In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Leon, a true hustler who's been grinding since she was 12 years old. From cleaning houses to starting her first business in her living room, Nicole skipped the traditional college route and bet on herself. Fast forward to today, and this Puerto Rican powerhouse has built two six-figure businesses—Lash and L Leon Virtual Assistance—all while navigating the beautiful chaos of motherhood. Nicole shares how she kept her business afloat through the COVID-19 pandemic, turned social media and word of mouth into her biggest strategies for booking clients, and redefined the American dream.
In this episode:
- Nicole’s journey from baking cakes as a 12-year-old hustler to running two six-figure businesses in totally different industries (no college degree required.)
- How her first business, Lash, survived the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed her to quit her full-time job.
- Her tried-and-true formula for business growth: authenticity, word of mouth, and the power of social media.
- Plus, Nicole gets personal about choosing her own path—leaving a safe but unfulfilling marriage, starting a family on her own terms, and totally rewriting what the “American dream” looks like to her.
You’ll walk away with practical career tips on:
- Developing multiple skills through side hustles and gig work - Leaning into your strengths and superpowers to build unique business services
- Leveraging social media and authentic word-of-mouth to organically grow your client base
- Overcoming the fear of failure and ambiguity as an entrepreneur
Connect with Nicole:
Personal Instagram: @nicoleleonxo
Business Instagram: @lleonvirtualassistance
Personal LinkedIn: Nicole LeonBusiness
LinkedIn: L Leon Virtual Assistance
Website: NicoleLeon.co
Connect with Fiorella:
Website and resources: https://linktr.ee/fiorellalopezlima
Book Free Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/info-71xn/discovery-call-individual?month=2024-08
Download Your Free Latina Career Playbook: https://www.fiorellalopez.com/latina-career-playbook
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@notyourspicylatinapod
Follow my socials for career advice: Instagram (@notyourspicylatinapod and @latinasahead) and Tik Tok (@notyourspicylatinapod and @fiorellalopezlima)
Timestamps
(00:00) Welcome to Not Your Spicy Latina
(00:57) Episode Overview
(02:32) Early Hustle: Starting at 12 and Being Money-Driven
(05:04) Challenges in Corporate America
(08:13) Launching Her First Business: Lash
(11:00) Navigating COVID-19 and Keeping Her Business Alive
(14:08) Leveraging Social Media and Word of Mouth to Grow
(15:36) Starting Her Second Business: L Leon Virtual Assistance
(21:40) Authenticity as the Foundation of Success
(23:43) Empowering Women and Building Community
(25:48) Breaking Cultural Norms After Her Divorce
(35:35) Redefining What the American Dream Means
(37:38) Practical Advice for Listeners
(38:52) Connect with Nicole
(39:29) Connect with Fiorella