In this episode, we sit down with Wendy Barba, VP of Brands at mitú to learn about her career in media as a First Gen Latina. We tap into leadership, the role of community, and her upbringing to learn how it plays a role in how she navigates her career.   Of course, this wouldn't be a Chats with Yvonne episode if we didn't tap into her public speaking journey. We'll hear about how she feels about the art as an introvert herself.   

About Wendy:  

Wendy is the VP of Brands at mitú where she leads the Community Team to define the social media and editorial strategies across all of mitú’s brands; we are mitú, FIERCE, crema, Things That Matter, and Somos mitú.  She became part of the mitú team seven years ago after working at an entertainment-focused media outlet that highlights Latinos in mainstream media. She joined mitú to create an impact on the voice that is representative of millions of US-Latinos who are first-generation like her. During her time at mitú, she was one of the first editors to launch mitú, she founded FIERCE, and helped bring to life crema, Things That Matter, and Somos mitú.

Hola, everybody! I am currently training for a marathon and I've realized a couple of things along the way in my process. I share some of the lessons I've learned and how you can use those to inform your own public speaking journey. 

Here's a sneak peek: 

You've created various versions of your resume, you've had friends look over it, and now you're ready to apply to jobs and prepare for interviews. This entire experience can be nerve-racking, but you don't have to do it alone. 

We chat with Alejandra Velasco, a Cyber Security Consultant for a Big 4 firm and an alumni from the University of California, Berkeley. Having graduated during the Covid-19 pandemic and a job freeze, Alejandra realized the importance of marketing her experience and how to tell her story during the job application process (especially when pursuing a career outside of her major). She soon realized she was not the only graduate struggling to find a job post-graduation and is now a Content Creator sharing tips about the job application process and her career as a Latina in Corporate America.

You can find more of Alejandra's content on Instagram & Tik Tok. Thank you for tuning in! 

You're not a public speaker like them. You're a public speaker like you. In this conversation with Karina Mora, we hear her story of the time she decided she was no longer going to assimilate to the white "standard" and instead amplify and honor her cultura in all spaces. We learn about what that turning point was for her and why today her work focuses on helping people move past assimilation to reclaim their cultural legacies, and about how she elevates her Mexican culture through photography and spoken word.

Follow Karina: 

Website: karinamora.com & elevatinglacultura.com

IG: @karinamora_prints & @elevatinglacultura

What can we do to make the world a better place for everyone?

In this episode, we explore public speaking as activism. I get real about some things that have been on my mind and bring in the best person I could imagine to talk to: Ari C aka Decolonized Puta. She walks us through what it means to decolonize, how important community is, and what we can do to find our strength in the movement. We end the episode with tips for things to keep in mind when you're writing a speech to activate your community towards action.

You can follow Arieana on Instagram: @decolonizedputa & don't forget to join our community of public speakers on @chatswithyvonne_ across social platforms!

Some more from Decolonized Puta:

In this episode, I take us down memory lane and I share my career trajectory thus far, lessons learned on the job, & how my jobs have shaped me to be the public speaker I am today. Throughout the episode we'll hear career insights from Dr. Norma Reyes, Career Mindset Coach, as a way to elevate our understanding of where we are in our careers and where we want to go. Are we passionate or just really good at what we do? Both? 

You can follow Dr. Norma Reyes on Instagram: @manifestyourcareer & don't forget to join our community of public speakers on @chatswithyvonne_ across social platforms! 

Networking and public speaking are one in the same. I'd say networking is a great way to practice your public speaking!

I tell you about a recent networking event I went to & give you some tips for networking based on what I learned. 

This segment covers the written history of public speaking and we tap into how, though our abuelita's forms of storytelling aren't necessarily documented, they are valid and empowering ways of public speaking that we can tap into to inform how we want to show up on stage. 

I will walk through the written history of public speaking and where it started, but also draw connections to the history of spoken words in our communities, that haven’t necessarily been officially documented.

Thank you for being here. You're one step closer to loving the art of public speaking and that makes me so happy. 

This episode is so special to me! 

People in my community share what the phrase "Calladita Te Ves Mas Bonita" has meant to them. Our cultures are beautiful, but where do we draw the line and unlearn the things that don't benefit us? How does growing up with this sentiment, impact how we show up in the world and what does it do to our relationship with the art of public speaking? 

Thank you to everyone that participated in this segment. Your lived experiences help us see that we're not alone in our feelings & that we can collectively work to empower and uplift one another. 

In this week's episode of the Chats with Yvonne Podcast, we explore Safe Spaces. Where does the term originate, what does it feel like, and how can we use safe spaces to practice our public speaking skills?

Thank you for tuning in. If you liked this episode be sure to leave a review. I would really appreciate it!