Latina Network

Elisa Ochoa is a dentist and business owner in the Pilsen neighborhood of Chicago. Born and raised on the south side of the city, Elisa comes from a family with a strong work ethic and a deep appreciation for education.

Her parents emigrated from Guadalajara in the late 1960s, and Elisa grew up in a household where success was expected and the pressure to succeed was palpable. Despite these challenges, Elisa found her passion for dentistry at a young age, drawn to the idea of directly impacting people's lives and using her skills to help others.

Elisa's desire to make a difference in her community led her to choose Pilsen as the location for her dental practice.

As she explains, the Latino community is often underserved and overlooked, and Elisa wanted to provide a service that would help address these disparities. She feels that her practice is more than just a business; it's a way for her to connect with people and make a real difference in their lives.

In her role as a dentist, Elisa not only provides essential dental care to her patients, but she also serves as a friend, therapist, and clinician. Her patients teach her just as much as she teaches them, and Elisa finds great satisfaction in being able to impact people's lives in such a meaningful way.

And, as she notes, volunteering and giving back to her community is just as important to her as the work she does in her practice.

Elisa Ochoa is a remarkable Latina professional who has overcome challenges, embraced her passion, and made a significant impact in her community.

Through her commitment to education, her dedication to her patients, and her love for her community, she represents the best of what it means to be a Latina professional. And it is our honor to feature her on this episode of The Face of Latina Professionals podcast.

Delice Javalera is a Latina professional who has made her mark in the corporate world. Born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, she pursued her education and began her career in Mexico. 

However, in 2011, she was offered a job in the United States and she took the leap to move to Chicago. Delice credits her success to the mentorship of several individuals who helped her grow both personally and professionally.

When Delice first moved to the US, she faced a number of cultural challenges. Her initial perception of the US as a cold and unfriendly culture was soon shattered by her warm reception. 

She had to learn to communicate in a different business culture and still considers herself a student of the process. The diverse community in the US also added to her personal growth as she was exposed to different cultures and people from around the world.

One of the most defining moments for Delice was her introduction to the term "Latina." Moving to the US exposed her to the rich cultural heritage of Latin American countries, something she did not have in Mexico. She has since developed relationships with Latinas from different countries and considers the exposure to new cultures a privilege.

As Vice President of Quality and Continuous Improvement at North American Interconnect, Delice has taken on a leadership role in her company. Her experiences and growth journey have helped her to become an effective leader, who is always willing to help others. 

She recognizes the importance of having a support system and encourages others to seek mentorship and cultivate meaningful relationships.

Delice Javalera's story is a testament to the resilience and determination of Latina professionals. Her journey from Mexico to the United States has been filled with challenges, but she has faced each one with grace and determination. 

Her story is an inspiration to those who are facing their own challenges and an encouragement to keep pushing forward.

Delice Javalera is a Latina professional who has made her mark in the corporate world. Born and raised in Chihuahua, Mexico, she pursued her education and began her career in Mexico. 

However, in 2011, she was offered a job in the United States and she took the leap to move to Chicago. Delice credits her success to the mentorship of several individuals who helped her grow both personally and professionally.

When Delice first moved to the US, she faced a number of cultural challenges. Her initial perception of the US as a cold and unfriendly culture was soon shattered by her warm reception. 

She had to learn to communicate in a different business culture and still considers herself a student of the process. The diverse community in the US also added to her personal growth as she was exposed to different cultures and people from around the world.

One of the most defining moments for Delice was her introduction to the term "Latina." Moving to the US exposed her to the rich cultural heritage of Latin American countries, something she did not have in Mexico. She has since developed relationships with Latinas from different countries and considers the exposure to new cultures a privilege.

As Vice President of Quality and Continuous Improvement at North American Interconnect, Delice has taken on a leadership role in her company. Her experiences and growth journey have helped her to become an effective leader, who is always willing to help others. 

She recognizes the importance of having a support system and encourages others to seek mentorship and cultivate meaningful relationships.

Delice Javalera's story is a testament to the resilience and determination of Latina professionals. Her journey from Mexico to the United States has been filled with challenges, but she has faced each one with grace and determination. 

Her story is an inspiration to those who are facing their own challenges and an encouragement to keep pushing forward.

Argelia Martinez, the founder of Vida Mía Cocktails, is a Latina professional making her mark in the beverage industry. 

With her brand, she aims to create unique beverage experiences through pop-up events, cocktail kits, and catering services. Vida Mia Cocktails is a celebration of Mexican culture and history through the agave plant. 

Martinez draws inspiration from her own upbringing, having spent her summers in Mexico with her family and carrying her dual identity as a Mexican-American into her professional life.

Martinez sees marketing as a bridge between cultures, a way to translate insights and bring people together. Growing up on the North Side of Chicago, speaking Spanish at home and English at school, she represents a generation of kids of immigrants who live in a dual world. 

Her experiences as a Latina and her upbringing in a Spanish dominant household have shaped her professional career, allowing her to bring a unique perspective to the table.

Martinez's story of growing up as a child of immigrants is not unique to just the Mexican or Latino community but is a common immigrant story. 

She has evolved from viewing her differences as a negative thing to embracing her unique identity and using it to her advantage. Her brand, Vida Mia Cocktails, is a testament to the power of embracing one's cultural roots and using it as a source of inspiration.

Argelia Martinez is a Latina professional making her mark in the beverage industry. With Vida Mia Cocktails, she aims to create unique experiences centered around Mexican culture and the agave plant. 

Her story of growing up as a child of immigrants and her experiences as a Latina have shaped her professional career, making her a valuable asset to any team.

Danica Matos

Alejandra Garcia Morris shares her journey of humbles beginnings in Mexico, to CEO of "#It’s Clean Cleaning Services" and the lessons learned along the way.

"I came from a very, very, very humble place in Mexico. We were lucky that we could eat. We had a grocery store that was passed down through our grandparents, but other people did not have that privilege."

Tune in to hear her inspirational story and the wisdom she shares to reach your goals and dreams.

Melanie Hernandez is a domestic violence advocate and recovery support specialist. Her journey into the profession stems from her own personal experience. While Melanie was pregnant with her second child, she was the victim of domestic violence and found herself at a DV shelter.

Becoming a domestic violence advocate wasn’t easy for Melanie. She had been through it all. Her self-esteem had been shattered and she didn’t believe she could do it. She recalls how she was invited to fill the role, at the calling of a friend. 

“It was actually from a family friend. She was an engineer and quit her engineering job to start a nonprofit. She was from Baltimore and reached out to me and said, "I've heard you talk a little bit about what you went through.”

“At that time, I was utilizing my platform to talk about not my personal experiences, but I would talk about what women go through. I wanted to help, but I just didn't know how. She saw it on Instagram and said ‘I think you would be a perfect fit for this nonprofit  I am trying to start.’  I was scared and thought I couldn’t do it, but she convinced me I could. 

Trauma is not to be taken lightly, but the mindset you develop determines your path towards healing. As Melanie points out, it’s breaking away from the projection of being a victim towards that path of healing.

“One thing I talk about a lot with women is accountability for our next steps. I think, with domestic violence, there's so much emphasis on victimhood it's hard for people to see themselves out of that.”

Tune into this episode as Melanie explores domestic violence through her story and how she's helping women overcome their trauma through her work.

Ana Gil Garcia is the Executive Director of Academic Effectiveness at St. Augustine College. Originally from Isla de Margarita, part of Venezuela, she was born and raised on this Caribbean Island about 25 miles north of the mainland. 

Though both parents were supportive of their children’s endeavors, it was Ana Gil’s mother that would require all her children to attend college. Wanting to teach biology, Ana Gil had a strong desire to be in the classroom.

After studying in the main city of Caracas, Venezuela, she’d be the recipient of a scholarship that would send her to the United States.

Now a five-time Fulbright US Scholar, and a published author, her lobbying for Latino leadership parity, equity in education and digital access for Latinos in education crystallized on the launch of a principal endorsement program for Latino teachers to close the existing gap in Chicago Public Schools. 

She co-founded the Illinois Latino Coalition of Education Leaders (ILCEL) to maximize efforts in Latino educational issues and the Illinois Venezuelan Alliance to denounce the existing Venezuelan humanitarian crisis. She is one of the Rotary International faces of the “Humanity in Action” campaign to fight poverty. Her defense of democracy and social justice are recognized by diverse human rights groups.

Tune in to hear more about how Ana Gil is active in supporting the Latino community and bringing education to areas that need it most.

On Mexican Independence Day, Paola Meinzer sits down with the Mexican Ambassador in Chicago: Reyna Torres. While Paola was born in Colombia and raised in South America, she has become very close with the Latino and Mexican community in Chicago. 

Reyna’s parents were both involved in the medical field, while Reyna was growing up in Mexico. Yet, despite not having anyone in her family in the political arena, Reyna has always had an interest in worldly affairs and shares her motives behind her career choice. 

“My brother is a doctor, my sister is in education, so I'm the only crazy one that decided to pursue a career in diplomacy. I was always very much interested in what was going on in the world. I wanted to know, to learn and travel.”

As the first woman appointed to the office of Mexican Ambassador in Chicago, it is a sign that we are progressing in the right direction. It is a grand responsibility to oversee such a large demographic. As she points out, Chicago is actually the second largest Mexican consulate in the United States. 

“Chicago is part of our consulate network of 50 consulates in the United States; five in Canada. So it's very, very large. Out of those 50 offices undoubtedly the most important are the biggest ones where our community resides in large numbers.

Chicago is always in second place after Dallas in the amount of services that we provide. People may think that perhaps LA is the largest one.”

The Latino community has grown exponentially in population, in the United States, in recent years. Yet it is Mexicans that make up the majority. Making up 35 million people, 11 million of those individuals were born in Mexico. So, while the population is mostly spanish speaking, Reyna shares how the consulate 

“Mexicans here, we're very paternalistic. We try to make them speak Spanish. Stay close to the culture of Mexico. That's something positive. Both those things are positive, but cannot be all the programs that we have. We wanted to do more.

So now that we have changed like 180 degrees, what we’re doing is promoting a Mexican American community that is bilingual, that is bicultural and binational. We want them to feel stronger because they have a foot on one side of the border and on the other.”

Tune in to learn more about Reyna Torres and the work the Mexican consulate is doing in Chicago and across the country.

Originally from Cuernavaca, Morelos, Rocío Villalva has made her name for herself in Chicago, by creating content for Spanish speaking residents of the city. 

Arriving in a new country with no one to plug her into the social circles, Rocio would stay home all day with her sister, until her parents would come home late from work. Making matters worse, she had a difficult time finding content in Spanish to help her navigate her new city. 

Though as Rocio recalls, once she did go out she noticed that she didn't necessarily fit in. Whether perceived, or otherwise, she doesn’t want anyone else to feel that way and offers heartfelt advice for those struggling to find their place or fit in. 

“Anyone who's listening to this, if you have ever felt like you are different, or you were told that you shouldn't be somewhere, because you're different. Just know that you are allowed to be wherever you want to be. Even though you might feel different, be there, and enjoy your time.”

Battling depression and grappling with the loss of her friend, Rocio would set out to use her talents and creativity to help others in similar situations. Though she didn’t have a game plan, she knew she wanted to do something to honor the memory of her late friend.

“It wasn’t until my friend passed away, like my coolest friend, he was ‘chido’ and ‘chido’ means cool. It's more about vibing coolness. I had this pain and then it was like a revelation for me. I’ve heard that when you go through really hard times, awesome things can come from them.

I had this kind of revelation that I should do this. I should do this in memory of my friend.”

Tune in to connect with Rocio and her story to learn how’s she’s created a community of followers, exploring the city together, through her platforms.

Born in Chicago to Mexican immigrant parents, Jennifer Salgado shares her relatable story of growing up in two contrasting cultures and how it has shaped her view of the world. Not one to shy away from a challenge, she hopes her story can uplift and empower women to pursue their dreams and be an inspiration to other women. 

Still very much connected to her Mexican roots, Jennifer travels back to Mexico often; to visit her father who lives there. So while her message is meant for all women, it’s with her understanding of her community that has her focused there first. 

“We go through a lot. Some women are better for it, some women are not. You just have to keep in mind that everyone is going through something. We're all going through something and you, you just have to be nice to people.

Anyone that you see in the street, you know, men and women, but specifically in the Latin community, I feel like we tend to stop each other from doing great things. It could be out of spite, out of jealousy, whatever the case may be, but why does it have to be that way?

Why can't we be happy for someone just because they're doing great? We can all be great, but if someone's a little bit ahead of you know your time will come. The only way that we're going to get ahead of anything is helping each other or just being kind to each other. As women, we should be helping each other.”

As a young mom, Jennifer had to learn to be responsible while her peers were worried about graduating high school. As tough as things were, Jennifer found purpose in creating an intentional life for her and her son. With that experience came resiliency and wisdom to help her overcome life’s challenges and tune out the noise. 

As anyone can relate to being judged, she offers advice that takes an empathetic approach to ignoring the critics and focusing on what’s important to your joy and peace. 

“People are going to be rude and they're going to say things and they may not like my style. They may not like how I dress, how I look, or whatever I do. I get it. We're not for everyone and that's what you have to understand.You're not going to please everyone.”

Tune in to hear more of this inspirational Latina’s story and her practical words of wisdom that any of us can apply to enjoy more meaningful lives.