Hella Latin@

Odalys Jasmine

Hella Latin@ is a platform for Latinos to tell their story and share their experiences of navigating identity and culture as a first gen and/or immigrant. The three pillars that make up Hella Latin@ are representation, vulnerability and celebration. Representation: there's a mosaic of accents, backgrounds and cultures that make up Latinidad, and it's time to represent that mosaic — one story at a time. Vulnerability: each guest keeps it real on how they break cycles, blaze new trails, and embrace identity as a superpower through it all. Celebration: there are many stories about our people y cultura but rarely are we the authors of it. In this podcast, we put a spotlight on who we are, where we come from, and where we're going. So, go grab your cafecito and get ready to laugh, learn, and be inspired by nuestra gente. read less

Society & CultureSociety & Culture

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Besties Turned Business Partners with Lucia Genao and Nancy Pineda

Besties Turned Business Partners with Lucia Genao and Nancy Pineda

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.

Episodes

Besties Turned Business Partners with Lucia Genao and Nancy Pineda

Besties Turned Business Partners with Lucia Genao and Nancy Pineda

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.

Behind El Juan Bago with Michael Diaz

Behind El Juan Bago with Michael Diaz

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.

Bilingual Mental Health with Juliana Londoño

Bilingual Mental Health with Juliana Londoño

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.

Bet on Yourself with Lex Borrero

Bet on Yourself with Lex Borrero

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.

Cultural Assimilation with Maria O'Hollearn

Cultural Assimilation with Maria O'Hollearn

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.

Break the Cycle with Dr. Mariel Buqué

Break the Cycle with Dr. Mariel Buqué

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.

Power in Numbers with Elisa Hernandez

Power in Numbers with Elisa Hernandez

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.

Can I f*ck up in peace? with Jasmine Ruiz

Can I f*ck up in peace? with Jasmine Ruiz

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 *will* be picked up by HBO (manifesting)! 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.

More Than Enough with Dulce Orozco

More Than Enough with Dulce Orozco

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.

FARî: Representando Honduras en Urbano Latino

FARî: Representando Honduras en Urbano Latino

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.

Breaking Barriers with Andrea Navedo

Breaking Barriers with Andrea Navedo

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.

Pura Vida y Poesia with Ruben Quesada

Pura Vida y Poesia with Ruben Quesada

Ruben Quesada 🇨🇷 is the editor of the award-winning anthology Latinx Poetics: Essays on the Art of Poetry (2022), a collection of original essays from poets of Latin American descent. His poetry collections are Jane/La Segua (2023, digital), Revelations (2018), and Next Extinct Mammal (2011). Ruben's writing was featured in Best American Poetry, Harvard Review, New York Times Magazine, American Poetry Review, Southern Review, TriQuarterly, and Pleiades. He has a history of consulting for notable organizations like the NEA, Illinois Humanities Council, NBCC, and Publishing Triangle Awards. He is an editor, writer, and advocate for diversity and inclusivity in the literary arts. In this episode, we delve into the vibrant world of Latinx poetry with Ruben Quesada, editor of the award-winning anthology "Latinx Poetics: Essays on the Art of Poetry" (2022). Ruben shares his unique journey, growing up in a household where Spanish was the primary language and where Chinese influences were seamlessly woven into their cultural fabric, thanks to their Chinese neighbors. We learn about Ruben's Costa Rican heritage, and how a trip to Costa Rica revealed how his Spanish had been shaped by the diverse linguistic tapestry around him. Keep up with Ruben on his website and on his Instagram. For all Hella Latin@ updates, follow @hellalatinopodcast on Instagram and connect on LinkedIn. More at odalysjasmine.com.

Raised in the Burning Bronx with Rosemary Rivera and Mario Menjivar

Raised in the Burning Bronx with Rosemary Rivera and Mario Menjivar

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.

First Gen Corporate with Luis Báez

First Gen Corporate with Luis Báez

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.

I'm No Sellout with Maria Medrano

I'm No Sellout with Maria Medrano

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.

¿De Dónde Eres? with Dominique Cordero

¿De Dónde Eres? with Dominique Cordero

Dominique Cordero 🇵🇷 is a Spanish Coach, salsa dancer, and world traveler. When she was twenty-three years old, she was working a soul-crushing “Corporate-America” job when she asked herself, “Is this it?” She felt lost, uninspired, and more than ready for a radical change. So that’s exactly what she did. In three months, she sold my car, broke her lease, packed her life into two suitcases, and boarded a plane to Barcelona, Spain. With that one-way ticket, she was off to live with a host family, work as an Au Pair, and pursue a long-time dream of living in a Spanish-speaking country. From there she was able to immerse herself in Spanish culture, learn how to speak the language fluently, and come home to show off her new skills to all her Spanish-speaking family members. Her love of Spanish continues to gift her with cherished moments and treasured relationships. And that's why, a decade later, Dominique has devoted her time to helping adults—like you—unlock the habits and methods they need to confidently carry on a conversation in Spanish too. She wants her clients to experience the joy of actually living in Spanish, something that goes far beyond the superficial level of communication. In this week’s episode, Dominique shares how she transitioned into teaching Spanish full-time during the 2020 pandemic and doing it all online. As a proud Puerto Rican, Dominique shares her thoughts on the importance of preserving and celebrating the cultural legacy and communicating with our elders, including her grandfather who settled in the midwest and didn't have anyone to speak Spanish with for a long time. Listen to hear more about how learning a language changed the course of Dominique’s life for the better! Keep up with Dominique on her website and on her Instagram. 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.

Just a Little Different with Wendy Amara

Just a Little Different with Wendy Amara

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.

Empowered, Equipped, and Invited with Melissa Vela-Williams

Empowered, Equipped, and Invited with Melissa Vela-Williams

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.

Undocumented, Shot, and Fatherless with Christian Martinez

Undocumented, Shot, and Fatherless with Christian Martinez

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.

No Time to Stop with Natalia Gaitan

No Time to Stop with Natalia Gaitan

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.