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The First-Gen CEO Podcast: For First-Gen Women Creating Their Own Success
The First-Gen CEO Podcast: For First-Gen Women Creating Their Own Success episodes
- Episode 38: Empowering Latina Leaders: Michelle Seijas on Leading with Confidence & Clarity
n this episode, Lucy Ortega speaks with Michelle Seijas, a former high school principal turned trauma-informed coach and speaker. Michelle shares her experiences growing up in a bilingual household and her early experiences as a leader. They discuss her impressive professional journey—from bilingual education teacher to principal to executive director to now business owner. Michelle opens up about how a six-month sabbatical changed her life and the importance of reclaiming her true, authentic identity.
This episode is full of insight on leadership, the power of community, and the unique challenges faced by Latina leaders—such as burnout. It’s a masterclass in trusting yourself, honoring your values, and building a life rooted in joy and purpose. Michelle is a powerful example of what it means to lead with authenticity as a first-gen Latina leader.
Follow Michelle on IG: https://www.instagram.com/thrivingchingona/
Follow Michelle on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michelle-seijas-ed-d/
Michelle’s Website: https://www.michelleseijas.com/
Michelle’s Services:
One-on-One Coaching
Grow your confidence, value your strengths, increase your sustainability as a leader, and create a clear vision for your life and career
Group Coaching
Let’s co-create a space that develops and supports people in your organization to thrive through community, learning, reflection, and accountability
Workshops, Facilitation, and Speaking
Bring me in to teach, engage, and inspire people at your next event
Coaching Deep Dives
Make significant progress in gaining clarity of vision and an action plan to increase your impact as a leader with my undivided attention as your thought partner
Follow Lucy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Blog: https://bylucyortega.com/
IG for Sierra Mexican Café: https://www.instagram.com/sierramexicancafe
Subscribe to Newsletter and Get Your 50 Content Creation Ideas Guide:
https://lucyortega.kit.com/50contentcreationideas
38 min - Podcast Episode 37: The Power of Gratitude in Business: From $100 Days to 5-Figure Months
In this episode of The First Gen CEO Podcast, host Lucia Ortega explores the power of staying grounded in gratitude throughout every stage of business. She shares her journey from making $2,000 a month to hitting consistent five-figure months, and reflects on the mindset shifts that helped her get there. Lucia challenges the belief that earning more will solve all our problems—especially the money wounds many first-gen entrepreneurs carry—and emphasizes the importance of honoring progress, not just results. She also dives into the role of self-awareness, strong customer relationships, and effective marketing in building a sustainable business. For anyone who’s ever felt behind or like they had to figure it out alone, this episode is your reminder that resilience, gratitude, and growth can coexist—and your story matters.
Subscribe to Newsletter and Get Your 50 Content Creation Ideas Guide:
https://lucyortega.kit.com/50contentcreationideas
Follow Lucy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Blog: https://bylucyortega.com/
IG for Sierra Mexican Café: https://www.instagram.com/sierramexicancafe
18 min - Episode 36: Drawing Her Own Path: Turning Art into a Full-Time Business with Stephanie Orta
In this episode of the First Gen CEO Podcast, host Lucy Ortega interviews artist Stephanie Orta, also known as @steffiesdoodles online, who shares her journey from a retail job to becoming a full-time artist. Stephanie reflects on her early influences growing up in East LA, the ups and downs of stepping into a creative career, and how mentorship and community helped her along the way. She opens up about building her online presence, expanding her product line, and the steady support she receives from her partner. This conversation is a beautiful glimpse into the real-life experiences of being both an artist and entrepreneur—filled with moments of growth, resilience, and heart. Stephanie shares how COVID impacted her business, the ways she continues to adapt to market changes, and how family support (or lack of it) shaped her path. She talks honestly about pricing her work, pushing through self-doubt, and learning to trust in the value of her art. It’s a reminder that creating and running a business takes courage, creativity, and community. Hope this episodes inspires you of what is possible.
Subscribe to Newsletter and Get Your 50 Content Creation Ideas Guide:
https://lucyortega.kit.com/50contentcreationideas
Follow Stephanie on IG: https://www.instagram.com/stephiesdoodles/
Visit Stephanie’s Website: https://www.stephiesdoodles.com
Follow Lucy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Blog: https://bylucyortega.com/
IG for Sierra Mexican Café: https://www.instagram.com/sierramexicancafe
40 min - Episode 35. Crowdfunding Taught Me More Than Just Raising Money — Learning to Receive as a First-Gen
In this episode of The First Gen CEO Podcast, I’m pulling back the curtain on what it was really like to crowdfund for my café, Sierra Mexican Café. April was our crowdfunding era—but it was also a month filled with personal challenges, weekly doctor visits, record-breaking sales, and a lot of delegating. I talk about the emotional rollercoaster of asking for help, the guilt and pride that come up as a first-gen business owner, and the power of community support. I also share the lessons I learned, how I reframed “only raising 6K,” and why this experience reminded me that we’re allowed to receive and rest. If you’re thinking of crowdfunding or launching a pre-sale product as a business owner, I hope this episode gives you insight.
Subscribe to Newsletter and Get Your 50 Content Creation Ideas Guide:
https://lucyortega.kit.com/50contentcreationideas
30-Day Business Sprint: https://calendly.com/lucia-ortega/
Follow Lucy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Blog: https://bylucyortega.com/
IG for Sierra Mexican Café: https://www.instagram.com/sierramexicancafe
12 min - Episode 34: Finding Fulfillment: Priscilla's Journey from HR to Healing
In this engaging conversation, Lucy Ortega interviews Priscilla, the host of the First Gen Healing podcast and founder of FirstGen Healing Community. Priscilla shares her journey from being an HR consultant to becoming an intuitive guide and content creator, driven by her experiences as a first-generation Latina. The discussion delves into the pressures of expectations, the search for fulfillment, and the challenges faced by first-gen students. Priscilla emphasizes the importance of community and authenticity in healing, as well as the struggles and triumphs of content creation. In this conversation, Priscila discusses the importance of authenticity and self-discovery, particularly for first-generation individuals navigating societal expectations. She shares her journey from corporate life to pursuing her passion of helping First Gens reconnect with their Inner Poder and take up space as their authentic selves.
Check out Priscilla's services, podcast, and community https://linktr.ee/firstgenhealing
Join the FirstGen Healing Community http://www.firstgenhealing.com/fgh-community
30-Day Business Sprint: https://calendly.com/lucia-ortega/
Follow Lucy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Subscribe to Newsletter: https://lucyortega.kit.com/
Blog: https://bylucyortega.com/
51 min - Podcast Episode 33: Empowering Latinos Through Real Estate with Violeta Sandoval
In this powerful episode, Lucy Ortega interviews inspiring Violeta Sandoval, a first-generation Mexican immigrant, Navy veteran, and founder of @Money_Chisme. Violeta opens up about her incredible journey — from navigating life as an undocumented immigrant for over 20 years to creating a life of financial freedom through real estate investing.
With honesty and heart, Violeta shares how her military service opened doors, including access to the VA home loan, which became a stepping stone in building her real estate portfolio. But her story goes far beyond finances — she speaks vulnerably about her personal journey with infertility and how real estate investing helped her afford the treatments that brought her hope, healing, and a new member to her family.
This episode is a testament to the power of resilience, mindset, and community. Violeta offers practical advice for aspiring investors and speaks directly to the Latino community with encouragement and empowerment. Whether you're just getting started or looking for inspiration to keep going, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, motivated, and ready to chase your own version of freedom.
Follow Violeta on IG: https://www.instagram.com/money_chisme/
Checkout Violeta’s Links: https://moneychisme.com/links/
90-minute Business Strategy Sessions with Lucy: https://calendly.com/lucia-ortega/90-minute-business-strategy-session
Follow Lucy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Subscribe to Newsletter: https://lucyortega.kit.com/
Blog: https://bylucyortega.com/
IG for Sierra Mexican Café: https://www.instagram.com/sierramexicancafe
43 min - Episode 32. Daily Habits to Build Unshakable Confidence as a First-Gen CEO
n this episode of The First Gen CEO Podcast, Lucy Ortega dives deep into the journey of building confidence as a first-gen entrepreneur. She breaks down confidence as a muscle that strengthens with practice and consistency, sharing daily habits that help cultivate unshakable self-belief. From keeping promises to yourself to shifting your self-talk to that of a CEO, Lucy provides tangible strategies for stepping into your full CEO energy. She also opens up about her personal struggles with confidence during a major business pivot and how she overcame the mental roadblocks that held her back. If you've ever doubted yourself or felt like an imposter in your own business, this episode is for you!
90-minute Business Strategy Sessions with Lucy: https://calendly.com/lucia-ortega/90-minute-business-strategy-session
Follow Lucy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Subscribe to Newsletter: https://lucyortega.kit.com/
Blog: https://bylucyortega.com/
IG for Sierra Mexican Café: https://www.instagram.com/sierramexicancafe
20 min - Episode 31: Building Beautiful Businesses: Navigating Risks with Rosalie Ennes
In this episode, Lucy Ortega interviews Rosalie Ennes, a risk strategist and founder of Portecua Consulting, who shares her journey from a bicultural upbringing to working in corporate as a risk consultant and eventually transitioning to entrepreneurship. She also discusses her new book, Build a Beautiful Business Con Confianza, and her experience with hybrid publishing. Rosalie highlights the importance of mindset and financial literacy in managing business risks, particularly for women and minority-owned businesses. Rosalie stresses the significance of understanding one’s risk tolerance when making business decisions and her motivation behind helping Latina, BIPOC, and LGBTQ business owners build beautiful businesses. She also touches on the importance of preparation for networking events and learning from mistakes in business. If you have a business or want to start a business this podcast is full of information that will help you build a beautiful business.
Follow Rosalie on IG: https://www.instagram.com/portecuaconsulting/
90-minute Business Strategy Sessions with Lucy: https://calendly.com/lucia-ortega/90-minute-business-strategy-session
Follow Lucy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Subscribe to Newsletter: https://lucyortega.kit.com/
Blog: https://bylucyortega.com/
IG for Sierra Mexican Café: https://www.instagram.com/sierramexicancafe
39 min - Episode 30: From The Socia Effect to The First-Gen CEO: Embracing Change and Growth
In this episode, Lucy Ortega talks about rebranding her podcast to The First-Gen CEO and why investing in the right tools, like Riverside, can make a big difference in productivity. She gets into how consistency in content creation is key, but also how we often think success has to be hard when it doesn’t. Lucy shares how embracing ease and clarity in business can lead to better results and how looking back at past decisions helps shape better choices. The episode wraps with a vibe of empowerment—change can be bold, but it’s how we grow. Time’s precious, and growth isn’t always a straight line, but that’s part of the journey. She invites you to continue tuning in and join her in this new chapter of the podcast!
90-minute Business Strategy Sessions with Lucy: https://calendly.com/lucia-ortega/90-minute-business-strategy-session
Follow Lucy on IG: https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Subscribe to Newsletter: https://lucyortega.kit.com/
Blog: https://bylucyortega.com/
IG for Sierra Mexican Café: https://www.instagram.com/sierramexicancafe
15 min - Episode 29: Empowering the Next Generation of Women: Luz Hernandez Hidalgo on Confidence, Growth, and Support
In this episode, Lucy Ortega interviews Luz Hernandez Hidalgo, a girl coach dedicated to empowering young girls and fostering emotional well-being. Luz moved to Los Angeles at the age of 12 from Mexico, where she experienced a significant cultural transition that shaped her journey of personal growth. Over time, she worked to break generational cycles, learning confidence, self-love, and empowerment for herself first. It was through this intentional transformation that Luz began to teach her daughters these values, helping them build a strong foundation of self-worth and resilience. Luz emphasizes the need for safe spaces for emotional expression and the significance of community support in raising children, especially for girls. Luz started her coaching program because she wanted to provide the tools she wished she had when she was a young girl and a new mother.
Follow Luz Hernandez on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/y.e.s.girlife/
Luz’s Website Blissful Minds Coaching:https://www.blissfulmindscoaching.com/
90-minute Business Strategy Sessions with Lucy:https://calendly.com/lucia-ortega/90-minute-business-strategy-session
Follow Lucy on IG:https://www.instagram.com/bylucyortega/
TikTok:https://www.tiktok.com/@bylucyortega
Buy your eCookbook Copy:https://adept-thinker-3816.ck.page/products/sierra-cookbook
Subscribe to Newsletter:https://dogged-producer-6251.ck.page/06286dad7e
Blog:https://bylucyortega.com/
IG for Sierra: https://www.instagram.com/sierramexicancafe
39 min
About The First-Gen CEO Podcast: For First-Gen Women Creating Their Own Success
From the publisher's feed
Being the first in your family to build a business isn’t just about strategy—it’s about mindset, unlearning, and stepping into your power. The First-Gen CEO Podcast is where first-gen Latina entrepreneurs get the real talk, inspiration, and motivation they need to build a business that aligns with their vision.
Hosted by Lucy Ortega, a serial entrepreneur and business coach, this podcast empowers women to break cycles, navigate family expectations, and scale confidently.