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Today’s episode is the second installment in my Financial Literacy Month series. Today’s guest is Lizbet Barajas of @LizbetTalksMoney. In this conversation, we talked about everything from paying off debt, to having way too many credit cars (hi, it’s me. I’m the problem, it’s me), to walking away from a job. Lizbet shares how she uses budgeting as a tool for financial freedom and how actually having a plan for your money is not restrictive but is actually a pathway to that financial freedom. As a career coach, I was personally impressed with how Lizbet levered her budget to make powerful career moves without lowering her standards or giving up her passion to travel. 

About today's guest:

Lizbet is a first-gen Mexican-American, mom of two, and money coach for moms. With the use of a budget and her travel hacking skills, she's paid off over $80,000 of debt while still traveling with her family.

Connect with Lizbet on Instagram via @LizbetTalksMoney

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@lizbettalksmoney 

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

Resources and Links

Private 1:1 Coaching: https://calendly.com/thefirstgencoach/discovery-call 

Download your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FREE Resume Guide and Template⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Follow @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CarlaTheFirstGenCoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram

This episode is a behind the scenes look at the struggles and insecurities I experienced when I more than doubled my salary in 10 months. I talk about the risk that I took in accepting a short-term contract position and how I was able to use that contract as an opportunity to break into and learn more about the tech sector. 

With Financial Literacy Month kicking off this week, I wanted to acknowledge that it’s not always a knowledge gap. Sometimes you have all the information you need, but there might be deeply ingrained fears and limiting beliefs that are preventing you from taking action.

In this Career Spotlight episode, Laura Valdes, founder of Valdes Language Services, shares her career journey and insight as a skilled linguist and owner of a language services agency. Laura, whose love for languages and bridging communication gaps was influenced by her Colombian heritage and Pakistani stepfather, breaks down the distinction between informal language services and the professional work carried out by trained linguists. 

Laura offers valuable advice for those who may want to consider a career in translating and interpreting. We also talked about AI disrupting the industry, the power of human communication, and so much more! 

About today's guest:

Laura Valdes, a skilled linguist with 14 years of experience in interpreting and translating, is dedicated to bridging the language gaps in San Diego, California. Trained in Interpreting for Social Justice and a graduate of Translation and Interpretation studies at the City University of New York, Laura brings a wealth of expertise.

Originally from Queens and Brooklyn, New York, Laura's multicultural background as the daughter of Colombian immigrants and a Pakistani step-father sparked her love for languages. Fluent in Spanish and English, Laura enjoys having casual conversations in Portuguese, German, and can say a few phrases in Urdu.

As a trusted language professional, Laura Valdes blends linguistic finesse with cultural understanding to break down barriers for individuals and businesses.

Website: https://vlanguageservices.com/ 

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lauravaldes/ 

Connect with Laura on Instagram: @Valdes_Language_Services 

Email: [email protected]m 

Resources and Links

Private 1:1 Coaching: https://calendly.com/thefirstgencoach/discovery-call 

Download your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FREE Resume Guide and Template⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Follow @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CarlaTheFirstGenCoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram

In this episode, Leslie Lew, founder of Reclaiming Your Courage, discusses trauma-informed self-defense and the intersection of self-defense and the workplace. Leslie emphasizes the importance of building psychological safety within yourself and the need for consent in self-defense practices. Leslie advocates for assertiveness without aggression and shares her experiences and insights on standing in power, setting boundaries, and advocating for oneself in. She also addresses the fear of retaliation that comes when we speak up in the workplace,  and empowers listeners to develop strategies to navigate workplace challenges. 

About today's guest:

Leslie Lew, also known as the warrior queen, stands as a trailblazer for women's empowerment, recently earning recognition in the Washington DC Chronicle News as one of the "Global Women to Watch in 2024." She proudly holds the prestigious 2022 Asian Woman Trailblazer award and serves as the visionary Founder of Reclaiming Your Courage and the Mind Body Voice (MBV) Method.

A recent milestone in Leslie's extraordinary journey was her Kenya Keynote Tour, where she addressed 13,000 students, sparking a global movement for change. Her unwavering commitment to empowering women and her dedication to the community make Leslie a beacon of strength and inspiration in the ongoing fight against gender-based violence.

Website: www.reclaimingyourcourage.com 

Leslie’s Podcast: Reclaim Your Voice Podcast

Connect with Leslie on Instagram: @ReclaimingYourCourage

Related Episodes: 

18. Thriving in Corporate America as a Religious Trauma Survivor

37. Self-Advocate Your Way to Career Success

Resources and Links

Private 1:1 Coaching: https://calendly.com/thefirstgencoach/discovery-call 

Download your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FREE Resume Guide and Template⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Follow @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CarlaTheFirstGenCoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram

This episode is all about the ways you could be betraying yourself in your career. So much of what we are taught about the workplace and how we “should” show up at work is actually just self-betrayal. Listen for three specific things to watch out for that may be a sign you’re betraying yourself in your career. 

Resources and Links

Private 1:1 Coaching: https://calendly.com/thefirstgencoach/discovery-call 

Download your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FREE Resume Guide and Template⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Follow @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CarlaTheFirstGenCoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram

Job interviews set the stage for the type of working relationship you will have if you decide to accept the position. That’s why advocating for yourself, even from the very beginning of that working relationship, is extremely important. In this episode, I go over ten ways that you can advocate for yourself during the job interview process. 

Plus, I share a story of a time I broke my own job interview rules and why it didn’t turn out well. 

Private 1:1 Coaching: https://calendly.com/thefirstgencoach/discovery-call 

Download your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FREE Resume Guide and Template⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Follow @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CarlaTheFirstGenCoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram

This episode is a conversation with attorney turned professor turned life coach Asha Wilkerson. Asha talks about working in Big Law, starting her own law practice, pivoting into academia, and then walking away from it when it was no longer fulfilling. 

Asha shares how she created her own paths and followed her own models of success multiple times throughout her career and life. She talks about the multiple transitions in her career, how she leveraged her strengths and inner passions, and how healing has played a major role in her life. 

About today's guest:

Meet Asha Wilkerson, a dynamic advocate, educator, and life coach dedicated to empowering BIPOC women on their journey to freedom. Asha has leveraged her legal expertise over the years to guide entrepreneurs of color through business formation and legal matters, ensuring their sustained success. Currently, Asha channels her passion into life coaching for BIPOC women, helping them break free from societal expectations and embrace a life of freedom. Whether it's freedom from expectations or the freedom to live their dream life, Asha's coaching empowers women to live in power, light, and love.

Connect with Asha on Instagram: @ashawilkersonesq or visit her website, ashawilkerson.com, to explore her transformative coaching services and join the journey to freedom. Listen to her podcast, Because I’ve Healed.

Resources and Links

Private 1:1 Coaching: https://calendly.com/thefirstgencoach/discovery-call 

Download your⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ ⁠FREE Resume Guide and Template⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ 

Follow @⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠CarlaTheFirstGenCoach⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠⁠ on Instagram

This episode is all about the job offer funnel! This is a framework I developed while studying the marketing a sales funnel that takes customers from aware of a product to a loyal customer. In your job search, you are similarly moving random strangers from aware of you and your skills, to loyal managers that are incentivizing you to stay on their team. There are seven steps to this funnel. In this episode I discuss each of them in detail as well as the actions you can take to ensure you are moving not just to the job offer stage, but to a place where you are in a values-aligned role and getting paid top dollar for your skills and experience.

Job interviews don’t always come after you apply to a job. Sometimes, you may be having a casual conversation, but your story and the way you speak are so captivating, that the person you’re speaking starts thinking about ways they could bring you on to their team. THAT is how you can turn a casual conversation into a job interview. In this episode, I share examples of how to do this. I also talk about the power of owning your greatness and why getting comfortable talking about yourself is the key to advancing your career and increasing your salary.

This episode is a conversation with Latina Leadership Coach Alejandra Thompson. We talked all things leadership, integrity, personal and career values, and community-building. We each shared our journey into becoming career coaches, what we learned along the way, and why it is so important for first gens and Latinas to invest in themselves and make bold commitments to their goals! We also talked about the importance of increasing your salary while honoring your values and uplifting your community. 

About today's guest:

Alejandra is a first-gen Latina Leadership Coach on a mission to empower Latina professionals to overcome imposter syndrome, get promoted into leadership roles, make more money, and feel confident. After cycling through 5 career paths in 6 years, she decided to stop chasing and start soul searching. She became an intern at the age of 27 then broke into career coaching in January of 2020. Alejandra lives in Miami with her husband and perrito Bentley Bear.

Connect with Alejandra on LinkedIn 

Website: www.empowHERchange.com 

Alejandra's Podcast: Latinas In Leadership 

Related Episodes: 

52. Do You Have a Savior Complex?

60. Networking is OUT. Building Community in IN.

72. Investing Wisely in Your Growth