Latina Life With Jen and Milena

This week on Latiina Life with Jen and Milena we showcase a Super Latina who is a trailblazer across several industries. Leila Cobo grew up in Cali, Columbia in a musically talented family where her father made sure that she and her sisters were going to do great things and be prepared for the world. She’s a Fulbright Scholar, a gifted concert pianist, an accomplished author of multiple books, recipient of multiple awards (including the Latin Grammys’ “Leading Latin Lady” honor)  and a leading authority on Latin Music and the Latin Music Industry.  As a journalist she has interviewed countless artists from Bad Bunny to Shakira to  Karol G and more. In her role as Billboard’s Chief Content Officer for Latin and Español, she oversees the brand’s coverage of Latin music in all its platforms, as well as all its Spanish-language content. She is a driving force in the international representation of our community in the music industry. 

Leila is programming Billboard Latin Music Week, the world’s longest running and largest Latin Music Industry gathering in Miami. From October 14th to 18th, Latin Music’s biggest music stars like J. Balvin, Gloria Estefan and Chiquis Rivera will be part of workshops, showcases and networking opportunities for a week before culminating with the Latin Billboard Music Awards (airing on Telemundo October 20th).

We take a look at why the global public is embracing Latin music artists now, how the television industry has helped the Latin Music industry and why artists should expand their appearances beyond only Spanish speaking platforms.

During our conversation, Leila shares some key insights she learned from the different careers she has had in the music industry. Here’s to leaning into your passions and welcoming different journeys into your life!

Layoffs, progress for Latinas in the "Industry" and Hispanic Heritage Month. Jen and Milena give insight and advice into the layoff experience, how to navigate it and how to be a friend to someone who is laid off. They celebrate the increase in Latina/o nominees for this year's upcoming Emmys, share the low number of Latina/o submissions for nominations and the surprising fact that only 10 Latinos have won Emmys across the organization's 76 years!  Kicking off Hispanic Heritage Month they shine the spotlight on two Super Latinas....listen to hear who... 

In our Latina community starting the day with un cafecito con pan or having a siesta with café con leche is embedded into our daily routine. Every Latin region is known for their coffee…. Columbia has Tinto, Spain created the Cortado, Mexico offers Café de Olla and Bolivia has Café de Tartar. 

Amigas y Familia make room for another coffee brand in your pantry! Our Super Latina today is introducing California to the delicious aromas and tastes of coffee from El Salvador. Emely Navarro is the vibrant, creative and innovative CEO of Navarro Coffee Company whose family have owned a coffee farm for generations in Cuidad Arce. Her love for coffee is intertwined with her fond childhood memories of living on the farm before she moved to Southern California when she was six years old.

She faced challenges early because of the language barrier as she did not speak English, which led to her being dropped from her first school. If not for her mother advocating to keep her in academically challenged classes at her new school, she would not have been given the same educational opportunities that were being offered to her English speaking peers.

Emely shares the emotional story of learning to be authentic to herself which led her to study journalism at San Diego State, winning a local Emmy as a news producer in San Luis Obispo and currently working as a digital producer for the Emmy nominated entertainment news show, Access Hollywood. Listen to our conversation for her advice on turning your passion into reality and launching a brand.

Here’s to being authentic to ourselves, being intentional with our journey and going at our own pace!

Listen to Latina Life with Jen and Milena on @applepodcasts @iheartradio @spotify

Follow at @latinalifepodcast

Today's Super Latina is not only a part of an American Dream, she is the American Dream personified! Lizette Gomez is a first generation Southern Californian whose path to Marketing Director for Vallarta Supermarkets was not a direct one. She oversees the successful brand growth and awareness for the expanding franchise, which has opened 55 stores (and counting) since 1985.

With a background in Business Administration and Graphic Design, she did not foresee herself working in the food retail industry. In fact, her career started in Marketing and Specialty Leasing for a property management firm! She credits being at a smaller company with allowing her to learn new skills on the job.  When the opportunity to work in the food retail space appeared her experience and her sister-in-law, an expert in interviews, made her more than ready.. This fierce and family focused single mother also had her family's support and encouragement. 

 In conversation with Lizette, you feel the  independence and confidence she has. Those traits, and being open to learning new things, are needed to be successful in marketing. "You have to be creative. You have to think outside of the box. If you have it in you....f you have thick skin, like me, just do it."

Here’s to being open to learning new things, new opportunities and ever-changing paths!

Listen to Latina Life with Jen and Milena on @applepodcasts @iheartradio @spotify

¡Feliz Año Nuevo nuestras Super-Latinas!

Every January is a fresh and re-energizing start for our goals, for the life that we dream of. Sometimes taking that first step or second or third is not so easy or so clear. This is where today’s Super-Latina can help you and our community.

Erika De La Cruz is a best-selling author who is an expert in personal development and manifestation. She is the owner and editor-in-chief of the #1 personal lifestyle publication in Los Angeles, The LA Girl. As someone who is impacting the online personal growth space  globally it is not surprising to find her work, personal style and leadership featured in Vogue, The Zoe Report, Forbes and more!

This strong and inspirational Mexican-American never gave up when faced with hardships, in fact, she persevered. It was during her first year in college when her family suffered a financial blow, went into bankruptcy and lost their home. She returned from college to find her door bolted shut and herself homeless. She lived with family friends during this time and with the help of scholarships, continued her studies and manifested her life with vision boards as her guides.

Erika shares how committing to the person we each want to be will happen with daily repetition, practice and acceptance of pain that we try to avoid. She explains how matching your intentions with what you love will lead to your best self and how “being better and not bitter” will get you closer to your goals. 

Here’s to creating the energy we want this year and reaching our own personal summits in 2024!

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Super Latinas and friends, we shine a light on a true leader, warrior and survivor - Aida Rodriguez.

This Dominican-Puerto Rican Leader has had traumatizing moments in her life.  Among them: being kidnapped twice by family members as a child and being homeless with her children as a single mom. Those are just a few defining moments in her story. 

Her road to being one of the most recognizable Latina comedians started at a friend’s birthday party where she performed a comedic roast that caught the attention of a producer. After some convincing, she tried an open mic night at a club, realized she loved it and has never stopped. 

She shares the reasons why it’s important to respect your craft, why Latinas are the ones who preserve our heritage and culture, who the heroes are & how to make it in the entertainment business as a Latina. 

Aida’s triumph over adversity is detailed in her new memoir, “Legitimate Kid” (out now). She says the purpose of her book is not to trigger but to help others who might have a similar journey. Let’s support our Latina sister by reading her story & showing her we are listening to what she has to say. After reading the book you might just re-evaluate what and who are worthy to be in your life.

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Super Latinas and friends!

For Hispanic Heritage Month we are back with an insightful and inspirational conversation with the one and only .... Daisy Fuentes, a multi-hyphenate powerhouse!

She is a gamechanger in pop culture, the television industry, fashion and so much more. As the first Latina MTV VJ in the U.S. she made the world take notice when she stepped in front of the camera.

Daisy tells us about her family’s journey fleeing Cuba for Spain due to political turmoil and then settling in Newark, New Jersey, where opportunity literally knocked on her door. Her next door neighbor needed a model for a fashion show. The fashion show led to her audition for a weather reporter position, which led to MTV and the rest is her-story!

From model to on-camera talent to entrepreneur Daisy’s belief in the power of YES helped her manifest the life she dreamed of. Daisy shares her advice on how we all should think in order to reach our goals and what we should do as a comunidad to be more united. 

Here’s to not overthinking and removing roadblocks from our lives!

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"A closed mouth doesn't get fed." Our Super Latina Mai Hernandez shares the importance of asking for what you want, reaching out to companies you want to be a part of and manifesting your dreams. Mai grew up in Venezuela where her love for styling hair was born in the salons her mother took her to. After relocating to Chicago when she was 15, she returned to her roots at her local beauty salon. Mai understood the need for representation in the hair industry and kept reaching out to Joico to address it. Her passion has led her to be one of Joico's Artistic Educator and Brand Content Creator as well as co-founder of A/M Salon, a Latina-owned beauty salon in West Hollywood, CA. Mai tells us how hair tone, a leap of faith and relationships can influence your destiny.

Here's to choosing the right tone for each one of us, figuratively and literally! 

Listen to Latina Life with Jen and Milena @applepodcasts @iheartradio @google

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How do you start a restaurant and have it become a financial success in today's world? Super Latina Christy Vegas, a revolutionary force in the culinary world,  shares the secret sauce on how to be a successful restaurateur and chef. Christy is second generation of Mexican descent and  is preserving the legacy of her family business, and L.A. landmark, Casa Vega. The Mexican restaurant has been around for over 65 years and is the recipient of the James Beard 2022 Classic Award. Christy shares how leaning into your identity can establish important business roots, why the food industry is one of the last remaining pathways to the "American Dream", and how her advice to "keep it solid, keep it small and keep it sustainable" will lead to Success. 

Here's to each step we take that gets us closer to our dream!

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Today's Super Latina is a risk taker who grew up surrounded by strong women and without limitations placed on her....or so she thought. As Founder of Identity Amplified where she manages brands and social media strategy for creatives and talent Sarah Olea always thinks outside the box but didn't realize the box she put herself in during her journey as an entrepreneur.  This descendant of the famous Pio Pico (the last Mexican Governor of California) shares how being raised in a mixed household (Mexican/Italian/Native American) impacted her identity, how external factors limited her, why risk can result in failure & success and why she wanted to lead the social media strategy for the American Reality Television Awards. Most importantly, especially for those relying on social media for their brand, Sarah reveals important tips on how to increase followers and how to get that coveted blue check mark! 

Here's to being limitless and taking risks!

Check out how Sarah uses social media to amplify the identities of creatives, talent and more at www.identyamplified.com 

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