The Entrepreneurs Journey

Entrepreneurs come in all forms, some set their fears aside to create media empires, while others risk their livelihoods to realize their dreams. But as much as they differ in industry and aspirations, the lessons they've learned along the way are universal. In this episode, we're looking back at the insights our guests have shared this season. Listen in as we reflect on the struggles they experienced and learn from the solutions they found. Stay tuned for season two when we'll bring you more powerful conversations with entrepreneurs full of advice and inspiration for the business-builder in us all.

Gloria Jimenez is passionate about mastering what interests her most and giving others the same opportunity. After moving from Peru to the United States, Gloria spent years honing her marketing and event planning skills. And her hard work has paid off, today she serves on multiple boards, can be seen on TV, and she's also taking the entrepreneurial world by storm. As the Executive Director of the Indiana Latino Expo, Gloria created the Axis Leadership, a program designed to provide networking to the Latino community of Indianapolis. She also started IMind Media Group, which focuses on digital marketing. Her achievements are expansive and they came about because she saw a need and decided to fill it. The biggest lesson she's learned along the way is to go for what you want, if you wait until you're “ready”, it'll never happen. As you listen, you'll hear how to truly master multitasking and what you can do to battle self-doubt.

Mario Albert Lomeli knows what it means to work from the ground up. An heir to his family's cultural traditions, he immersed himself in the restaurant world and has spent twenty years working as anything from a buser to a manager learning the industry from the inside out. When coming up with a business model, Mario focused on solutions rather than any problems he faced. Now he is the owner of Cha-Cho's Latin Kitchen, a Latin fusion restaurant that unifies diverse cultural cuisines and his community under one roof. In this episode, Mario shares his story of blending independence with a kick of humility. As you listen, you'll learn how leaving your comfort zone can propel your business to new heights. Resources: Get yourself some Cha-Cho's on Uber Eats! Call Mario at (317) 800-3885

Frank Rodriguez knows better than anyone how to make the best out of a hairy situation. He grew up watching his mother run multiple businesses in El Salvador, and took a special liking to her hair salon. After a family crisis, he decided it was time to utilize this passion and take the leap to start his own business. Now, Frank is the Founder of Frank Hair Artist, a salon complete with its own line of hair care products. In this episode, Frank shares his story of dealing with adversity, betting on himself, and never giving up. As you listen, you'll hear the benefits of a big-risk, big-reward attitude and learn what you can do to reinspire yourself and connect with your potential.

Wanting to change the world might seem like a steep ambition, but Melissa LeEllen and Jesse Biondi aim to do just that. When they were laid off from their day jobs, this husband-and-wife team stared fear straight in the face, and began building a global enterprise they hope will give a voice to others. Melissa is an actor, model, and creator of the comic book series “Deadly Crimson” and Jesse is a music producer, cellist, and singer with an upcoming album. Clearly, the two are creative to their cores, and they've mastered the art of business as well. Melissa and Jesse run Creative Global Entertainment, which operates in 27 countries, and host their own podcast, “Reimagine Success.” In this episode, Melissa and Jesse share what it means to build a strong support system both at home and in the workplace. As you listen, you'll learn how to adapt as you grow and hear how the right mindset changes the way you look at every opportunity and every challenge. Resources: Watch Melissa on “Naked and Afraid” Get your copy of “Deadly Crimson” and check out the swag!

We all know what it feels like to be kicked while you're down. Nick Alonso Jr. spent years working towards a promised partnership and was denied everything at the last minute. And then he became an entrepreneur because Nick has learned that every kick can be turned into a boost in the right direction. Today, Nick is the President and CEO of Careerxchange Inc, a certified LGBTQI+ owned company that he's built from the ground up. In this episode, Nick shares his story of overcoming challenges and the importance of creating a network of people you can reach out to. As you listen, you'll learn how to arm yourself with information and why creating opportunities with competitors might be the best business decision you can make. Additional Resources: CXC on Instagram Register your company as LGBTBE® Get certified as a Minority Business Enterprise

Seni Gonzalez Barrón is a serial entrepreneur with one key ingredient driving her success, her employees. Early in her business pursuits, she understood the value of her employees and intentionally leaned into creating a healthy culture. Now, as the Owner of Paco's Taqueria and Co-Founder of the Halo app, she commits to providing a better work-life for herself and her team. Entrepreneurs like Seni remind us that investing in your employees is investing in your company.

Taylor Simpson is a jack of all trades. He studied architecture and planning during his time at college and spent ten years working for technology startups. After spending time abroad and reflecting on what matters most to him, he made the decision to start his own company geared towards helping others and building community. Today he's the Founder and CEO of The Halo App, an online marketplace designed to connect borrowers and backers in the same community. Taylor infused The Halo App with happiness and grit, hoping to use the company to give corporate power back to the people. Taylor's story is a reminder that aligning with the right relationships is essential to nurturing and developing a community.

Rigoberto Fantauzzi has always had entrepreneurial skills instilled in him. He learned the ropes from his parents. Helping his father with his food truck business as a child and learning the art of the hustle, he grew to develop a deep-seeded interest in business. After a dramatic change in his career and work environment, Rigoberto took a leap of faith and decided to start an online business. Now he is the CEO of Fantauzzi Management Group, a full-service, digital marketing automation company that helps business owners leverage their marketing efforts using technology. Rigoberto hopes to inspire new entrepreneurs to follow their dreams and live their life on their own terms. He wants to help create opportunities for himself and for others and develop a company that lasts a lifetime.

It's hard enough to start a new business in a field you know, but what does it take to become a successful entrepreneur across new and diverse industries? Resilience and grit. From founder of a multi-million dollar staffing company to restaurateur, Leticia Snoddy is a successful serial entrepreneur. As she has learned over the years, to be successful you need to surround yourself with people smarter than you - people you can trust and empower - as their success means your success. Leticia had a childhood lacking in material things, but never in love, and she watched her parents struggle to provide for their large family. Her experience inspired a work ethic to tenaciously do whatever had to be done to provide and formed foundational core values including building authentic, lasting relationships. While her childhood directly translates to her success today, so does Leticia's continued determination and desire to help others.

Brooke Salazar is a third-generation entrepreneur, human resources leader, and founder of KB Salazar Legal. In her journey, she's helped other organizations succeed by bridging the gap between people strategy and business strategy, and leveraging the cultural, legal and real-world implications for building sustainable organizations. In this episode, she inspires us by sharing her path toward becoming a business owner and first-generation lawyer. As you listen, you'll hear more about two very important lessons Brooke offers entrepreneurs. First, trust your gut instincts. And second, leverage diversity and inclusions, as well as the law, as business strategies.

Becoming an entrepreneur is not for the faint-hearted. Now,  imagine choosing to launch a start-up in one of the most complex industries—healthcare. The reason people become entrepreneurs can vary greatly. Everyone's “why” is different. Jonois Fox, founder of A Joyous Kare Home Health, wanted to carve out a niche and start a company and brand directly aligned with her soul's purpose - a purpose she discovered through a deeply personal challenge.

Every entrepreneur needs a coach and a mentor to help guide them through their journey. My name is Elias Serrano, and I am an entrepreneur still on a journey. Through my own experiences and journey, I felt like I cheated myself in mentorship. As an entrepreneur, you want to have multiple partners who can coach, help, and guide you. Welcome to The Entrepreneurs Journey, because the entrepreneurs journey never ends. On this show, I'll be talking to LGBTQ business owners and minority owners, folks who are in their community building a business, so that you can learn from their experiences. If you like what you hear, go to theentrepreneursjourney.net. where you will find resources for our guests and companies we partner with that can help you in your entrepreneurs journey.