Angel Guerra-Chagolla, MA, is the founder and owner of two small national companies that were created on the foundations of education, advocacy, empowerment, and connection. She holds 15 years of corporate experience, including that as director of an international risk and insurance program for a global company.

Her mission is to disrupt negative or hierarchal cultures that exclude women or minorities through inclusive and positive education that teaches unconscious bias, inclusion and a plan of action for improvement. The goal is to remove shame and blame, which opens minds and hearts. She supports individuals in strengthening their superpower and confidence to shine.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"I always tell people, and they're like, Oh, it's easy for you. It was those tiny steps that I took. By embracing these small steps and allowing myself to be open and vulnerable, we can experience significant personal growth and positive changes in our lives."

Resources:

LinkedIn

Website

Let's meet Ana Roque in this episode. She is a Brazilian Licensed Realtor at Re-Connect, LLC, and she has more than 18 years of expertise in the real estate business. She is married, a stepmother, a journalist, and the Vice President for the Central Massachusetts Chapter of the National Association of Hispanic Real Estate Professionals (NAHREP). She is a trilingual woman (Portuguese, English, and Spanish). 

Ana is driven by her own ambitions, focused on achieving her goals, and committed to developing leadership skills via exceptional teamwork in order to leave a lasting legacy for her clients and her children.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"Do not let pessimistic opinions alter your plans for the future or your course through life. Never let their intervention stop you since You never know what will come your way"

Resources:

Website

LinkedIn

Instagram

K Sense Co.'s CEO and creator, Katherine Aguilar, was born in El Salvador but has lived in Worcester her entire life (Kommon Sense). She has a wealth of expertise in leadership, corporate growth, diversity and inclusion work, and speaking out for people who cannot speak for themselves. Katherine, a Quinsigamond Community College alum, graduated from Worcester State University with a bachelor's degree in finance and a double minor in economics and Spanish.

She serves as the Young Professional Women's Association of Worcester's Director of Community Outreach and Inclusion, the League of Women Voters of Worcester Chapter's Committee Chair for Equality, Inclusiveness, and Accountability, and the Administrative Executive for Worcester Pride. Katherine organizes many annual fundraisers for young girls and women in her hometown of Cuisnahuat, Sonsonate, El Salvador, and donates her time to her local church, New Wine Christian Center.

Brady, Khloe, and Benito are Katherine's three special dog children. She is also a proud aunt, sister, and daughter. She enjoys swimming, dancing, and cycling in her spare time.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"Determine your goals. Find a niche and stick to it."

Resources:

LinkedIn

In this week's episode, let's meet Veronica Madrigal, the designer, and founder of the Mekishico® clothing and lifestyle brand. Leader on the GeekGirlsMX® non-profit community that promotes women in business through technology.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"Believe that there will be a better time for you when things are tough because it will arrive, even if you can't see it now. Also, don't be terrified of the process; it's okay to feel discouraged. Feeling the pain while letting it go allows you to heal, allowing you to grow and continue to thrive."

Resources:

LinkedIn

Website

Twitter

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Rafaela Garreta knew early on that she would pursue a career in law. She came from a Christian family and received an education that was based on the values of justice and equality. She was raised in a highly educated environment and attended top-notch schools, including the Military-Fundamental School and the Technical Course in Accounting and Administration, where she received the support she needed to become an excellent professional. There will always be a family working to develop the profession behind a person of brilliance.

Rafaela Garreta made the decision to pursue a career in law and started her academic studies at Estácio de Sá in Rio de Janeiro in 2001. She is successful in obtaining her title granted by the OAB in 2006, which gives her permission to practice law and launch her own legal company in RJ. Rafaela Garreta established her legal profession in Brazil. She started her studies in the US in 2007 and graduated from Northeastern University Law School with a master's degree in American and international law.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"I constantly advise everyone to have an objective in mind. If you had no clear goals and only relied on what would happen, you would continuously be lost. I've found that meditation is one thing that has been quite helpful to me. My ability to recharge is substantially improved by meditation, which also makes me happy and creative."

Resources:

Website

Instagram

LinkedIn

Let's get to know the founder of the Supported Mom Initiative of Central Massachusetts, Tina Gauthier, in this week's episode! Her mission is to allow all parents to have the opportunity to interact in a safe environment through educational support groups that deal with a variety of topics and hold a variety of talks. When she had her children, she desperately wanted something, but our neighborhood didn't have it. She is a devoted mother to her beloved children, Charlie and Luke, and a proud wife to her husband, Casey. She likes to dance, cook, and do short workouts. She also enjoys a good podcast, and she is a sucker for good sunsets.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"I simply want to create a community where women feel supported and aware that they are not fighting alone. The notion that I can do everything on my own has received a lot of attention in our culture, but asking for help is never a bad idea. We are stronger when we work together; our strength is in our unity."

Resources:

LinkedIn

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Susan Burrell is the author of "Live Your Empowered Life: A 30-Day Journey Book" and the host of the inspiring podcast "Empowering Chats with Susan Burrell," which can be heard on various platforms like Apple Podcasts, Spotify, iHeart Radio, and others. You can use the Insight Timer App to enjoy her guided meditations. Susan is a fiery Scorpio (she even has red hair to prove it!) and a former actress who has learned to follow her heart and follow the Divine desire that keeps guiding her in the direction of her life's mission even when she can't see the way. She is an advisor at the crossroads of life and holds a Master's Degree in consciousness.

Susan has over 25 years of experience helping people change from the inside out via counseling and support. Because she has experienced this road to empowerment herself, her strategies are tried and true.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"I renounce the known and put my trust in the unknown. We live in a world of limitless possibilities, therefore when I was working on my knots, I let go, trust the unknown, let go of the familiar, and lived in the world of limitless possibilities. And I now use that as a guiding principle."

Resources:

LinkedIn

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

YouTube

Website

Born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, Senator Kennedy graduated from Holy Name High School and got her bachelor's degree from Assumption University.

Her internship at Congressman Jim McGovern's office provided her with her first exposure to the world of politics. After graduating, she got involved in his re-election campaign as well as the one to elect Ed Augustus to the State Senate. Her affection for the community they were creating grew as a result of door-to-door canvassing, getting to know the locals, and developing relationships.

In 2006, after devoting months of hard work to getting Governor Deval Patrick and Lt. Governor Tim Murray elected, she stepped into her first role on Beacon Hill as a Deputy Director of Appointments. From there she went on to the Lt. Governor’s Office as a Director of Policy and Interagency Initiatives, then a Deputy Chief of Staff, and a Deputy Assistant Secretary for Children, Youth, and Families. She gained greater knowledge about the effort required to provide services for the citizens of our Commonwealth every day.

She is devoted to making sure that no parent in our community has to choose between employment and childcare and that every child in our community has access to high-quality, affordable early education and care. She is working for these objectives as a newly elected senator. She also recognizes the long-standing regulations that have made it challenging to find and maintain housing, as well as the reality of how little new housing has been constructed in previous years and to ensure that everyone has access to affordable homes.

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"Run for office. If you have any interest in this field, We are frequently socialized to believe that we are too average or that we lack the necessary skills, and we've become so accustomed to hearing that we're not good enough and that someone else is better. However, there is a lot that women can contribute and bring to the table."

Resources:

Twitter

Instagram

Website

Daniela Acosta-Levin is a powerhouse Insurance business owner who not only is learning how to accept herself, but she is growing every day by focusing on the possibility of the 1%!

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway:

"The most valuable thing about success is that you achieve it at your own pace, whatever that means. Because we measure our success and sometimes our happiness against things that are neither real nor ours, comparing ourselves to the outside sabotages both of these."

Resources: 

LinkedIn

Maria is the founder and managing partner of M&A Supplier Diversity Consultants (M&A SDC). A dedicated consultant with over 20 years of experience in the public sector. She shares a broad range of knowledge and expertise to create compliant supplier diversity programs for M&A SDC clients. She is also a strong advocate of the Small Minority and Woman-Owned business community.   She worked for the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Operation Services Division, assisting the small, diverse business community with certifications, procurement-related workshops, and coaching sessions on how to sell their goods and services to the state and its agencies. In this role, she educated, trained, and certified over 1,000 small businesses and non-profits.  

Maria transferred to the Executive Office of Administration & Finance, Office of Access and Opportunity, located at the State House. In her new position, she assisted with developing and implementing policies and procedures to benefit the residents and the business owners of the Commonwealth. Maria is also the owner of the Refinishing Oracle in Acushnet, MA. She provides expertise in restoring, renovating, refinishing, recycling antiques, architectural elements, and all types of wood furniture.   She actively volunteers her time by providing guidance and coaching as a Certified SCORE Business Counselor with South Eastern Massachusetts’s Chapter (SEMA). 

Maria also serves as a member of the Board of Directors for Taunton Area Chamber of Commerce, the Women at the Well, Inc., and an Advisory Committee Member for the Bristol-Plymouth Regional High School. She relocated from Boston to Taunton in 2001. Her interests are gardening, listening to eclectic music, long-distance walking, Salsa dancing, and spending time with her family and friends. She is currently the only vegetarian in her family.   

Episode Highlights:

Key Takeaway: "FIERCE, always be fierce. There's nothing more breathtaking than when I see a woman picking up the pieces regardless of what anyone else is saying and cheering up others from the sidelines".

Resources:

M&A SDC