Urbander CEO Samí Haiman-Marrero describes herself as an armadillo.  

She’s got thick skin, she’s scrappy, and she can smell insincerity from a mile away.  

Samí spent almost her entire life in Puerto Rico, but you can tell right away that she has roots in the Bronx. When she came back to New York to work in media and publishing, she soon found herself grappling with some harsh realities, dealing with cultural and social environments that were completely different from the ones she grew up with.  

To kick off 2024, Samí shares her best advice on self-advocacy, why communication is the most useful skill for any entrepreneur, and how her business thrived during two major economic downturns.

Samí talks about:

• Why she sees herself as an "armadillo"
• Learning through observing her coworkers
• Why establishing a sense of community is a must
• Recognizing familiarities in an unfamiliar environment
• How her cultural background has been the key to her success
• Her journey to finding identity in New York's media & publishing industry

We have a new website!
Visit andsosheleft.com for full episodes, transcripts, an application form to be on the show, a list of upcoming guests and more.

Hosted by Katherin Vasilopoulos. Made by Cansulta and Ethan Lee.
Music by © Correspondence and © Chris Zabriskie, published by You've Been a Wonderful Laugh Track (ASCAP). 

Songs used in this episode include: 

• Chris Zabriskie - "Air Hockey Saloon," "I Refuse to Accept That There's Nothing I Can Do About It," "Candlepower," "Wonder Cycle,"  "I Am Running Down the Long Hallway of Viewmont Elementary," " Short Song 020923," "The House Glows (With Almost No Help."
• Correspondence - "Playing Field," "Longshore Drift (fragments)," "In Copenhagen," "The North Sea (version)," "New Year's Loops," "Expanding Cycle."  

Used under the Creative Commons 4.0 International License