginalized voices. Her work centers on various themes including Latina womanhood, culture, beauty, and wellness — often covered from a socio-perspective. She has hosted and moderated panels that aim to bring awareness to social issues and empowerment to underrepresented communities across race, class, and gender. In this week's episode, Johanna shares her experiences growing up as a Dominican in the US and how she found her voice. While her mother raised her to be proud of where she came from, she always wanted to explore the world beyond her family's religious lifestyle. She kept asking questions, respectfully of course, and looking for more and more information. As an adult, her curiosity led her to pursue journalism where she could be the representation in media she didn't see growing up. Tune in to hear more about how she broke through her family's expectations and followed her dreams.  Keep up with Johanna on their website and Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Julissa S. Germosén

Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez is serving her sixteenth term as Representative for New York's 7th Congressional District. In the 118th Congress, she is the Ranking Member of the House Small Business Committee, a senior member of the Financial Services Committee, and a member of the House Committee on Natural Resources. As a fighter for the equal rights of the underrepresented and a proponent of economic opportunity for the working class and poor, Congresswoman Velázquez combines sensibility and compassion as she works to encourage economic development, protect community health and the environment, combat crime and worker abuses, and secure access to affordable housing, quality education, and health care for all New York City families. Katharine Pichardo-Erskine is a trailblazer who has melded political organizing expertise and executive leadership to become a widely recognized change-maker in the governmental, political, and civic arena. She took charge as Executive Director at Latino Victory with a mission perfectly suited to her 25 years of experience as a successful leader and passionate advocate: building political power within the Latino community and ensuring that Latino voices are included in the nation's policy and fiscal agenda.  Most recently, Katharine served as Senior Vice President at the MirRam Group, a top-tier New York-based strategic consulting firm where she has managed some of the firm's most prominent portfolios. Between 2018 and 2022, Katharine also led the firm's political arm, as President of the Hamilton Campaign Network (HCN). In this week's episode, we discuss Nydia's twenty-five political career and how her contributions have improved our country. Nydia shares stories about the man who tried to sabotage her career, her spearheaded policies, and all the amazing ways she's supported our community. And you can help support her, too! Latino representation in politics has always been an issue, but now is an amazing time for Latinas to join the cause. Tune in to this week's episode to learn how.  Keep up with Congresswoman Nydia M. Velázquez on her Instagram and her official website.  Keep up with Katherine on her LinkedIn and the Latino Victory website.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Melissa Llarena is an international Job Interview Coach, Published Author, and the host of the Mom Founder Imagination Hub podcast. She has been career coaching for over 20 years. She believes that you can play the cards in your favor during a job interview no matter how many cards you may feel are stacked up against you. She's coached professionals around the world on how to effectively and confidently sell themselves during a job interview and helped millions through articles in Forbes, Money Magazine, Huffington Post, Financial Times, CNBC, and Fox Business. In this week's episode, Melissa and I talk about her incredible journey of resiliency and entrepreneurship. Growing up her mother had a manic depressive disorder so that often meant that she was raising her mother more than her mother was raising her. Melissa had to grow up quickly, and I often meant being the person that she could count on the most. Now she feels as if there's nothing outside of her reach. She funded her college career strictly through scholarship money, she's raising her kids while running a business, and she's using her imagination to be her most powerful asset in that business. Tune into this week's episode to hear more about Melissa's incredible story and how you can believe in yourself as much as she does.  Keep up with Melissa on their website and Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

For more than a decade, Vallejo, California-based Sinaloense fotógrafa Rocio Rivera has been an award-winning professional photographer. After establishing herself as a professional photographer in the U.S. she moved back to the motherland to Mexico to continue her work there — a dream she's always had for herself. In this week's episode, Rocio shares why she left the United States and how she created her own new American Dream. Many people are saying that the new American dream for children of immigrant parents is to return to the motherland and live a better-quality life. As expenses rise in the US more and more people are redefining what their idea of success is and what it could look like for them and their families in the future. Tune into this week's episode to hear more about Rocio's journey home, and how she managed to move her entire life to Mexico. Full disclaimer, Rocio is going to keep it 100%. Keep up with Rocio on their website and Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST

Michelle Barrionuevo-Mazzini is an Argentinian-Peruvian creative entrepreneur from the Bay Area and the owner of two small businesses. Her first small business, MB Creative Co. is a boutique planning and design firm that has produced over 800 events both locally and abroad since its inception in 2004. Her events are creatively designed and seamlessly translated into an experience with depth and meaning for their discerning clientele. Many of their events have been featured in print and online publications such as Hola! Magazine, BRIDES, The Knot, Grace Ormonde, Marin Magazine, and Today's Bride just to name a few.  Amidst the pandemic, Michelle launched a second small business called CASITA MICHI. This California-based wellness brand celebrates culture through empowering and nostalgic candles, hand-poured with the planet in mind. With the lack of representation in the home fragrance space, she and her team set out to create a product that would inspire our community to practice self-care through intentional storytelling and culturally empowered phrases. In addition to being a brand that values sustainability and social good, they believe in the power of belonging through purposeful and intentional representation.  In the Fall of 2021, CASITA MICHI became the first Latina-owned candle brand to debut at Macy's and their signature line of vegan coconut wax candles can be found both online and in 400+ Macy's stores across the U.S. They have been featured in USA Today, Hip Latina, Complex, NBC News, Refinery 29, Poderista, Good Housekeeping, Mujerista and Yahoo.  In this week's episode, Michelle shares her journey as an entrepreneur and how she invested in her creative worth. Throughout her life, Michelle has endured a ton of highs and lows - including a separation, the 2009 market crash, and the Covid pandemic. Through it all she persisted and has two incredible businesses that she uses to lift up the Latino community and her fellow entrepreneurs around her. Check out Michelle's episode for an incredible story of strength through resilience and confidence in her creative self. Keep up with Michelle on their website and Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Christine knew from a young age, that she wanted to use her skills to empower others. After recognizing her connection and passion for ceremonial cacao, yoga, and wellness, she realized that she was a magical being on the path to remembering. Her book A Child of Magic, as well as the adapted screenplay Lana Livia and The Ancestral Magic, are both based on her own journey of remembrance, serving as a reminder to reconnect with the innate magic within and around us. After her father took his life, she felt she had lost a part of herself that she'd never be able to connect with again. That is until she discovered Mayan cacao from Guatemala. While there, she reunited with her heart, her ancestry, and her ancestral plant medicine. She felt a clear connection and a deep knowing that she was meant to work with cacao ceremonially, not only for her own healing but for the healing of the world. Ever since this discovery, she's been sharing cacao in the ceremony through The Maltyox (Gratitude) Method and her stories with communities worldwide. After facilitating healing and transformation within many communities, including Poosh Wellness, Alo Yoga, and countless masterminds, she's taken what she's learned to write her next book — a guide for readers to experience full self-liberation through harnessing the power of gratitude. Her wish is to cultivate love and enrich others' lives by sharing her gifts, her truth expression, and her magical creations. To embody gratitude, the love, light, & magic and inspire others to do the same. She hopes with all of my creations she can inspire others to live in their truth and tap into their magic. In this week's episode, Christine shares her recent spiritual experiences, including her journey to her ancestral lands. In Guatemala, she was able to reconnect with her roots and suppressed feelings. She learned about her ancestral spirituality and has dedicated herself to sharing this knowledge with Latin Americans who are also looking to tap into their roots. Listen to Christine's episode to hear more about her incredible journey!  Keep up with Christine on their website and Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Katharine Pichardo-Erskine is a trailblazer who has melded political organizing expertise and executive leadership to become a widely recognized change-maker in the governmental, political, and civic arena. She takes charge as Executive Director at Latino Victory with a mission perfectly suited to her 25 years of experience as a successful leader and passionate advocate: building political power within the Latino community and ensuring that Latino voices are included in the nation's policy and fiscal agenda. Today, Katharine is a sought-after strategist. She has appeared on various “power lists,” including City and State New York's top political consultants list. She is also a regular political commentator on Telemundo as well as other media outlets in English and Spanish. Sindy Marisol Benavides is the President and CEO of Latino Victory of Latino Victory, a progressive organization dedicated to building Latino political power at the local, state, and federal levels. Sindy is a recognized national civil rights leader deeply committed to uplifting the voices of vulnerable and underserved populations. With nearly two decades in the non-profit sector, Sindy has helped build organizations to scale from the bottom up through strategy development, governance, communication, partnerships, and outreach. As a proud Honduran-American, Sindy immigrated to the United States with her family and has experienced the American Dream. She now devotes her career to public service, ensuring that countless young people, women, and immigrants have the same opportunity.  In this week's episode, Katherine and Sindy join us for the first episode of a very special collaboration between the Latino Victory Fund and Hella Latin@! Our amazing guests discuss how they got into politics, why policymaking is so important to them, and how they are currently making a difference in American politics. If you have been disappointed in the state of our country, this episode is a breath of fresh air. Listen in to hear more about the actions Katherine and Sindy are taking to make immediate and long-term changes for the betterment of our communities.  Keep up with Katherine on her LinkedIn and the Latino Victory website.  Keep up with Sindy on her LinkedIn and the Latino Victory website.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Yomarie "YoMo" Castellano is a proud Puerto Rican and female hair loss empowerment coach and advocate. As a hair loss warrior for the past 10 years due to Androgenic Alopecia, YoMo understands the emotional and physical impacts of hair loss. Her mission is to help women facing challenges in their hair loss journey reclaim their confidence, ignite their inner ch*ngona, and thrive through personalized coaching. She provides guidance and support to help women cultivate a positive self-image and navigate the obstacles surrounding hair loss. Hair Loss Bonita is YoMo's brand and movement, dedicated to empowering women with hair loss to embrace their inner beauty, reclaim their power, and overcome challenges. In this week's episode, YoMo opens up and shares her incredible story of strength and resilience. After leaving her abusive father with her family, YoMo settled in Milwaukee where she grew up. She later battled with alcoholism, the same disease she lost her father and grandfather. Now she's five years sober and is now a female hair loss empowerment coach after losing much of her hair to alopecia. YoMo has become the representation she needed for thousands of women around the world. Tune in to hear how she became sober and what she's doing to feel beautiful inside and out.  Keep up with YoMo on their website and Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Karen Santos is a Peruvian American portrait and branding photographer whose specialty lies in creating images that are dynamic, colorful, soulful, and honest. She's really passionate about using her creative medium to highlight and celebrate communities of color, particularly our Latino community. She believes that imagery has the power to elevate marginalized communities through positive representation. She runs her own photo studio in Oakland, California, and travels to New York and LA often for photography commissions. In this week's episode, Karen shares how her months-long sabbatical to explore her Peruvian heritage changed her life forever. After finding out she was 87% Indigenous Andean, she wanted to learn more about where she came from and how that affected her artistic style and her never-ending work ethic. Now, she's a portrait photographer specializing in the most eye-catching headshots we've ever seen! Through her work, she's connected with the most amazing network of women role models from every industry. Fun fact: we met at a networking event in Silicon Valley and I hired her for an event at LinkedIn! Today, Karen is looking forward to enjoying a soft life and embracing a vibrant future. Listen to Karen's episode to learn more!  Keep up with Karen on their website and Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Mariana Fernández's journey as a fitness instructor is deeply rooted in her upbringing and fueled by a passion for empowering others. Born in Tampico, Mexico, and raised in San Diego with a family of athletes, Mariana's early experiences instilled in her a love for movement and a profound understanding of the mind-body connection. Drawing from her diverse background in theater arts and fitness, Mariana seamlessly blends her expertise into her teaching style. Her classes at Peloton, which she joined in 2020, encompass a wide range of offerings, from invigorating yoga flows to tread classes and meditations designed to cultivate inner peace and happiness. Whether guiding students through mindful movements on the mat or inspiring them to find their stride on the tread, Mariana's classes are a reflection of her commitment to holistic well-being. Central to Mariana's teaching philosophy is the desire to bridge the gap between physical and mental wellness while honoring her Mexican heritage. Through her classes, she infuses elements of Mexican culture, creating a space where her community feels seen and celebrated. Mariana's teaching approach is characterized by a unique blend of warmth, tough love, and infectious energy, creating an environment where students are encouraged to push beyond their limits, no matter where they are on their fitness journey.  Mariana's goal remains the same in every class: to empower her students to embrace their full potential in practice and in life. With her unwavering dedication to uplifting others and her dynamic teaching style, she invites her community to join her on a journey of self-discovery, transformation, and joy. In this week's episode, Mariana Fernández shares her journey of living between Mexico and the U.S., feeling both too Mexican to be a foreigner and too foreign to be a true Chilanga. As Peloton's first bilingual instructor, she discusses the importance of picking herself up, staying true to herself, and not letting challenges define her. Mariana also acknowledges the need for Latinos to fight for respect and opportunities, and how supporting each other with compassion and empathy can help us all thrive. Tune in for an incredible episode with this amazing person!  Keep up with Mariana on her Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

In this week's episode, your favorite dynamic duo discusses how we're healing their toxic behaviors and tendencies. The first step to healing is acknowledging, right? Tune in to hear me unpack my toxica tendencies, Pabel's almost bad call with an investor, and how we're achieving their versions of the American Dream. Keep up with Pabel on his website, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Hady Mendez, a Puerto Rican Brooklyn native, opens up about her journey of feeling like she was "too much" but "never enough" — especially in corporate spaces. As CEO of Boldly Speaking, Hady helps organizations recognize the power of diversity and the value of offering equitable opportunities to all employees. As a speaker and facilitator, Hady works to promote inclusion in teams and ERGs, making sure everyone feels like they truly belong. Her mission is to transform the experiences of women and people of color everywhere. She aims to empower underrepresented employees by equipping them with the skills to self-advocate, self-promote, and capitalize on leadership roles within ERGs and throughout organizations. In this week's episode, Hady shares her experience as a Latina in corporate and how she eventually left it all behind. In her professional career, Hady was constantly made to feel like she was both too much and not enough. As a result, she struggled with feelings of unworthiness and impostor syndrome. Now, she owns her own business and helps women get their dream jobs and their dream pay. Tune into the full episode to hear how she made the transition and learned to be confident in herself.  Keep up with Hady on her website, Instagram, and LinkedIn.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Best friends for almost 12 years turned business partners for almost 2 years, Lucia and Nancy are trailblazing entrepreneurs in the interior design industry. Both 1st generation Latinas of Dominican descent, merged their backgrounds, career experience and love for creativity to create innovative and personalized design solutions. Lucia Genao is the visionary founder and principal designer of Lucia Genao Interiors, a business she launched in 2022 after relocating from New York City. With nearly two decades of design expertise, this esteemed Fashion Institute of Technology alumna breathes life into functional and exquisite spaces. From admiring her father's house-building skills at a young age to fueling her passion for architecture and boundless creativity, Lucia's journey has been nothing short of inspiring. Her artistry shines through in every project, as she curates thoughtful commercial spaces and homes, blending clean lines and opulent details, creating timeless, luxurious havens that embrace each client's unique preferences. Nancy Pineda is an accomplished strategic project manager with over two decades of experience in the corporate world, contributing her expertise to renowned Fortune 100 companies like American Express and JP Morgan & Chase Co and now a fintech company, Mobility Capital Finance (“MoCaFi”). Her profound knowledge encompasses business strategy, administration, operations, project, and change management. As a side hustle, Nancy is the driving force behind the business operations of Lucia Genao Interiors. Nancy's dedication knows no bounds; she fearlessly dives into hands-on work during installation periods, building furniture and skillfully ninja-chopping pillows! Recently, both Lucia and Nancy have relocated to North Carolina. Lucia, along with her husband and two children, enjoys creating family memories, exploring the outdoors, listening to music, and savoring delicious food. Meanwhile, Nancy finds joy in traveling, powerlifting, and trying out new culinary experiences. In this week's episode, Nancy and Lucia share how they met, how they started a business together, and how they continue to uplift each other every single day. This episode is filled with a ton of fun anecdotes - including how Lucia proposed to her husband, and how Nancy became Luca's business partner. These two prove that complete strangers can be as important to you as family. Check out Nancy and Lucia's episode now. Keep up with Nancy and Lucia on their website and Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Michael "Juan Bago" Diaz is a Dominican-American comedian born in New Rochelle, NY, and raised in Connecticut. Diaz started off with aspirations of becoming an actor before diving into sketch comedy. His goal of one day becoming an actor led him back to Washington Heights, NY, where his parents met and many family members still lived. In 2004, a friend connected him with the founder of the New York Latino Film Festival and he wrote and sold his first comedy feature. It sold out at the Latino Film Festival and he created a name for himself, [gained] the buzz. From there, he never looked back and has been an independent filmmaker in comedy ever since. In 2006, Diaz premiered "The Story of Juan Bago," a tale about an underachieving "loser" in his mid-20s who lives at home with his parents and "doesn't bathe very often.”  In addition to "Bago Briefs," Diaz recently launched a podcast titled "Translators" with cohost Jaime Fernandez. Comedians Michael Diaz & Jaime Fernandez are fed up with the representation of Latinos in mainstream media and literature. “The Translators” podcast, features the abundance of creative talent the Latin community has to offer that is often overlooked and misrepresented. Join Michael & Jaime as they uncover the passion, path, and process of each guest to reveal what has made them successful in their highly competitive fields and challenge the myths that come with Latinx stereotypes. Even though we're speaking the same language, some people still need Translators!  In this week's episode, Juan shares his experience writing and selling a comedy show as a Latino in the entertainment industry. As a kid, he had a hard time figuring out his identity. Growing up, he thought he was mulatto because he was black and white, and he learned he was Latino he was also shamed for his use of Spanglish. As an adult, Juan is more confident about his identity and who he is, no matter what anyone else has to say about it. He uses that certainty to create hilarious characters and uplift Latino creators in the industry. Check out this episode to hear more about the amazing work he's doing in TV, podcasting, and beyond!  Keep up with Juan on his website and Instagram. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Juliana Londoño is a proud Latina, bilingual, and licensed mental health therapist in NJ. Her business focuses on the intersectionality of mental health and the Latino/BIPOC communities. Her mission is to bring awareness, education, and resources through various outlets. Juliana has served as a thought leader, keynote speaker, and podcast guest.  She has collaborated with #WeAllGrow Latina, LinkedIn News, and has been featured on Univision and NY Pix11 News. Juliana is a graduate of the Bank of America Women's Entrepreneurship Program at Cornell University. She is currently enrolled in the NASDAQ Entrepreneurship Program, The Milestone Circle. She is a community advocate and volunteers with America Needs You-NJ and Leading Young Women. During her free time, she enjoys figure skating, completing jigsaw puzzles, and spending time in nature.  In this week's episode, Juliana shares her experience as a Colombian immigrant living in America and her work to destigmatize mental health resources in Latine communities. Growing up, she found strength in her mother's resilience and tries to embody her “make a way, find a way” attitude in her everyday life. Her work focuses on addressing the cultural context that prevents the Latine community from seeking mental health help. Juliana hopes to provide safe spaces for her people so they can receive the support they deserve.  Keep up with Juliana on her website, Instagram, and LinkedIn. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

A prominent figure in the entertainment industry, Lex Borrero is known for his innovation, executive leadership, and advocacy for Latino culture. He gained recognition in Billboard's "40 under 40" in 2020 and "Latin Power Players" in 2023. His career includes collaborations with artists like J Balvin, Maroon 5, Bad Bunny, and Justin Bieber, resulting in over 500 million records sold worldwide and numerous Billboard Hot 100 hits. His career has spanned various roles in the music industry, culminating in his co-founding of NEON16 with producer Tainy in 2019. NEON16 evolved into a multi-faceted entertainment company with ventures in music, gaming, television, film, and live events, earning accolades as the most innovative music company by Fast Company in 2021. He also played a key role in NEON16's partnerships with the NFL, producing the "Por La Cultura Mixtape: Volume 1" in 2022. In 2023, he acquired ARRO Media, which became the AM16 agency, offering brand services at the intersection of music, culture, and entertainment. AM16 has worked with major brands, generating successful campaigns, and recently led a groundbreaking partnership with Red Bull USA and F1. His remarkable journey has been featured in notable publications, including Forbes, Billboard, Rolling Stone, Deadline, Adweek, Variety, CNN, The Hollywood Reporter, and The Wrap In this week's episode, Lex tells us how being disruptive and taking chances turned him into an entertainment genius. He has built his career up to what it is today by focusing on empowering the Latino community and believing in the human nature of creativity. Listen to his episode to hear more about his amazing career and all the chisme about his amazing come-up.  Keep up with Lex on his Instagram and LinkedIn. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Maria is here to help you craft a winning strategy that's not just a plan on paper but one that truly works. In her work, she draws from her experience at LinkedIn, Microsoft, and Apple, where she's built strong relationships with CXO clients. She helps companies build their thought leadership on LinkedIn. She also supported individuals who want to elevate their brand on LinkedIn and position themselves as thought leaders. As a passionate Latina leader with over ten years in marketing and business development across various sectors, she's learned a thing or two about solving problems and designing processes that scale. She thrives on building trusting relationships with her CXO customers and creating strategies that fuel growth.  In this week's episode, Maria shares her incredibly inspiring journey to being true to herself no matter where she is. Throughout her life, she learned how to refuse to assimilate and care for herself in every environment. And that includes when she was an international ambassador for Venezuela, when she moved to Iceland with her new husband, and when she had to take her physical health seriously for the first time.  Listen to hear more about how she combated racism, whitewashing, and unrealistic expectations.  Keep up with Maria on her LinkedIn. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Mariel Buqué (pronounced like a bouquet of flowers) is a first-generation Black Dominican psychologist, a world-renowned intergenerational trauma expert, and the author of the bestselling book Break the Cycle: A Guide to Healing Intergenerational Trauma. Her mission is to help reduce the recurrence of Intergenerational ACEs (Adverse Childhood Experiences) within communities of color. Dr. Buqué earned her doctoral degree in counseling psychology at Columbia University, where she also trained as a 3-year fellow in holistic mental health within Columbia University Irving Medical Center (CUIMC), an initiative that was backed by the United States Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA). There, she offered culturally responsive mental health services across multiple specialty clinics, including Columbia Medical's OB/GYN and Primary Care clinics. In this week's episode, Mariel talks about the intergenerational trauma she has seen as an intergenerational trauma expert. With the help of her book Break the Cycle, she has been able to help people all over the world address the trauma that they have experienced and start healing. Tune in to hear more about her experience as a psychologist and how she has been healing the trauma within her own family as well as within others.  Keep up with Mariel on her website and her LinkedIn. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Elisa Hernandez is a bilingual host, producer, editor, and 2x Emmy winner working in the greater Los Angeles area. She is currently the Los Angeles Dodgers stadium host and field producer for NBC/Telemundo Deportes covering Sunday Night Football. Elisa was previously the digital host, producer, and content strategist at NFL Network for the NFL's only U.S. Latino Instagram account El Snap NFL. After graduating from USC with her degree in digital journalism and interning with the NFL Network, Elisa joined their digital media team. In 2016, she worked for Spectrum SportsNet as a digital host and editor-in-chief for Dodgers Nation and as the in-arena host for the Los Angeles Lakers. Recently, her focus has been on creating Spanish content for the NFL, hosting their sole Latino-focused Instagram community in the country, and launching her sports podcast “Sports-Ish.” In this week's episode, Elisa tells us about her journey towards sports journalism and how she stays true to her most authentic self while working in the sports industry. Growing up, she and her family were always outside playing sports. When she was old enough, her brother took her to a baseball game and she discovered that all wanted to do was talk to the players. From there, she knew she had to pursue sports journalism. In the field, Elisa prioritizes communication and supports the Latinx audience by providing Central American representation and translating the script that she reads on air.  Tune in to hear more of her incredible journey on the Hella Latin@ podcast. Keep up with Elisa on her website and her Instagram. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Jasmine Ruiz is a NYC-based comedian, writer, and content creator. With an extensive background in the entertainment industry, she has honed a diverse skill set including comedy, writing, and content creation. Her passion for storytelling and creativity allows her to create original and engaging content across all platforms. In her current projects, Jasmine has showcased a talent for captivating audiences - including over 100k followers across all her social media platforms. She recently got in touch with a producer who helped her produce a trailer for her dramedy and is manifesting its debut on HBO!  In this week's episode, Jasmine opens up about what it's like to be a first-generation cycle breaker. She talks about how hard it's been putting up with people's criticisms of her to the point where she decided she does not care about anyone else's opinions anymore. She is putting herself first and thriving while doing it. Even if that means being disruptive. Inspired by Issa Rae and the show Insecure, she produced her own special and it has been picked up by HBO! Follow her on Instagram for more updates about her newest project and everything else she has coming up.  Keep up with Jasmine on her website and her Instagram. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dulce Orozco is a Latina Immigrant Therapist and speaker who works with people of color and from immigrant families. She has over 17 years of experience in the mental health field and has dedicated her career to understanding the challenges people of color and from immigrant families go through that limit them from reaching their full potential. She assists women of color from immigrant families who are ready to work on their healing journey, see a new perspective, and change their relationship with themselves so they can create new realities that honor their uniqueness.  Because of her personal and professional experience working in private practice, community mental health, psychiatric hospitals, and counseling centers, she is fascinated by culture's role in mental health and how we perceive ourselves. As a result, she creates safe spaces to talk about complicated but critical topics. Her first language is Spanish and she is fluent in English and Portuguese. She is also a parent ambassador at Self Help Inc. Dulce was born and raised in Venezuela and has been living in Massachusetts since 2001. She has two young daughters who constantly remind her how to enjoy the present prioritizing play. She loves being a student, and she is usually learning something new. She has presented at Merrimack College, The Thrive Scholars Career and Leadership Conference, The Latina Summit, Dream Builders, GitLab, UMass Amherst, and Prospanica, among other places. Her work has been featured in El Mundo Boston, El Planeta, Authority Magazine, mic.com, and more. In this week's episode, Dulce talks about the mental health industry in the United States and how Latinx people are affected by outdated policies. Her work focuses on making therapy accessible for everyone, despite the financial limitations of offering a luxury service. And while her name may be Dulce, she wants to be known as a rebel and a change-maker - which is exactly what she's doing with her private practice.  Keep up with Dulce on her website and her Instagram. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

FARî is a Honduran urban music artist, singer, writer, producer, and drummer still in his 20s. Being underrepresented in the Latino urban music scene, he hopes to bring his music and story to life by mixing his childhood favorites (rap, edm, rock, reggaeton) into unique tracks weaved in with his life experiences. In this week's episode, FARî tells us all about his life as a successful musician, and how his work focuses on keeping our roots alive. He also tells us all the chisme regarding his new album that was just released, SAKURA, which tells a story of being unique and chasing your dreams. This first full-length album that shows his plethora of studied genres including rap, reggaeton, and everything from the 80s to the 2010s. He also explains how being in Honduras, his Latinidad and how other Latino artists have inspired him through his artistic process. Go check out FARÎ and listen to his new album, SAKURA. Lo rompió! Keep up with FARî on his Spotify and his Instagram. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Andrea Navedo is a Bronx-born-and-raised Puerto Rican American actress best known for her role as Xiomara, a complex and genuine Latina on the CW's Golden Globe-nominated television series 'Jane the Virgin.' Navedo received critical acclaim for her portrayal of Jane's loving and outgoing mother. Navedo is the recipient of the Imagen Award for Best Supporting TV Actress, as well as the Elizabeth Peña Breakthrough Artist Award. She can currently be seen recurring in the ABC series 'A Million Little Things.' Navedo's most recent film credits include Netflix's 'Bright' opposite Will Smith and the indie films for Hulu 'Miguel Wants to Fight' & HBO Max's 'B-Loved' coming Feb.14, 2023. Andrea Navedo didn't see many positive portrayals of Latinas in the media growing up. So when she had the chance to play a starring role in Jane the Virgin as a complex, flawed, and genuine Latina single mother, she jumped at it. Now, she shares bits of her story of growing up in ‘da South Bronx—boogie down, burning”—to inspire young people who grew up like she did and who, after being counted out, still strive to succeed. Her book Our Otherness Is Our Strength: Wisdom from the Boogie Down Bronx is out now.  In this week's episode, Andrea tells us all about how she defied stereotypes and helped bring a well-rounded Latin character to Hollywood. After surviving the burning Bronx and pushing through stereotypical Latin rules, Andrea landed the role of the beloved Xiomara and changed how Latinos are perceived on American TV forever. Listen to hear an incredible story of strength, resilience, and manifestation. Keep up with Andrea on her website and her Instagram. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Mario began his artistic career as an illustrator and designer and had a decade-long run with Disney during what is considered its second golden age of animation. His credits include The Lion King, Pocahontas, Atlantis, the Warner Bros film, and Looney Tunes Back in Action. He was an art director for independent animated features and is now a faculty instructor.  Rosemary was born and raised in the South Bronx and started her creative journey as a magazine writer and editor working at Telemundo and NBC, all while creating ideas on the side. This included developing content for animated movies and TV shows with Mario, and together they created this book called Myra and the Drawing Drama, one of their various collaborations which we'll talk a lot about in this episode today. In this week's episode, Rosemary and Mario share their experiences as first-generation Latinx growing up in the Bronx, pursuing creative careers, and eventually creating a book together. Theirs is an incredible story of resilience and following their dreams. Both Rosemary and Mario have had a tough upbringing, but they were able to endure it all, become some of the best people in their fields, and become incredibly successful storytellers.  Keep up with Rosemary on her website and her LinkedIn. Keep up with Mario on his website and his LinkedIn. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Luis Báez is an entrepreneur, sales executive, and unwavering optimist who's a little obsessed about helping you build a career and business you're proud of. His pronouns are he, him, and él. His ability to build genuine trust and help people around him shine is why he's been recruited to work at some of the most influential companies in history — including LinkedIn, Google, Uber, and Tesla. Not bad for a First-Gen Nuyorican boy from the Bronx! No one taught him how to sell — putting himself out there is just what he's had to do to create the life he wanted. After closing over half a billion dollars in sales at Fortune 500 companies, she still had trouble putting himself out there confidently as an entrepreneur when he got started. Launching his own business was a totally new ball game, but by combining all the strategic thinking he learned working in Silicon Valley with his NYC hustle, he was finally able to figure out his formula for stacking sales. This system has helped him make some serious impact on the lives of the people he serves — and his own. In this week's episode, Luis shares his experience as a gay Latino working in the hypercritical environment of corporate sales. Luis is very aware of the societal expectations placed on him - how machismo defines what kind of man he should be, and how he used to navigate code-switching to fit in. He worked tirelessly and in return, he only received a wobbly chair at the table. He soon realized he was not just keeping pace, but outperforming his peers. That's when he decided to grow beyond his current employer, build his personal brand, and launch his own company.  Keep up with Luis on his website and his LinkedIn. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

How many of y'all are first gen corporate? This episode is for you! Today I'm talking to Maria Medrano, co-founder and CEO of Inspirame, a mission-driven organization dedicated to ending generational poverty through educational attainment. As a first-generation Mexican American and the first in her family to earn a high school or college degree, Maria has held strategic leadership roles spanning two decades at Google, Visa, and Cisco, to name a few, and has used her first gen superpowers to make big career moves Maria Medrano is a global bilingual Latina leader who has made a name for herself with an exceptional track record in managing multi-million to billion-dollar businesses with a focus on bottom-line growth, large-scale project plans, data-driven decision-making, and strategic partnerships. Her leadership style emphasizes supporting long-term growth, business continuity, process improvements, and transformations while ensuring business strategies are aligned with corporate objectives. Throughout her career, Maria has prioritized building a sense of community within corporate settings and bridging the gap between business strategies and community values. She firmly believes that sustainable success comes from aligning business objectives with community needs and has a proven track record of achieving this balance. Despite humble beginnings, Maria's accomplishments have been widely recognized. She has received numerous awards, including the YWCA Tribute to Women Emerging Leader Award, Top 100 Under 40 Diversity MBA, Silicon Valley 40 Under 40, and Top 50 Under 50. In this week's episode, Maria shares her experience as a Latina making a difference in Corporate America. Corporate America can still present challenges for Latinos, but Maria's journey shows us that it's possible to navigate this space without losing ourselves. She is creating a community that is a beacon of hope for all Latinx in corporate spaces and is a living reminder that we can create our own paths and create our own success stories. Keep up with Maria on her LinkedIn and on Instagram @techoguide_.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. To learn more about your ad choices visit megaphone.fm/adchoices Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dominique Cordero

Wendy Amara is a proud Guatamalan with Mayan roots and has spent her time as a transformational Strategy Coach, Speaker, Trainer, and Best Selling Author. She has coached thousands of people over the past twelve years and helped them achieve very powerful goals for their lives. Her results-oriented, no-holding-back approach opens up new possibilities for her clients and has them stay accountable for producing extraordinary results. She has coached many prominent individuals including numerous CEOs of large companies and high positioned appointed and elected officials. She supports all her clients in gaining more clarity, connecting to their vision, and developing a plan of action for their lives that will skyrocket them to their goals. Wendy's wish for every client is that they live a life they are excited about and proud of! She has worked for numerous transformational companies specializing in ontological coaching, result-oriented coaching, and leadership principles. In this week's episode, we find out how Wendy became a coach way before it was popular. She found out about coaching before Facebook was even a thing! And while undergoing life coaching to find solutions for her ADHD, she found herself wanting to try coaching for herself and support others in her community. She worked with businesses, consulted with others, and even earned her coaching certification to specifically support people with ADHD. Her goal is to get every one of her clients to trust in themselves and learn the tools they need to be the best version of themselves.  Keep up with Wendy on her website and on her LinkedIn. Listen to her podcast Yes Mujer Build It here.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Melissa Vela-Williamson, APR is an internationally recognized and accredited award-winning public relations expert, author, and national columnist with two decades of general market and multicultural integrated marketing communications experience in agency, corporate, and nonprofit settings. Today, she serves clients as the Chief Communication Architect of her own boutique firm, MVW Communications. Melissa is a 360° integrated marketing communicator but has expertise and accreditation in public relations. As a unique attribute, Melissa has worked in internal communications and diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) for a corporation during her career. She is one of only 5,000 PR professionals around the world with the “APR” distinction and recently earned her accreditation as a Certified Diversity Professional. Her inclusive PR point of view influences any communication challenge she tackles. In this week's episode, we talk about Melissa‘s journey into the PR industry. Latinas make up only about 10% of the PR industry and the industry itself tends to favor white men and women more than any other race. And while these facts are discouraging, Melissa has pushed through, taking her nonlinear career journey and creating the amazing PR business that she has today. Listen to find out how she pushed through all her doubts, and became the representation that she wanted to see for herself.  Keep up with Melissa on his website and on his LinkedIn.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Christian Martinez has made significant contributions to his community through his leadership skills, visionary approach, and commitment to education. He co-founded Latitude High, a charter school that focuses on community engagement, personalized learning, and project-based learning. His efforts have served as a prototype for other educational institutions nationwide, inspiring a fresh wave of enthusiastic and committed young leaders who aspire to effect positive change in their localities. In addition to his contributions to education, Martinez's dedication to elevating the voices and narratives of marginalized groups inspired him to establish Noxhegalactia, a magazine and podcast platform that empowers individuals to share their stories and bring attention to the challenges facing their communities. By creating Noxhegalactia, Martinez has fostered an environment in which people are empowered to express themselves and effect change in their communities. In this episode, we dive into Christian's incredible story of resilience and strength. Christian went from crossing the border with his family as a child to owning and designing his own charter school. He grew up in a working-class neighborhood, trying to stick together with the other immigrant kids to make friends, and watching his mom go back and forth over the border to protect her family members. When his father died he knew he had to provide for his mother. And so he set a goal, made it, and set another goal, until he became the successful man that he is today.  Keep up with Christian on his website and on his LinkedIn.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Ruben Quesada

Natalia Gaitan is a Colombian immigrant who walked out of her wildly successful corporate design job (working with multiple, global brands like JCPenney and T.J. Maxx) and into freedom, joy, and a life of purpose. There was a lot of fear, uncertainty, planning, sleepless nights, and more than a few curse words between her corporate exit and fulfilling her purpose as a branding and design business owner. But at the end of the day, her growth had a limit. She was missing true connection and didn't feel like she was making a difference in people's lives. Natalia knew she was meant for more. She was ready to make a bigger impact and build a powerful legacy. Natalia and her company Power Up Brand + Design creates brand and website design for passionate creatives who are ready to stand out online and make a bigger impact.  In this episode, you'll hear about Natalia Gaitan's journey to pursue fashion and design in the United States, creating her company while being furloughed due to Covid, and how she raises her first-generation kids to lead a more fulfilling life.  Keep up with Natalia on her website and on her Instagram.  For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Today you'll hear from Hector Terrero. In this episode, he shares his story of coming from the Dominican Republic, being first-generation, landing his dream job at Apple, and becoming a tech entrepreneur. You'll also hear about his journey in creating and scaling Moneda App which happened while on a trip home to DR. With Moneda, his goal is to create economic prosperity for users within Latin America, starting with Dominican Republic. From shopping at Payless, to being bullied in school, to growing up in The Bronx and now traveling the world, wearing the freshest kicks, and building a business... he's here to talk all about navigating the many firsts. Update: after 7 years of being one of the few Latino engineers working at one of the biggest companies in the world, Hector is onto another first. Connect with him on LinkedIn to follow more of his journey! For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Sandra Velasquez is the Mexican-American founder of Nopalera, an iconic and culture forward Bath & Body brand that celebrates and elevates Latino culture and Latinx goods. Sandra launched Nopalera in the middle of the pandemic from her Brooklyn apartment with no outside funding or savings while working as a CPG sales & distribution manager in New York City. The brand attracted dream retailers like Nordstrom, Credo, Free People, and over 350 influential boutiques nationwide in its first full year and has been featured on NBC's The Today Show, Telemundo, and over sixty national publications. She is the winner of the Valde Latinx Entrepreneur Grant, the Clean Beauty Summer School Pitch Grant, a finalist for the Black Ambition Prize, and won Latino Start-Up of the year at the L'attitude Match Up Conference. She is in this year's Cosmopolitan x Undivided New C Suite and is currently participating in the Stanford LBAN Cohort 14 and True Beauty Ventures Bridge Mentorship Program. She raised 2.7 Million in her oversubscribed seed round in preparation for partnering with a national beauty retailer. Additionally, Velasquez hosts The Nopalera Podcast which chronicles her journey of building her brand in real time while sharing the stories of others in her community to inspire other entrepreneurs. In her spare time, she mentors other Latina founders. In this episode, you'll hear about Sandra's journey in creating Nopalera, becoming a full-time entrepreneur, and staying true to her roots. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Dr. Jeniree Flores is a Venezuelan immigrant and began her industry polymer chemistry career by performing a variety of roles in technical service, innovation, product development, and marketing. She has experience in several different industries, including chemicals for coatings, oil and gas, and personal care; as well additive manufacturing or 3D printing. Throughout her career, she was worked at various chemical companies, including BASF, REM Surface Engineer and now, Arxada where she serves as the Global Marketing Manager for Energy. Dr. Flores is the author of a patent and of more than half a dozen peer-review publications. Pero like, being a Latina chemist isn't easy. In this episode, you'll hear about Jeniree's experience being an immigrant, navigating her career as a brown woman, and ultimately what led her in choosing herself when experiencing a toxic workplace. Check out her podcast Latinx Can to hear more amazing stories about our community, by our community. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

Yovy Daniels, Panamanian West Indian Afro-descendant. Professionally she's known as a former TV corporate broadcast media planner who worked in the U.S. Spanish-speaking/LATAM division for networks like FOX, SONY, RCNTV, and Univision. She continues to propel her innovative skills from broadcaster to podcaster with new ventures into public speaking and blogging. She is now the host and creator of Chombita Chronicles podcast where she highlights the Afro-Latinx experience and sheds a light on stories within the community. In this episode, she keeps it real about being Panamanian, Afro-Latina, an immigrant, and how she's navigated her journey being 100% true to herself and proud of being an Afro-Latina with an Accent. Connect with Yovy D via LinkedIn, Instagram or check out her website and podcast, Chombita Chronicles. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.   Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices