In this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, host Christina Rodriguez converses with her cousin Leticia V. Garay, a mental health advocate, blogger & a recent MBA graduate from UC Davis. They discuss their shared experiences as Latinas & Nicaraguans in higher education, emphasizing the importance of mental health. Leticia shares her journey through graduate school, the challenges of balancing work and graduate studies, and the significance of therapy. Christina reflects on her own experiences, highlighting the need for culturally responsive mental health support. Together, they underscore the power of community, vulnerability, and self-advocacy in navigating academic and personal challenges.

Join the Latinas with Masters Podcast as we dive into the world of financial empowerment with Lea Landaverde, known as the Latina Wealth Activist. Based in Dallas, TX, Lea is the visionary founder of The Riqueza Collective, an innovative financial coaching practice focused on bilingual financial education. With a Master's in Finance form the University of Utah and over 9+ years of industry experience, Lea integrates expertise in wealth management, investment banking, technology and personal finance to empower the next generation of wealth builders.

Lea enriches us with insights into her upbringing as a first-generation Salvadorian Latina, detailing her academic journey through her Master's program, navigating corporate environments, and founding her groundbreaking financial coaching practice, The Riqueza Collective.

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On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina delves into the inspiring journey of Laura Walker, M.Ed., a resilient Mexicana born in Mexico and raised in the U.S. from the tender age of 2. Laura's committment to education, instilled by her mother, drove her to promise her mother that she would graduate high school- a promise she steadfastly kept, earning a perfect 4.0 GPA. Married to her best friend, a dedicated United States Marine, Laura is not only a loving mother of two but also a dedicated scholar.

Amidst the challenges of military life, Laura pursued her academic ambitions, obtaining a Bachelor's degree in Psychology from the University of Maryland University College while residing in Japan. Laura continued to demonstrate her unwavering determination by embarking on a Master's program in Elementary Education at Grand Canyon University. While completing her final course in her program, she experiences a health crisis when she experienced kidney failure, forcing her to pause her pursuit of a Master's degree. In a pivotal moment, her sister emerged as her hero and savior, selflessly donating her kidney. This act of love and sacrifice enabled Laura to resume her Master's program and ultimately complete her final course, earning her well-deserved Master's degree.

You can follow this amazing Mama Scholar @laurawalker on Instagram.

Thank you all for your continued love and support. Peace out! =)

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews a straight up Chingona, Maria Linares, MPA who is an Emerita Trustee of the California State University, Board of Trustees which was a position appointed by Governor Gavin Newsom. She is a proud Latina first generation college graduate raised in an immigrant working class neighborhood in the city of Santa Ana, CA. Her work throughout the years has focused on serving the most underserved and historically marginalized populations including first gen students, transfer students, students with disabilities, undocumented students, formerly incarcerated and system impacted students, student parents, students without adequate basic needs and many others. Maria is a mother of three and hopes to work in higher education, advocating for the most vulnerable populations through legislation. In five years, she sees herself applying for a doctorate in public policy, an EdD, or working in legislative affairs. Yass! Can we say #FutureDoctora

You can follow Maria Linares @Mommyof3royaldolls on Instagram

Thank you all of your love and support! Peace out =)

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Vanessa Sirias, First Generation Nicaraguense, digital content creator, actress, producer and comedian. Some of her dope creative work includes "Life of Karen", Christina's absolute favorite, "Nicaraguan's Moms Be Like" and representing Nicoya's on social media as THE FIRST Nicaraguense on Buzzfeed's Pero Like! She hold's a Bachelor's degree in Communications with a minor in International Relations and a certificate in Human Rights from Florida International University. Vanessa talks to us about her decisions with choosing communications as her major versus going with her passion to study theater. She talks deeper about the challenges with family expectations as a first generation college student in the US and her experiences with belonging living and going to school in Miami and moving to Los Angeles. Vanessa shares how she started her career in tv broadcasting to making jefa moves as a digital content creator, growing her personal brand and bringing light into her Nicaraguan identity and the Nicaraguan culture because #RepresentationMatters! You can follow this baddie on all social media platforms at @vanessacsirias and check her out on @Buzzfeed @Perolike

Thank you all for your love and support! ~ Christina Rodriguez, Creator and Founder of Latinas with Masters @LatinaswithMasters

On this episode of the Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Sandy Correa, MS, a native East Los Angeles and first gen Salvadorian and Puerto Rican Latina who recieved her Bachelor's in Sociology from UC Santa Cruz and a Master's in Health Care Management from Cal State Los Angeles. Ana María Gaona, MPA , is a first gen bilingual Latina and the eldest daughter of immigrant parents from Oaxaca, Mexico and Cordoba Spain and is a MPA, Cal State-Northridge graduate who received the Dr. Davidds' Leadership Institute Resilient Leadership Negotiation Certificate and is an honors recipient of the USC Multicultural Women Executive Leadership program. Together, these two amazing amigas are co-founders of Two Peacocks Travel and travelpreneurs elevating the life experiences of Latinas and Women of Color through luxurious and transformational travel. Topics in this episode include the history behind our names, the challenges we experienced as mothers attaining our degrees, having people in power believing in us in the workplace and how working 25+ years in their desired field gave them motivation to start their own travel agency elevating and inspiring Women to step out of their busy lives & experience the beauty of traveling!

On this episode of Latinas with Masters Podcast, Christina interviews Christopher Luis Partida, a graduate Assistant Coach for the Men's basketball team at the University of St. Katherine AND a future #FirstGen Mexicano pursing a Master's degree in Kienisiology at the University of St. Katherine. He's a proud first gen Mexicano from Torrence, CA, raised by Mexican parents who received inspiration from his sisters who both hold PhD's in their respective fields. The lack of sense of belonging at a local community college made him feel college life was not for him. At the age of 26, he discovered he belonged in college and quickly realized he can't graduate college unless basketball is part of his academic journey.  His love of basketball encouraged him to re-enrolled in community college to attend Los Angeles Community College where he earned two Associate degree's in Early Education and Liberal Studies. He transferred to University of St. Katherine where he earned his Bachelor's degree in Arts & Humanities with a History concentration. Christopher's determination and perseverance to graduate college and coach college basketball became a reality because he changed the narrative of his journey, all for the love of basketball!