We couldn’t help ourselves. This is what a conversation between Latinas sounds like: a mishmash of English AND Spanish (subtitles provided). My dear friend Rosalía Ortiz-Luquis, President of ROL Marketing Studio, who I have known for over three decades since we first laid eyes on each other on the first day of our freshman year at the University of Puerto Rico, joins me in this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. It’s crazy how we have been living parallel lives, first working in the corporate sector for Spanish-language media outlets (me in NYC and her in Puerto Rico), and both of us eventually transitioning into entrepreneurship with a focus on social impact. Rosalía is THE leading expert in Puerto Rico with regards to representing, amplifying, and advocating for the arts and culture community, helping creators in all art forms and the nonprofit organizations that host their works secure funding and promote their cultural events. A master communicator, graphic designer, and producer herself, Rosalía supports a huge, underserved community of musicians, dancers, performers, actors, and visual artists with her exceptional business and marketing expertise coupled with her storytelling prowess. “At one point of my professional career, as you know the corporate world and the media can be very hostile spaces, very aggressive, and I decided I didn’t want that in my life anymore, to feel that constant stress that you feel that your heart is going to explode every day at work. The day arrived that I said, ENOUGH. I want to work on projects that are close to my heart, projects I believe in, that I’m passionate about, that I feel like every day I wake up, and that I’m contributing to something important,” she shares. “My day is filled with art. I believe in art. I believe in the power of art and culture in people’s lives and the development of our country’s youth. So, it’s something that I firmly believe in and really love.”

WAY OVERDUE. I met Oscar R. García, President and CEO of Need2Say on LinkedIn right before the pandemic hit and put a huge wedge into life and everyone’s follow-up plans. He had created an extraordinary app inspired by the plight of immigrant construction workers who every single day face perilous situations at work because of language barriers. He knows what they go through because his dad was an immigrant construction worker who came to the U.S. six months out of each year to provide for his family, and young Oscar didn’t understand growing up, why his father tried to dissuade him from moving to the U.S. to pursue educational and work opportunities. In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY Oscar and I have our second conversation – this time recorded – about his family’s story of sacrifice, perseverance, and his commitment to improving the construction industry, by improving the safety of the person who is doing most of the grueling work in it: the construction worker.

Oscar is a Linguist and English as a Second Language (ESL) teacher turned entrepreneur who has leveraged technology to develop the Need2Say app designed to provide construction workers with second language skills, OSHA awareness training, and tools for their tracking progress. The goal of the app is to eliminate language barriers that cause inefficiencies on construction job sites and it’s fascinating to actually see Oscar demonstrate some of its features. When we talk about innovation and technology, we are sometimes hard-pressed to think about how technology can help solve a “people problem” some might not consider important such as many employers’ dismissal of language barriers faced by immigrant workers who are a driver of our economy. These language barriers prevent them from exercising their talents and leadership fully in the workplace and from attaining social mobility more rapidly. Oscar shares a play-by-play of why and how the app came to be, culminating with his recent first-time participation in Eureka Fest last month where Need2Say won the prized Pitch Competition during this event that brings together creators and innovators at one of the biggest startup festivals in California. Congrats, my friend…this is just the beginning. Your story will be a box-office hit and award-winning movie one day.

I have a new word to describe marginalized, underserved, and underrepresented individuals, and I’ve started using it since my friend and fellow entrepreneur and community advocate Rose LeJiste said it during a recent meeting we were at. The word is ‘underestimated’. In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, Rose shares how she planned her exit from the corporate sector after excelling as an Industrial Engineer on the Space Coast (FL) for well over a decade. You see, Rose is a problem-solver and an agent of change that is best left to exercise her leadership free of any established (oftentimes limiting) systems that underestimate the knowledge, ingenuity, expertise, and competencies of diverse people, specifically Black and Brown people. “Innovation emerges out of necessity,” Rose states, “and communities that do not have access to basic resources will come up with innovative solutions to address or mitigate their needs.” However, she adds that many times we underestimate ourselves because we don’t receive enough encouragement or opportunities to demonstrate what we can do. As the CEO of RL Engineering and Tech Solutions, Rose utilizes data analytics, data science, business intelligence, optimization, process improvement, and performance management techniques to yield efficiencies and profits for her clients. As the Executive Director of Black Orlando Tech (BOT), a nonprofit organization committed to accelerating minority economic advancement through the workforce, small business, and socioeconomic development she dedicates a lot of her time to increasing the awareness, activities, network, and resources for local minorities who pursue careers or entrepreneurship in technology because their goals are grand. BOT is determined to train and inspire 10,000 minorities in Central Florida to enter tech by 2025. “The things that are happening in Tech are so new, that we have an opportunity to be at the forefront of something that is taking off and leading the way on some of these innovations that are coming out.” Rose’s advocacy for better access to good-paying tech jobs and her laser-sharp focus on building her tech business empire includes finding ways to help minority entrepreneurs and professionals understand that Tech is NOT coding and that it’s imperative that they integrate Tech into the way they navigate the business ecosystems they operate in. I listened closely and felt encouraged. You should, too!

Perspective is a powerful thing. In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, Jorge Cruz, President and CEO of Marketing Innovations Group a fellow business owner who ran a successful business in Puerto Rico while in his 20s and lost everything during the economic downturn of the 2008 Recession that affected most Americans. In Puerto Rico we have a saying that goes, “when the U.S. mainland gets a cold, we get pneumonia”, and it was so bad for Jorge that he wound up filing for bankruptcy. Being an expert in traditional media, Jorge’s nemesis was digital media. He resisted learning about it and practicing the “new way to market” to his clients. Although Jorge absolutely hated the digital marketing world, upon realizing it just might be a pathway to generating new business, he decided to immerse himself in understanding the inner workings of social media becoming proficient at it along the way. With three kids in tow and one on the way, he and his wife took the courageous decision to try living and setting up business in Orlando, Florida. Jorge says that one day he realized that being able to overcome the challenges of being away from his family for many months while he attempted to start anew in unfamiliar territory, the failures, and setbacks he experienced, surviving an accident where he almost lost his life, all these things have given him a unique perspective. “All of a sudden it hit me, God was not testing me, he was training me to get to the next level,” he shares excitedly. Today, as a successful entrepreneur, Jorge supports Hispanic-owned medical practices looking to establish themselves properly in the U.S. and non-Hispanic-owned ones looking to expand into the Latino market. Digital media has become his playground and he also mentors other entrepreneurs so they avoid the mistakes he made. “People still resist looking at the Hispanic market as a viable customer base to generate revenues, and you can’t ignore us anymore.” And he should know a thing or two about resisting what’s evidently a smart business strategy.

The recent global social justice movement has compelled large corporations to throw millions of dollars to Black organizations following the same-o-same-o processes that amount to monies not necessarily getting to where they need to be to have an impact on underserved communities and Black-owned businesses. Dr. Kelly Burton, President of Founders of Color developed a 10-step roadmap for the Corporate sector to stop spinning their wheels and perpetuating cycles of funding that don’t lead to sustainable growth and social mobility in communities of color. We asked Kelly to expand on this topic in this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY and to tell us why she had to address the shortcomings of knee-jerk investments to “fix” the inequity problem. Kelly and a group of leaders, innovators, and entrepreneurs from across the U.S. launched the Black Innovation Alliance, a united front that will leverage their power and use capital, education, public policy, research, and media as their change agents. They will ensure that Black people may participate in the innovation economy as builders, owners, and creators, not just as source material, workers, and consumers, rejecting the mining of the Black community for labor and ideas.

My Co-Producer Chris Majocha and I regularly talk and ponder about all kinds of stuff. One of our most recent “musings” was about transitions. Many people have experienced a sudden and unexpected change in the last couple of years, and many others have intentionally pursued change. We decided it was time to share some of our very own personal and business-related transitions for this year, so far.  In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY we candidly go over how we are managing current pain points, warding off “paralysis by analysis”, and why we have invested this first quarter of the year learning, strategizing, collaborating, planning, rebranding, and focusing on doing the type of work that moves us the most because of its social impact. When you are experiencing a transition, it can feel like you are stuck, not moving, and that you are going through a major setback – whether it’s in the personal or professional realm. It can be extremely scary! However, as we muse on this topic, Chris and I realize that transitions help build resiliency and can lead to your metamorphosis into a more beautiful existence. Like a growing butterfly inside a cocoon – nothing seems to really be happening, but when it’s time to bust out of that shell…BAM, it’s time to fly, and HIGH! Transitions are not about busywork. They are about mindful work and about finding the right support. And so, as we enter this second quarter of the year, we are thankful to each person that has helped us through our most recent transitions, and we join forces in manifesting and claiming where we will be this time next year… LET’S GO!  Now I ask you – what has been your most recent transition and what did you learn? PLEASE SHARE!

I just HAD TO talk with Erika Jefferson, Founder of BWISE - Black Women in Science and Engineering. This episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY was prompted by the need to get the word out about big-time “No-No’s” when the corporate sector and other White-led entities want to engage with leaders and talent that identify as people of color. After months and months of Erika and I hopping on brainstorming calls with fellow entrepreneurs and advocates for equity, following and supporting each other’s work via LinkedIn, and navigating our busy schedules, we FINALLY made it happen. Erika’s work encompasses making BWISE a leading forum for Black Women in Science and Engineering to connect with others who also have backgrounds in Science and Engineering. It’s a safe space to share lived experiences with current employers or in the current positions they have with the intention of being encouraged by their sister engineers (Mama, you are NOT imagining things…how you are being mistreated, judged, pigeonholed, and overlooked is REAL). What started as an audacious idea in 2015, is now a strong and healthy network of Black and Brown women in Science and Engineering that are focused on advancing their careers. Erika’s very own experiences as an Engineer in the corporate sector and throughout her life as an entrepreneur affords her first-hand knowledge of the key issues faced by women of color working in STEM. A recent observation we discuss is the interest and investments being made to find role models for girls in STEM when nothing has been done for women who have been working and performing in STEM industries for years. Underrepresentation, dead-end jobs, and menial levels of responsibilities continue to negatively impact many women with 10+ years of experience who want and expect more from their employers. Erika shares that as professional women of color, we need to stop accepting the added role of office party planner – something she has seen regularly in organizational settings, and which distracts us from the type of work that will lead to career advancement. We simply need to learn how to say “No, I can’t.” She also takes this approach to set healthy boundaries with leaders from entities that BWISE has been trying to engage with for the past 7+ years with no response. Now, suddenly, requests are coming in for her to “share” available jobs with her network. “Organizations pay for what they value”, Erika states. “I don’t see people asking for FREE help in accounting, finance, safety, or sales.” So, I learned from Erika that we need to start saying “No, I can’t help you identify diverse talent for free.”

In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY I talk to Bob Rivera, a serial entrepreneur who also founded Future Dreamers & Achievers, NOT an ordinary nonprofit organization whose mission is to provide young people from disadvantaged backgrounds the resources they need to pursue their most ambitious aspirations. He has curated a series of “Concerts for Scholarships” that will be celebrated throughout the year featuring artists with a multigenerational appeal, and where they award and reward young people for their demonstrated perseverance and tenacity. The coolest part is that the students who receive the scholarships don’t necessarily have to excel academically in terms of their grades (no 4.0 averages are required here). They simply need to be nominated by a school representative who knows first-hand about the young person’s determination, boldness, plans for the future, and values so that Bob and his team can pair them up with mentors while also awarding a scholarship to help them achieve their goals, whether it’s to pursue music or become a scientist. Future Dreamers & Achievers’ next concert is April 27, 2022, at Mango’s Tropical Café featuring DJs playing 80’s & 90’s music and beloved artists from this era who will perform LIVE on stage, including 18-time award-winning international superstar CeCe Peniston, Crystal Waters, Comedian Tommy Davidson (In Living Color) and Turbo B of the group SNAP. Scholarships up to $10,000 per student will be awarded between sets during this “I Want My Old School” themed concert. If you can join us in Orlando later this month, buy your ticket today at: https://iwantmyoldschool.eventbrite.com

“School doesn’t prepare you for the real-life of business ownership,” says Coach Servola Frazier in this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY.  With over 20 years of training and coaching individuals in communication, business leadership, and organizational development, Servola has identified four key factors that cause businesses to fall apart: poor leadership, poor communication, poor cultural engagement, and poor performance. Through her business consulting firm, Motivate Enterprises, she guides entrepreneurs as they navigate leveraging their strengths and mitigating gaps so they can level up, scale and thrive. “I believe that to have strong and thriving communities, we need to have strong and thriving businesses that exist within those communities,” she states. Having worked with DoD agencies, federal contractors, major hotel chains, International NGOs, public and private school systems, and more, helping clients to save and generate millions, she seamlessly taps into her business acumen to help entrepreneurs create strategic plans to launch and/or grow their businesses. As one of my instructors at the Center for Micro-Entrepreneurial Training (I was a student in the first cohort this year), I was blown away by the concepts and learnings she imparted. We discuss the practicality and applicability of defining your “Best Client Ever” to hyper-focus on building relationships of trust that yield consistent and meaningful outcomes with regard to revenue and experience. “It’s a two-way relationship. As an entrepreneur, go and look at those people that you are already working with and identify the key things that you love about working with them, and find more people that meet those characteristics. These are your “Best Clients Ever” because they become part of your tribe, and you need to find more of them.” And she instructs us on how to do that…take a listen! Thank you Coach Servola!

Latina-by-proxy. Yes, that’s a thing. In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY I talk to Lisa Cavalli, Founder and Publisher of BELatina, a premium digital magazine that features daily ambitious articles written by Latinas to bring awareness of authentic Hispanic stories that for way too long went untold…until now. Lisa grew up under the loving embrace of the extended family of her Latina stepmother. Looking back, she realizes she must have stuck out as the little White girl surrounded by her loved ones during family gatherings. However, she never felt like an outsider. On the contrary, she very much identifies with Latino culture, although she is fully aware that it’s “Heart Heritage”. As an ambitious and accomplished entrepreneur in media and marketing, Lisa saw a void in Hispanic media. What was missing was dedicated journalism to tell authentic stories about Latinas in the U.S. (and Latinos, too). She launched BELatina to unpack and celebrate the monumental cultural shift that is currently unfolding, and to create even more space for the evolution of Latina/Afro-Latinx empowerment across multiple themes and channels. Most women-centric publications and Hispanic media outlets lack stories of brave, intellectual, like-minded women and bold ideas that matter. So, BELatina is a disruptive cultural lifestyle destination that disrupts the status quo. Their entire team is inspired to go deeper and change the conversation. It’s an alternative to telenovelas that perpetuate stereotypes, colorism, classism, ageism, and sexism. BELatina’s content reflects all the yummy layers of the contributions of Hispanics to all aspects of life in the U.S. in real-time, and more importantly, through the voices of Hispanic female storytellers.