In this episode of Building Leadership Community, financial wellness coach Erika Dox-Martinez shares how leaders can transform their relationship with money, build financial confidence, and create long-term wealth aligned with their values.

For many professionals, especially leaders of color, conversations about money are often shaped by silence, shame, or inherited beliefs about scarcity.

Erika Dox-Martinez helps ambitious women rethink those narratives by combining financial strategy with mindset work.

In this conversation with host Dora Mendez, Erika shares how she transformed her own financial life after struggling with debt despite working in financial services. She eventually paid off her debt, built wealth, and launched Blissful Vida, a platform dedicated to helping women rewrite their money stories.

This episode explores how financial wellness supports career advancement, leadership confidence, and long-term professional stability.

• Why your money mindset shapes your financial decisions and leadership confidence
• How early experiences with money influence career growth and financial habits
• The role of community accountability in financial progress
• How leaders can move from financial stress to financial empowerment
• Why rewriting your money story is essential for inclusive leadership development
• Practical strategies for building financial confidence and long-term wealth

Website
https://MyBlissfulVida.com

LinkedIn
https://www.linkedin.com/in/erika-dox-martinez/

Dates With Dinero
https://myblissfulvida.com/dateswithdinero

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/myblissfulvida/

Get Coach Dora Merch
https://www.coachdoramendez.com/merch

Shop the Coach Dora Books (Affiliate Links)
https://amzn.to/3Z0B4fB
https://amzn.to/4qONHqh

00:00 Introduction
01:23 Welcome to Building Leadership Community
03:37 Introducing Erika Dox-Martinez
05:38 Erika’s leadership journey and leaving corporate finance
08:16 Why community matters in financial empowerment
09:19 The power of accountability and money conversations
11:35 Understanding your money story
15:46 Debt, credit cards, and financial planning
18:17 Investing in education and financial strategy
26:31 Advice for emerging and established leaders
28:13 Challenging the myth that women of color can’t build wealth
30:13 Financial planning and long-term strategy
32:14 Why money mindset and emotional healing matter
34:01 Resources from Erika

Website
https://CoachDoraMendez.com

LinkedIn
https://linkedin.com/in/coachdoram

Instagram
https://www.instagram.com/coachdoram

Substack
https://coachdoram.substack.com

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/coachdoramendez

Coach Dora Mendez is a leadership strategist, speaker, and founder of Coach Dora LLC. Her mission is to be a beacon of bold authenticity, igniting conversations about diversity, equity, and inclusion through writing, speaking, and leadership development.

Through coaching, consulting, and community dialogue, she works to help leaders build workplaces rooted in courage, compassion, and measurable equity.

If you'd like, I can also show you a podcast-growth optimized version of these show notes (slightly different structure that improves Apple Podcasts search indexing and Spotify discoverability).

In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez talks with Yulkendy Valdez — social entrepreneur, consultant, and founder of Phenomenal Talent .

Yulkendy shares how her leadership journey began in the Dominican Republic, teaching neighborhood children to read , and evolved into building ventures that empower underrepresented creators .

Together, they explore:

00:00 – Introduction
03:39 – Founding Forefront & Early Entrepreneurship
07:16 – Backyard School in the Dominican Republic
11:59 – Spelling Bees, Representation & Confidence
18:12 – Choosing Entrepreneurship
21:37 – Wellness & Leadership

Yulkendy Valdez
Founder, Phenomenal Talent
Forbes 30 Under 30 Honoree

Connect with Yulkendy:
https://linkedin.com/in/yulkendyvaldez/
https://yulkendyvaldez.com

Check out The Entrepreneur's Podcast Blueprint course: https://www.coachdoramendez.com/offers/nbFVW58k/checkout

Subscribe, share this episode with your leadership circle, and help us build community together

In Season 3, Episode 8 of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with Arias WebsterBerry, entrepreneur, Certified Scrum Master, and founder of WebsterBerry Marketing and Ignite Funnels.

Arias has generated over $112 million in client revenue and mentored more than 400 professionals. In this conversation, he shares what entrepreneurial leadership truly requires: disciplined risk evaluation, systems thinking, and community as a leadership stabilizer.

This episode explores:
• Why entrepreneurs fail without preparation
• How systems protect time and energy
• The connection between leadership and community
• Why risk must be evaluated through opportunity cost

Timestamps:
00:00 Introduction
04:24 Leadership Journey
08:13 Global Expansion
11:43 Community in Leadership
21:28 Risk and Preparation
24:15 ROI Mindset

Guest Links:
https://IgniteFunnels.com
https://IgniteFunnels.ke
https://WebsterBerryMarketing.com

In Season 3, Coach Dora explores leadership through the lens of neuroscience with Dr. Christopher Eaddy and Lisa Oborne.

Drawing from psychology, biology, and organizational systems, they examine how emotional reactivity affects logic, how accountability and authenticity intersect, and why the central nervous system may be the first culture of every organization.

00:00 – Leadership as embodiment
01:54 – Introducing Dr. Eaddy & Lisa Oborne
07:02 – The coloring book story and early conditioning
15:08 – The central nervous system as culture
20:17 – Authenticity vs accountability
26:36 – Cues for Leadership explained
30:28 – Emotional regulation and decision-making
33:56 – Advice for emerging leaders
39:44 – How to connect with the guests

Guest Website: https://CuesForLeadership.com

email: [email protected]

Subscribe, rate, and share to support inclusive leadership conversations.

In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez is joined by educator and national equity leader Dr. Danielle R. Moss Cox for a deep conversation on leadership, mentorship, and community. Dr. Cox reflects on her journey, the power of integrity, and how relationships shape lasting impact.

Timestamps

00:00 Welcome
03:20 Leadership origins
09:12 The TED Talk story
15:18 Integrity in leadership
18:10 Community and philanthropy
24:24 Advice for emerging leaders
32:07 Purpose over position

Key Themes
Leadership without titles Mentorship and community Career growth through integrity

Guest Bio
Dr. Danielle R. Moss Cox is an educator, advocate, and national leader in educational equity with over 20 years of experience.

Connect with Dr. Danielle Cox
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/drdaniellermosscox/
https://oliverscholars.org

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https://www.coachdoramendez.com/merch

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What does it take to go from corporate stability to building something entirely new? In this Season 3 episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with entrepreneur and inventor Todd Hanson, founder of Compass Carts, to explore innovation, perseverance, and purpose-driven leadership.

Todd shares how a hunting trip sparked the idea that became a patented product, why honest feedback matters, and how community helps you stay grounded while you grow. If you’ve been sitting on an idea or navigating a career pivot, this episode will encourage you to take the next step.

Subscribe, share this episode, and remember: leadership doesn’t have to be lonely.

00:01:55 Welcome + episode theme

00:02:36 Corporate-to-entrepreneur journey

00:05:09 Meet Todd Hanson + Compass Carts

00:05:41 The moment that sparked the invention

00:06:32 19 prototypes + product launch

00:11:41 Why community + feedback matters

00:14:22 Start before you know everything

00:15:10 Move with imperfect action

00:16:13 SWOT analysis + adapting to uncertainty

00:17:48 Improvise, adapt, overcome

00:18:50 Trade shows + evolving customer needs

00:22:20 Closing + where to follow

Todd Hanson is an entrepreneur, inventor, and founder of Compass Carts (Rochester, Minnesota). He spent over 21 years in business development at Wells Fargo Home Mortgage before launching his product in November 2023.

Connect with Todd Hanson and Compass Carts.

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toddhanson1

Compass Carts Official Site :https://compasscarts.com/

Start your own podcast: The Entrepreneur’s Podcast Blueprint: https://bit.ly/46gso9B

Shop the Coach Dora Books: (Affiliate Links) 👇

https://amzn.to/3Z0B4fB

https://amzn.to/4qONHqh

In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez speaks with Dr. Falguni Shah—physician, organizational psychologist, and author—about Truth Lighting, a leadership framework designed to counter gaslighting and foster dignity, clarity, and trust at work.

Key Themes

Guest Dr. Falguni Shah, PhD Physician, Organizational Psychologist, Author of Truth Lighting

Resources

👉 Subscribe, share, and join the conversation

Show Notes

What do winning teams consistently get right? In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez and HR expert Kyle Patrick Smith explore leadership as responsibility and service.

They unpack authenticity, accountability, and why people-first leadership creates teams that thrive, especially during times of change.

Check out Kyle Patrick Smith’s books:
Recruiting Is Easy!: If You Approach It Like Sales And Marketing
https://amzn.to/45c8qMj
Get the Job You Love
https://amzn.to/3LjZA8x

Key Takeaways

• Winning teams are built through service, not control
• Authentic leadership requires accountability
• Leaders succeed when they lift others up
• People-first culture drives long-term results

Guest Credentials

Kyle Patrick Smith is an HR expert, bestselling author, and founder of HR Kyle with over 25 years of corporate HR experience.

Connect with Kyle Patrick Smith
https://www.linkedin.com/in/thehrkyle/
https://hrkyle.com

What does it take to build organizations where people truly thrive?
In this episode of Building Leadership Community, Coach Dora Mendez sits down with Stephan Spilkowitz, Director of Engagement and Culture at Westchester Jewish Community Services, nonprofit trailblazer, and organizational culture consultant. Together, they explore inclusive leadership, wellness in the workplace, community building, and how leaders can support people at scale without losing humanity or purpose.

In this Episode:
00:00 Introduction & episode overview
02:42 Leadership, wellness, and responsibility
04:52 Stephan’s leadership journey
09:20 Service, fun, and organizational culture
13:27 Wellness, burnout, and leadership sustainability
19:40 What community really means
21:45 Advice for the next generation of leaders
26:50 How to connect with Stephan
29:49 Final reflections & closing

Pre-register for Coach Dora's Wellness Club: https://forms.gle/CFyihe1StCJF16ix5

Connect with Stephan Spilkowitz https://www.linkedin.com/in/stephan-spilkowitz

Shop the Coach Dora Books: (Affiliate Links) 👇
https://amzn.to/3Z0B4fB
https://amzn.to/4qONHqh

Let's Stay Connected!

Website: https://CoachDoraMendez.com
LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/coachdoram
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/coachdoram
Substack https://coachdoram.substack.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/coachdoramendez

Sign Up for my FREE Newsletter! https://coachdoramendez.com

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About Coach Dora Mendez - https://coachdoramendez.com
The mission of Coach Dora LLC is to be a beacon of bold authenticity, igniting conversations on diversity, equity, and inclusion through my writing and public speaking. I envision a world where everyone feels empowered to lead with courage and compassion, and my coaching and consulting services are the tools to make this vision a reality.

Season 3 of Building Leadership Community Podcast opens with a powerful conversation between host Coach Dora Mendez and activist, advocate, and author Zenaida Mendez. In this episode, Zenaida shares her immigration journey, decades of leadership in New York City, and the inspiration behind her memoir Amor y desamor de la diáspora. Together, they explore leadership rooted in culture, bilingualism, community organizing, and resilience.

Get Zenaida’s book here👇
https://amzn.to/4shL3uF

In this Episode:
00:00 – Season 3 Welcome
02:56 – Guest Introduction: Zenaida Mendez
06:30 – Why She Wrote Her Memoir
08:26 – Immigration Story & Early Leadership
12:43 – Dominican Leadership in NYC
17:47 – Why This Book Matters Now
20:26 – Love & Heartbreak of the Diaspora
22:07 – Leadership, Language & Community
25:42 – Where to Get the Book