LatinX Can

Meet Carlos Torres, a Venezuelan engineer and entrepreneur who turned a lay-off into an opportunity to start his own business and spend more time with his family. Carlos has a wealth of experience in the oil and gas industry, working with Schlumberger, Gulfstream Services and Royal Oaks Energy Services in various regions around the world. He is also the chapter chair of SPE GCS, the Society of Petroleum Engineers Gulf Coast Section, where he leads a diverse team of volunteers. Carlos reveals his insights and tips on how to succeed as a leader and an entrepreneur in the oil and gas industry. Whether you want to learn more about SPE GCS, one of the largest and most active sections of SPE International, or you want to be inspired by Carlos’s stories and achievements, don’t miss this episode!Leave a review: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latinx-can/id1524232753 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/latinx-can-1354080

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Meet Juan Ignacio Stewart, an entrepreneur who is bringing the foods and flavors of Latin America to the main stream in the US, by sharing with the world and fighting in the tank at shark tank.Juan Ignacio is a Guatemalan American who was born and raised in Guatemala, until the age of 17, which is when he moved to Colorado to continue his education. Juan studied international affairs and cinematography, and always planned to returned to Guatemala, but his plans changed when he became a young father who wanted to have a strong presence in his son’s life. After graduating from College, Juan worked various jobs to make ends meet, until one day he started selling his mom’ hot sauce, and that is how he became an entrepreneur.Earlier this year, Juan Ignacio won the hearts of many people in the U.S after pitching his new invention, Frescos Naturales, at Shark Tank.His passion and dedication to share his Latin culture with his son, and with the world, became evident, and his determination to make fruit juices or frescos, with the best quality ingredients, helped him land a deal with the sharks. Juan Ignacio’s story is one of resilience, and passion. His drinks are refreshing, and help transport us to the land we come from, fruits falling from the trees and all! Don’t miss a chance to try them, and share them with your loved ones! Make sure to try Frescos Naturales here: https://drinkfrescos.com/Leave a review: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latinx-can/id1524232753 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/latinx-can-1354080

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Meet Michelle Manzanales, a dancer and choreographer who studied finance but chose to develop a career in Dance despite the financial insecurity associated with artistic careers.Michelle was born and raised in Houston, TX to a Mexican-american family. She started dancing at age 3, and has not stopped since. Michelle graduate with a degree in finance from the University of Houston, and tried to have a stable career in the field, but she was always a dancer at heart. After a couple of years in the financial sector, Michelle decided that she was going to pursue a career as a dancer, and although she didn’t become a multimillionaire, she was always financially independent. Michelle talks about her experience growing up, not feeling proud of her Mexican heritage. It was not until later in life, that she began exploring what being “Ni de aquí, ni de allá” means. Dance has helped Michelle explore that in-between world, and now considers it an asset. She is now, the director of Ballet Hispánico’s School of Dance. As a teacher and choreographer, Michelle’s goal is for students to feel safe to show up as their authentic selves, and helps them explore their roots and/or learn more about the Latin culture. Michelle also discussed the many transferable skills dancers learn throughout their careers, such as problem-solving, courage, and dealing with rejection. She also has a message for parents of dancers who may be worried about their children’s future: “Fear more that your child isn't learning those base skills more than fearing them studying the arts” Learn more about Ballet Hispánico here: https://www.ballethispanico.org/Leave a review: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latinx-can/id1524232753 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/latinx-can-1354080

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Meet Dr. Mike Vasquez, a former student-athlete at MIT, whose passion for sports led him to develop a career helping companies adopt the revolutionary technology that is Additive Manufacturing (AM). Dr. Vasquez grew up in Minnesota in a Mexican-american family. He loved playing baseball and dreamed of becoming a professional baseball player, but when he realized his fastball fell a little short of MLB standards, he focused his attention on his passion for STEM. One summer, he participated in the MIT Introduction to Technology, Engineering and Science (MITES) program, which was his first experience with the university, but not the last, as he continued on to earn his Bachelors and Master’s degrees from MIT, followed by a PhD at Loughborough University, in the UK. Dr. Vasquez‘s passion for sports continued while he was pursuing his education. He was the captain of the baseball team at MIT, an activity that gave him balance and sense of community, and he also conducted research related to sports.It was his passion for sports, and materials science and engineering what exposed him to AM early on in his career, and eventually led him to found his own consulting business, to help companies ease the pain points associated with implementing the technology. One of those pain points is finding AM professionals, which are not many, partly due to the novelty of the technology, but mostly due to the lack of knowledge and information available for the general population. Dr. Vasquez noticed this gap and launched AMx - The Advance Manufacturing Experience, a program designed to create awareness of the types of careers available in AM, and to help individuals develop valuable skills that are sorely needed in the industry. One thing is clear, the AM field is not just for scientists and engineers, and there is a vast need for people who love to pull up their sleeves and get their hands dirty. AMx was implemented in partnership with local Chicago businesses, and it was initially focused on collaborating with communities in the West side of Chicago. Dr. Vasquez next goal is to make this program available nation-wide.Check out the AMx experience Here: https://www.3degreescompany.com/amxFind out more about the MITES program here:https://mites.mit.edu/Leave a review: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latinx-can/id1524232753 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/latinx-can-1354080

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Meet Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez, a professor of history who experienced life events that demonstrated the fragility of democracy itself, and who now is committed to protecting it. 

Dr. Martinez-Fernandez was born in Cuba and two years later, his family migrated to Miami as a consequence of the Cuban Revolution. They moved to Lima, Peru afterward, only to flee another anti-democratic event, which led them to move to Puerto Rico, where he completed his Bachelors and Master degrees in History. Years later, he embarked in yet another migration, this time by choice, to North Carolina, to pursue his PhD in History at Duke University, and he has been living in the continental U.S. ever since. 

Dr. Luis Martinez-Fernandez became a historian because he wanted to understand his life story, and this led him to specialize in the History of Latin America and the Caribbean. We talked about the various events that we have experienced, as citizens of Venezuela, and Cuba, and about the political trauma that we and our families have experienced throughout our lives, and how that trauma sometimes gets in the way of understanding the political situation in the U.S. for what it is, without adding extra color from our experiences. 

We also discussed the recent global events that, once again, indicate that democracy is fragile and in need of protection, and we talked about the role that latinx like you and me, play in helping protect it. It boils down to practicing civil engagement, and stepping into the power, and the responsibility that comes with being the largest minority group in the U.S. and fastest growing one.   

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Meet Odalys Jasmine, a latina creator, podcaster and storyteller who believes authenticity is the key component of a successful personal brand. Odalys is a first-gen Latina from South East San Diego, who grew up surrounded by her loving family. Although she was one of the two people in her family who didn’t have to worry about her immigration status, she lived first-hand the challenges that a piece of paper can bring to an individual. She describes herself as a “brand nerd”and she strongly advocates that authenticity is key for a successful personal brand, and she shared her advice regarding how to build our personal brand. Odalys is a creator of experiences and spaces where the first-gen community can find support and inspiration. She is the host of Hella Latin@ podcast, a platform for first-gen latinx and/or immigrants to share their life story. You can learn more about Odalys Jasmine here: https://www.odalysjasmine.com/Leave a review: Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/latinx-can/id1524232753 Podchaser: https://www.podchaser.com/podcasts/latinx-can-1354080

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