Not Your Spicy Latina

Ever wondered how to make a career change and land your dream job? In this episode, Allison Mendoza shares her inspiring journey of leaving a high-paying career on Wall Street at 27 years old to follow her passion for fashion design, ultimately becoming an Associate Vice President at Victoria's Secret. She turned what began as a two-week temporary assignment into a 14-year career with one of the world’s leading fashion brands. As the daughter of Peruvian immigrants, Allison reflects on how she balanced cultural expectations with her creative ambitions and how her grandmother's entrepreneurial spirit influenced her career path. Whether you're considering a career transition or looking to grow in your current role, this episode is packed with actionable tips on breaking into a new industry, networking, developing emotional intelligence for effective leadership, and maintaining an open mindset when pursuing new opportunities.

In this episode:

- Allison's journey from a successful career in finance to pursuing her passion in fashion design, including how she navigated this major career transition at age 27.

- Her experience leveraging unpaid internships, retail jobs, and a two-week temporary assignment to becoming Associate Vice President at Victoria's Secret.

- Valuable insights on emotional intelligence, active listening, and leadership skills that helped her advance in her career. - Her perspective on taking risks and the importance of seeing the bigger picture early in your career. - Key advice for career transitioners on using social media to network, staying open to opportunities, and not being afraid to start over at any age.

You’ll walk away with practical career tips on:

- Saying "yes" to any opportunity that comes your way - even a small 2-week gig could turn into your dream career (just like Ali's journey from temp to executive!).

- Breaking out of self-imposed limitations and maintaining an open, growth mindset when transitioning careers or facing setbacks.

- Leveling up your people skills - emotional intelligence and active listening will take you further than technical skills alone.

- Putting yourself out there and connecting with people - slide into those LinkedIn DMs and don't be afraid to cold reach out (the worst they can say is no!).

- Learning how to connect the dots and seeing the bigger picture.

Connect with Allison:

Ever wondered what it really takes to find your voice and thrive as a Latina at work? In this episode, my friend Alondra takes over the mic to interview me, your Latina career coach and podcast host. We dive into my journey of moving to the United States at 14, overcoming workplace discrimination, and building the confidence to stand tall in rooms where I once felt invisible. I also share my vision for empowering Latinas through my coaching business, Latinas Ahead, and creating a meaningful community where we can all rise together. Plus, don’t miss actionable career tips on advocating for yourself at work, building social capital, and boosting your self-confidence.

In this episode:

• My vision for merging Not Your Spicy Latina with Latinas Ahead to create a meaningful community for Latina entrepreneurs, creators, and changemakers.
• The unique challenges Latinas face in building community and how to overcome them.
• My personal story of moving to the United States at age 14 and finding community in the math club as an immigrant high schooler.
• My experience navigating toxic work environments and workplace discrimination.
• How I gained self-confidence at work and started advocating for myself.

You’ll walk away with practical career tips on:

• Shifting away from the immigrant mindset of simply feeling grateful for opportunities.
• Recognizing and asserting your worth, especially when it comes to promotions and salary negotiations, to avoid being underpaid or undervalued.
• Actively seeking inclusive workplaces where diverse perspectives are valued.
• Forming strong relationships with colleagues from the start to gain respect and allies.

Connect with Fiorella:

Gigi is a multi-hyphenate expert dedicated to building thoughtfully curated, people-centered, and visually addictive brands. With a rich blend of agency and in-house experience, she’s driven impactful projects across digital, print, branding, UX/UI, content creation and more. As Director of Brand and Creative Services at BrainTrust Founders Studio, Gigi supports inclusive beauty and wellness founders, collaborating with brands like Cantu Beauty, Flawless by Gabrielle Union, and media outlets such as the LA Times. Based in Los Angeles, Gigi enjoys creative projects hosting dinner parties for her queer inner circle.

Chapters

(0:00) - Intro

(2:10) - Catching up with Gigi

(3:57) - Childhood and Upbringing

(7:30) - Navigating Dual Identity

(11:11) - Musically Inclined Family: Singing, Dancing, Acting

(14:11) - Family Pressure to Study Science

(18:00) - Psychology Major as Me-Search

(20:22) - Coming Out to My Family

(24:48) - Anxiety Post-Graduation & Making Ends Meet

(26:24) - Discovering Marketing as a Career Path

(29:48) - Gaining Career Confidence

(32:42) - Overcoming Imposter Syndrome

(37:39) - Being a Triple Minority: Woman, Latina, Gay

(41:38) - Current Marketing Role at BrainTrust Founders Studio

(43:06) - Benefits of Being a Generalist

(46:13) - Secret to My Career Success

(48:39) - Connecting with My Peruvian Heritage

(52:04) - Advice for Listeners

(53:00) - Connecting with Gigi

(54:20) - Connecting with Fiorella

Feel free to connect with Gigi

Adriana, also known as Adri Maria, is your everyday Bronx girl. As a true New Yorker, hustling is in her blood, with a relentless passion to succeed in any task. She’s innovative, personable, and pertinacious. With a resilient spirit and spunky zeal, she’s taken her talents across the US. Living by "Faith over Fear," she believes her path is already created and just keeps moving forward. Risk-taking has been vital in her life, and she loves sharing her story. Founder of @Catchmesaying, Adri Maria Consulting, and author of Regular Degular Stories About A Girl From The Bronx, she knows her success is tied to the success of others she connects with.

Chapters

(0:00) Introduction

(2:06) Catching Up with Adri

(5:17) Growing Up in NY and Mexico

(8:14) Hustler Mentality and Money Mindset

(12:31) Home is Where My Mom Is

(14:19) Initial Passion for Education

(16:05) Becoming a Social Worker

(23:00) The Ups and Downs of Being a Social Worker

(25:50) Code Switching in Professional Environments

(29:07) Starting My Own Business to Make Six Figures

(33:22) How I Work With Clients: Educational Programming, Coaching, and Workshops

(37:30) My Book Journey

(42:46) Healing Through Writing

(46:16) My Titles Don’t Define Me

(47:42) My Faith, My Life’s Purpose

(49:12) Advice for Listeners

(50:27) Connecting with Adri

(51:56) Connecting with Fiorella Feel free to connect with Adri:

Hilda Perez is a proud Dominican-American entrepreneur with a Master’s in Social Entrepreneurship and over 15 years of experience running a legacy business. As COO of SALUD and with a passion for social change, she dedicates herself to uplifting BIPOC communities and honoring her heritage. In 2014, she co-founded Savvy – Marketing for Good to drive social ventures with strategic marketing, and she actively pursues food equity and advocacy through ongoing education. Outside of work, Hilda enjoys hiking with her dog Sadie, traveling, and cooking – all experiences that fuel her creativity and passion for social impact.

Chapters (0:00) Intro

(2:20) Checking-in with Hilda

(3:20) Childhood and Upbringing

(5:47) Origins of My Family Business: SALUD

(7:52) Serving Latino Community Through Supplements and Natural Wellness Products

(10:46) How Can We Afford and Access Healthy Products?

(15:33) My Journey Joining the Family Business

(19:00) College Experience

(21:00) What is Social Entrepreneurship?

(22:34) Social Entrepreneurship That Actually Works

(27:13) Putting My Degree to Work After Graduation

(29:05) Launching My Own Business: Savvy - Marketing for Good

(33:54) Lessons from My Early Days as a Social Entrepreneur

(36:26) Protecting My Mental Health

(40:34) Returning to My Family Business as Chief Operating Officer

(44:00) Growing SALUD: Digital Transformation and Nutrition Expertise

(49:10) Ongoing Education in Sustainable Agriculture

(50:54) The Excitement of Social Entrepreneurship

(54:42) Advice for Listeners

(56:36) Connecting with Hilda

(57:47) Connecting with Fiorella

Feel free to connect with Hilda: