Corporate Cafecito

🚨 DEI is shifting—let’s talk about it. 🚨

On this episode of Corporate Cafecito, we dive into a hard truth: Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs are being cut, renamed, or quietly removed. But instead of fear, we bring clarity, purpose, and a little corazón.

🎙️ As first-gen professionals and DEI leaders, we have championed representation from the inside out. When the system isn't built for us, we know what it means to advocate for visibility, opportunity, and comunidad.

In this conversation, we unpack:

 ☕ Why DEI is about more than race, disability, gender, age, caregiving, regionality & more
 ☕ How to lead and grow, even when companies pull back
 ☕ The Latino ERGs, Hispanic Chambers, and grant programs are still creating access

If your workplace isn’t making space, claim your seat anyway.
DEI isn’t gone. It’s evolving. And we’re not going anywhere.

Let’s rise—con corazón y comunidad.✊🏽☕

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact. 

☕ Cafecito is ready — New Episode Brewing

If you’ve ever struggled to find your voice in leadership, balance expectations with your values, or pour from an empty cup, this conversation is for you.

We had to bring Mauricio Palli back—yes, from Conagra Brands—because his last episode sparked so many powerful conversations around identity, growth, and purpose in leadership. This time, we’re diving even deeper.

In this new episode of Corporate Cafecito, we learn what it takes to move from being a doer to leading with intention, cultura, and corazón.

 🎙️ In this episode, we discuss:
 🔹 The transition from peer to manager
 🔹 Coaching with compassion and honesty
 🔹 Burnout, identity, and mental health
 🔹 Building trust through honesty
 🔹 The importance of comunidad and mentorship

 One moment that truly resonated:

"I believe in people beyond where they believe in themselves. If I did it without the roadmap, imagine how far you can go with support.” — Mauricio Palli.

Whether you're leading your first team, finding your footing, or need that cafecito-fueled reminder that you belong here, this one’s for you.

What’s a leadership lesson you learned the hard way? Drop it below—we’re all still learning.

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact. 

🎙️ New Episode Now Brewing

How do you go from teaching 8th-grade science to leading Inclusion & Belonging at one of the top CPG companies in the world?

Con coraje. Con comunidad. Con cultura.

In this deeply moving conversation, we sit down with Mauricio Palli from Conagra Brands, whose career path has been anything but linear. Still, every pivot, every leap, every reinvention tells a story of resilience, identity, and purpose.

Mauricio shares his journey across industries—from education to fashion, tech, and corporate DEI—and how he carried his cultura, ​v​alues, and voice every step of the way. Through moments of uncertainty and impostor syndrome, he found power in reinvention, community, and staying true to himself.

This episode is packed with reflection, resilience, and real talk about:
✨ Trusting your gut
🛠️ Building skills across industries
🌱 Embracing change while honoring your roots
🧠 Leading with authenticity—not assimilation

If you’ve ever doubted your path or wondered whether your background belongs in the boardroom, this episode is for you.

🚨 Real talk. Raw stories. Y mucho corazón. This is what Corporate Cafecito is all about.

Connect with Mauricio Palli on LinkedIn:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/mauricio-palli-matd-13ba7957/

We would love for you to check out our website, www.corpcafecito.com, today!

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact. 

New Episode Out Now:   If It Weren’t for Latinos with Oswaldo Álvarez & Maggie Olmos

In this powerful conversation, we sit down con nuestros amigos Oswaldo Álvarez (Executive Director) and Maggie Olmos (Policy Advisor) from the Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation — two dynamic líderes showing us how Latinos are not just participating — we’re leading, building, and redefining the future.

From census wins to real talk about Latines, Oswaldo and Maggie drop knowledge on:

• Why the Latino Caucus matters (and how it works) 
• How data-driven policy is creating real impact en our communities 
• What our businesses and leaders need to know to leverage Raíces: The State of Latinos in Illinois report
• How our collective poder is rewriting the rulebook para el future

This episode is a reminder: cuando nos unimos como familia, el cambio sí se puede lograr.

No matter your role—entrepreneur, public servant, or corporate changemaker—this is a must-watch for anyone who believes in Comunidad's strength.

 Learn More:

Raíces Report (2025) → https://www.illcfoundation.org/public-policy Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation → https://illcfoundation.org/

 Follow & Connect with our  Featured Guests:

 Oswaldo Álvarez – LinkedIn 

Maggie Olmos – LinkedIn

 Organization Illinois Legislative Latino Caucus Foundation
→ LinkedIn
→ Facebook

  Love Cafecito conversations that inspire and inform?
Subscribe to our YouTube channel and join la comunidad: https://www.youtube.com/@CorporateCafecito

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact. 

¿Y tú? Are you evolving with purpose or staying stuck in the same loop?

In this powerful cafecito, we sat down with Dr. Wallace, who shared her journey from Perú to the frontlines of digital transformation, career design, and leadership development. One of less than 1% of Latinas in the U.S. with a doctorate, she is a scientist, author, trailblazer, and founder of Windrose Vision.

And — she was also a professor.
Let that sink in.

She taught university-level sociology, statistics, and systems thinking in spaces where few Latinas are represented, breaking barriers and building pathways for those who came after her. That’s not just a title—that’s a legacy.

Dr. Wallace doesn’t just talk about change — she builds the roadmap for it.

Ready to take the guesswork out of your growth?

Dr. Wallace offers a step-by-step approach to help you:

 Reflect on where you are Get clear on where you want to go Move with purpose, not panic Track real progress — not just busy work

 You don’t need another degree — you need the right tools. Her “exploratory sprints” method allows you to test, explore, and pivot before committing.

 “Transformation isn’t about reinvention. It’s about evolution.”

Explore her two books:

1. The SEAM Framework  https://www.amazon.com/dp/1959989618
2. Thrive in the AI and Digital Age  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0CVN1FRBJ

 Connect with Dr. Wallace:

• Website: www.madeleinewallace.com
• LinkedIn: linkedin.com/in/madeleine-f-wallace-phd
• Twitter: @MadeleineWR
• Threads & Instagram: @wmadeleinedc
• Facebook: Madeleine Wallace

Check out the trailer below, but head to our website to watch the full episode: www.corpcafecito.com

Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel: youtube.com/@CorporateCafecito

 Let’s grow, teach, and thrive — juntos.

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact. 

“Don’t let where you came from dictate who you are—let it be part of who you become.” —Dr. Robert Renteria

Have you ever felt like your past disqualified you from your future? Dr. Robert Renteria understands that struggle until he chose to rise and uplift entire communities.

This week on Corporate Cafecito, we share a story of grit, grace, and transformation that will leave you inspired to rewrite your narrative.

👉 From a troubled childhood in East LA
👉 To surviving gang life, drug use, and violence
👉 To becoming a U.S. Army veteran, corporate executive, award-winning author, and now… Lt. Governor pick for Illinois

Dr. Renteria is not just telling his story—he’s using it to change lives. His mission is simple: Replace violence with vision and hopelessness with healing.

His bilingual books and free curriculum—From the Barrio to the Board Room, Mi Barrio, and Little Barrio—are now impacting lives in over 25 countries, reaching classrooms, prisons, churches, shelters, and soon, the big screen, with the support of the World Boxing Council.

To learn more about Dr. Renteria, please visit:
🌐 Website: www.fromthebarrio.com
🎥 TEDx Talk: Watch Here
📣 Lt. Governor Announcement: Read More
📚 Books: Amazon Storefront
👍 Facebook: From the Barrio Foundation
💼 LinkedIn: Dr. Robert Renteria
🐦 Twitter/X: @fromthebarrio
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/from.thebarrio/

Check out this week’s trailer below, then head to www.corpcafecito.com to watch the full episode, "From the Barrio We Rise with Dr. Robert Renteria.”
 
We'd love to know...Who are you lifting as you rise? Please share with us in the comments.⬇️

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact. 

🎙New Week - New Episode!! 

🔒💪 Becoming Bulletproof with Sandra Gonzalez

We're bringing you pure power and corazón to close out Women's History Month. This week on Corporate Cafecito, we sit down with Sandra Gonzalez, a retired Marine officer, executive coach, and author of Sexy Confidence.

Sandra brings la fuerza. She served 20 years in the Marines, trained over 500 women recruits, and rose through heartbreak, divorce, and the loss of her beloved papá, Miguel. Even in her lowest moments, she found purpose, clarity, and emotional strength—and now, she teaches others to become bulletproof from the inside out.

This episode is raw, inspiring, and authentic. Sandra shares what sexy confidence truly means—not appearance but presence, not perfection but healing.  "Our ego is not our amigo."

If you've ever felt lost, stuck, or unsure of your next step, this one's for you.

✨ Follow Sandra & explore her work:

 🔗 Connect on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/coachsandragonzalez/

🌐 Check out her website:  https://sandragonzalez.com/

 📘 Pick up a copy of her book: https://www.amazon.com/Sexy-ConfidenceTM-Blueprint-Beautiful-Bulletproof/dp/1961600242

 📸 Instagram -  https://www.instagram.com/coachsandragonzalez/

 📘 Facebook - https://www.facebook.com/sandra.gonzalez.9003888

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact. 

“You are not lucky to be here.
  The world needs your perspective.
  They are lucky to have you.”
— Antonio Tijerino

In this episode of Corporate Cafecito, we explore the fundamental tension between fitting in and showing up fully — especially as Latinos, immigrants, women, and professionals navigating spaces not built with us in mind.

From moments in life where we may have hidden who we were to leading boardrooms with confidence and pride — this conversation is about reclaiming our voice, our culture, and our right to take up space unapologetically.

The pressure to assimilate shows up in ways we don’t always name:

🔹 Dialing yourself down to seem more “professional”
🔹 Wondering if you truly belong in the room you’ve earned
🔹 Fearing you're too much — or not enough for the space you’re in
🔹 Believing success requires you to leave parts of yourself behind
🔹 Losing sight of the truth — that you can grow and lead as your whole self 

We’ve learned that authenticity isn’t a liability — it’s your leadership.  When you show up fully, you don’t just lead—you open doors for others to do the same.

#CorporateCafecito #AuthenticityOverAssimilation #LatineLeadership #YouBelongHere #RepresentationMatters #ProfessionalAndProud #LeadWithHeart #HistoriasQueInspiran

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact. 

📢 NEW EPISODE

👀 Imagine balancing your career, raising your kids, and caring for your aging parents—all at once. Sound familiar? You’re not alone. This is the reality for millions in the Sandwich Generation, especially in Latine communities where multigenerational caregiving is not just expected, but ingrained in our culture.

✨ In this episode, we unpack:
 ✔️ Cultural Expectations & Gender Roles – Why caregiving often falls on Latinas and how it impacts careers.
✔️ The Workplace Struggle – Burnout, career stagnation, and the fear of asking for flexibility.
✔️ Breaking the Stigma – Why asking for help is NOT a failure and how companies can better support caregivers.
✔️ Real Talk & Solutions – Strategies to set boundaries, advocate for workplace change, and still thrive in your career.

💡 It’s time to shift the narrative. Caregiving isn’t a personal problem—it’s a workplace issue that deserves real solutions.

#CorporateCafecito #CaughtInTheMiddle #SandwichGeneration #LatineLeadership #WorkplaceEquity #CaregivingAndCareer

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact. 

✨ Women’s History Month is Here! ✨

"They’ll tell you you can’t do it. That’s when you turn around and say, ‘Watch me.’" – Dolores Huerta 

We hope you had a powerful International Women’s Day and are celebrating an inspiring Women’s History Month! In this episode of Corporate Cafecito, we talk about Latina leadership, breaking barriers, and taking action because we’re done waiting for change.

💼 Latinas earn just 57 cents for every dollar a white, non-Hispanic man makes. Let that sink in. We are the fastest-growing group of entrepreneurs, yet Latinas remain underpaid, underfunded, and underrepresented in leadership. That ends now.

So, how do we close the gap and change the game? We lift as we climb, demand our worth, and make space for the next generation. In this episode, we discuss the power of mentorship and sponsorship and why knowing your value is key to rewriting the rules.

💰 Funding is power. Organizations like Angeles Investors are helping Latina entrepreneurs access the capital and resources they need to build thriving businesses. Because when we invest in Latinas, we invest in innovation, progress, and generational wealth.

☕ This conversation gets real—from being "the only one in the room" to pushing for change in boardrooms, businesses, and beyond.

🚀 Liderazgo, Emprendedoras, Capital, Recursos—these words define our movement. It’s time to accelerate action. It’s time to claim what we deserve.

💜 Join us in celebrating the unstoppable power of Latinas. Tag a fierce mujer or an ally who inspires you! 🫶🏽

#CorporateCafecito #WomensHistoryMonth #LatinaLeadership #AccelerateAction #CloseThePayGap #EqualPay #WomenSupportingWomen #LiftAsYouClimb #LatinaEntrepreneurs #AngelesInvestors

Support the show

If you’d like to join Nallely y Carlos for a conversation, collaborate, or suggest a topic that matters to our community, we would love to hear from you. This podcast centers real conversations that move culture and careers forward. Visit www.corpcafecito.com/contact-us or email [email protected].

Elevar Development, founded by Nallely Suárez Gass, helps professionals and organizations grow with clarity and purpose. With over two decades of corporate experience, Nallely is known for helping people lead authentically, uncover strengths, and make confident, aligned decisions. Through personalized coaching and impactful workshops, Elevar creates practical, lasting change. Visit www.elevardevelopment.com or email [email protected] today.

Every business decision carries social, political, and economic considerations. Avizo Consulting helps organizations navigate complexity with intention, cultural awareness, and strategic insight. Carlos Butler Vale partners with leaders who want their values and actions aligned. Learn more at www.avizoconsulting.com or email [email protected]. 

Two leaders. One shared commitment to growth, cultura, and impact.