¿Quién Tú Eres?

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.

Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.

Tools like ⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/

----

Manny Valentin was named Skidmore College's head men's and women's crew coach in May 2021. Valentin was previously the Saratoga Rowing Association (SRA) head varsity boys coach and the Advanced Rowing Initiative of the Northeast (ARION) men's coach. Valentin's athletes have had success on the national and international levels, with a men's lightweight quad winning the 2018 USRowing trials and then competing in the 2018 World Championships in Plovdiv, Bulgaria. Valentin was one of 13 coaches across all three divisions, including just one of just four coaches in Division III, to be recognized with the award. He represented the New York region under Division III.

In this week's episode, Manny shares how he leads by example and creates positive representation for his athletes. He makes sure to present himself as a man of color in professional spaces so that he can encourage other athletes of color to present themselves as authentically as they can. This kind of representation was not there for Manny when he first started so he ensures that the next generation will have that in him. 

Follow Manny on: 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/emanuel-valentin/

Post-production for this episode was provided by CCST, a podcast production company. 

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.

Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.

Tools like ⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/

----

Rachel is the Global Head of Inclusive Innovation at Mindshare, leading strategy and innovation for how brands use marketing, media, and technology to reshape society for good. A respected industry thought leader, Rachel has worked with some of the biggest brands in the world, including Unilever and Booking.com. As an autistic woman, Rachel is a content creator on TikTok, LinkedIn, and Instagram to educate and advocate for neuroinclusion. Rachel has over 90,000 people in her community across platforms because of her unique perspectives as a creative leader who is autistic.

In this eye-opening episode, we dive into Rachel's incredible journey of self-discovery, as she shares how her autism diagnosis became a catalyst for improving her mental well-being and unleashing her creativity in the workplace. Before receiving her diagnosis, Rachel grappled with a challenging concept known as "masking," commonly experienced by autistic individuals. She felt compelled to hide her true traits or behaviors to fit into society's mold of being "neurotypical," leading to feelings of being misunderstood and overstimulated by societal pressures to be constantly available.

However, everything changed after her diagnosis. Armed with the knowledge of her condition, Rachel realized that she wasn't "crazy" for feeling the way she did. This newfound understanding empowered her to embrace her authentic self and unapologetically express her unique qualities. Now, she passionately helps others in the workplace and their daily lives to embrace their true selves, fostering a culture of acceptance and inclusivity.

Follow Rachel: 

#AutisticOutLoud Article: https://custom.gettyimages.com/autistic-out-loud/p/1 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rachel-lowenstein

Instagram: @rachelissan

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.

Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.

Tools like ⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/

---_

On this week's episode, Pabel is reckoning with the knowledge that his life is about to change for the better. And even though this is a huge success on paper, his body is terrified. Well, he’s excited and joyful and hopeful, but also terrified. Listen to this week's episode to hear exactly how his body reacted, both physically and mentally, and how he’s dealing with these very intense emotions. 

Post-production for this episode was provided by CCST, a podcast production company. 

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.

Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.

Tools like ⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/

----

Celebrity fashion stylist and Creative Director Oscar Montes de Oca has made a name for himself in the styling world for his chic, timeless, conceptual, and body-flattering styling. A native New Yorker, he has more than 12 years of experience, which includes extensive work in the international and Latin markets. He has worked on numerous editorial, TV, ad campaigns, videos, and films, and his styling has been featured in some of the world's top publications. Oscar has enjoyed styling numerous celebrities who have graced the best-dressed list. 

This week Oscar tells our host, Pabel Martinez, all about his journey to becoming a celebrity fashion stylist and creative Director. As someone who was raised in “the Southernmost Part of the Bronx” and had to build his own career from the ground up, Oscar has had a long journey to success. He’s had to break stereotypes in every job he’s worked and prove himself over and over again, just to get a seat at the table. But in the last few years, Oscar has felt as if he’s met his own expectations. Tune in to hear how Oscar kept his head up in such a polarizing industry. 

Follow Oscar: 

Website: https://www.oscarmontesdeoca.com/  

Instagram: @omontesdeoca

Post-production for this episode was provided by CCST, a podcast production company. 

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.

Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.

Tools like ⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/

----

Barney Abramson’s creative journey began in the Dominican Republic staying indoors and drawing his favorite 80s cartoons all day long. That creative passion grew into a fruitful career and he went on to become an award-winning designer. In addition to his day job, Barney consults as a creative director, strategist, and manager. He helps businesses and individuals with their creative problems. When he’s not designing, he’s writing about his experiences as an Afro-Latino creative in corporate America. He uses social media to connect, mentor, teach, and inspire the next generation of designers.

This week, Barney discusses his life after immigrating to the US as a child, attempting to assimilate into mostly white neighborhoods, and how that affected his confidence as a young professional. Barney admits that he would take on a Funny Guy persona to seem more palatable to his white coworkers. However, even though he was accepted as the funny guy, he still felt a distance between himself and his peers. It wasn’t until he started undoing past traumas that he became more comfortable in his own skin - even at work. 

Follow Barney: 

Website: www.barneyabramson.com

Instagram - @barneyabramson01

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.

Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.

Tools like ⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/

----

joMi is an independent artist, songwriter, and poet from Northern California. He burst onto the music scene in late 2017 with the release of his mixtape, "Behind The Curtain.” His music is a fusion of acid hip-hop jazz-inspired beats with socially conscious lyrics that offer a glimpse into the struggles faced by minorities.

Due to his rough childhood, joMi has had to fight for everything he has, which includes his career in construction management. However, not one to be caught slipping, joMi promotes his music under his stage name. This way he can create music about his upbringing and validate his own experiences without being found out by his company or coworkers. This week joMi dives deep into his personal life and explains how he maintains a balance between his career in construction and his passion for music. 

Follow joMi: 

Instagram:  jomidlr

YouTube:  https://youtube.com/@OfficialjoMi 

Post-production for this episode was provided by CCST, a podcast production company.

Welcome to a brand new episode of the ¿Quién Tú Eres? podcast, where we explore the conflict we often face between "professionalism" & being our authentic selves. This week's guest is Victor Alfonso.

Victor Alfonso Cabral, LSW (He/Him) is a collaborative and strategic Afro-Latinx leader who is committed to making an impact in his community and beyond. Victor serves as the Director of Policy and Regulatory Affairs for Fluence Training. Victor works to center BIPOC voices in the field of psychedelics by highlighting BIPOC stories in policy & advocacy efforts, art, and science. 

He is currently working on a documentary film titled We Are The Medicine which explores the re-emergence of psychedelics from the perspective of Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Victor is listed on Students for Sensible Drug Policy’s list of “40 Under 40 Outstanding BIPOC Leaders in Drug Policy in the United States” for his work in psychedelic policy and received the 2022 Emerging Social Work Leader Award from the National Association of Social Workers.

Because of Victor’s ADHD, he struggled to pay attention in class and absorb the knowledge he was reading. As he got older, he learned the tips and tricks that he needed to work the educational system and continue his education on his terms. This week on the podcast, Victor tells us how working with his diagnosis, rather than against it, encouraged him to pursue a future he’d only dreamed of. 

Keep up with Victor: 

Instagram - https://instagram.com/awondrousmind

40 Under 40 Outstanding BIPOC Leaders in Drug Policy in the United States - https://ssdp.org/blog/40-under-40-outstanding-bipoc-leaders-in-drug-policy/ 

Follow Pabel on:

Website: https://plurawl.com/ 

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/plurawl/ 

TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@plurawl 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/plurawl/ 

Keep up with the podcast: 

Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quientueres/message 

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/quientueres/support

Post-production for this episode was provided by CCST, a podcast production company.

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.

Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.

Tools like ⁠⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/

----

“You’re never gonna get a job if you're an entrepreneur.” 

That’s what this week’s guest said on the podcast and I have to admit, I was shocked. That’s a very bold statement. But I was even more shocked when I realized that he was right.

We’ve seen it too many times. We are told to quiet our voices and make ourselves smaller. Even if we know what we’re talking about and we are the best person on the team, some people will do anything they can to keep us in “our place.”

So what happens when you become bigger than your job? 

That’s the question that we tackle on this week's episode of the ¿Quién Tú Eres? podcast. And this week’s guest is none other than the incredible Jonathan J. Mentor. 

Jonathan J. Mentor is a revenue growth expert that provokes the economic growth and visibility of disadvantaged humans in B2B tech.  He is proud to be a Latinx, Black, Queer father. He is the Founder & CEO of Successment, a revenue growth partner for diverse tech startups where he developed BOOM®,  a 4-step growth process that uncomplicates RevOps Science®. His inspiration for Successment is his commitment to the success of disadvantaged humans. Success + Commitment = Successment.

When he went from being a cashier to a corporate broker, the culture shock was overwhelming. However, Jonathan was able to listen and learn from his peers. His ability to adapt and excel at his work made him way bigger than career as a broker. He very quickly became LinkedIn famous and started moonlighting on his own. 

And even though Jonathan was earning the company millions of dollars in revenue, his co-workers felt threatened by his success outside of his corporate job. In the end, they offered him a severance package and told him it was his last day. From there he decided to invest in himself and start his own business. This was the birth of Successment. 

This week we talk about

• How Jonathan was able to excel at his career without a degree

• How he was able to battle imposter syndrome during his time as a broker

• Why Jonathan works with the clients that he does

• Why he now refuses to code switch or hide his tattoos during meetings

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.

Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.

Tools like ⁠⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/

----

Vanessa Correa recently took the role of Vice President and DEI Marketing Strategy Lead at JPMorgan Chase & Co. after five years at Freddie Mac, where she was the marketing lead for equitable housing initiatives handling content strategy, brand development, paid media, and marketing events. Vanessa hails from The Bronx, was born to two Puerto Ricans, and is a quintessential 80s baby. 

This week on the podcast, Vanessa shares how her upbringing shaped her self-confidence as an adult. Her childhood prepared her to stand her ground and enforce her boundaries the first time they’re breached. Which happened a lot, considering how often people in majority white spaces felt entitled to her intelligence. 

Listen to Vanessa’s episode to hear how she let her haters know that her middle fingers still work.  

Post-production for this episode was provided by CCST, a podcast production company. 

Most people think professionalism is about fitting in, but what if it’s actually the reason we feel disconnected from ourselves? This podcast explores the tension between who we are and who we feel pressured to be at work, in relationships, and in everyday life.

Through candid conversations, we unpack how different environments shape our behavior, how limiting beliefs form, and what it looks like to actually understand yourself beyond the roles you play.

Tools like ⁠⁠⁠Plurawl⁠⁠⁠ can help you break down your thoughts and understand what’s driving them → https://plurawl.com/

----

This week's guest is Adam Gabornitz, who currently serves as a Senior Director of Diversity & Inclusion for a large insurance and wealth management company that's headquartered in Milwaukee, WI. 

His role includes creating and driving execution of D&I talent attraction and retention strategies, and consulting across the enterprise to retain, develop and advance diverse talent. Adam has over 17 years of experience in sales, marketing, entrepreneurship, tech, workforce development, talent acquisition and talent development. 

Adam holds a bachelor’s degree in communications from the University of Wisconsin – Milwaukee and currently serves on the board of Impact in Milwaukee. He was a 2020 recipient of the Milwaukee Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 award.

A few mantras he lives by:

Give more than you take

Say yes more than you say no

Leave things better than you found it

Look good, feel good, do good