Desktime Stories | Work, growth, and how people move forward.

Ep. 13 From Layoff to AI Founder: Sandra Sertel’s Latina Leadership Story

A layoff became the beginning of something bigger. Sandra Sertel, former Oracle and LinkedIn leader and founder of Tzun, shares how resilience, intuition, and her first-gen Latina experience led her to build technology that brings accountability to AI-assisted decisions. A powerful conversation about career pivots, confidence, AI governance, leadership, and believing you are more than enough. #DesktimeStories #LatinaInTech #AIGovernance #WomenInTech #CareerGrowth Centro Legal de la Raza [https://www.centrolegal.org/]: centrolegal.org Tzun.ai [https://tzun.ai/]

Ep. 12 The Magic of Networking with Rebecca de la Piedra

This episode is in Spanish, for subtitles in English, visit the Desktime Stories YouTube channel here [https://youtu.be/m-Wu7gDDKtw?si=XFT93XF8nfWBolwA]. Networking is not about using people. It is about building real trust before you ever need help. In this episode of Desktime Stories, Rebeca de la Piedra shares how genuine relationships can open doors, support us during hard seasons, and make our professional lives more human. We talk about referrals, empathy, follow-up, humility, boundaries, common networking mistakes, and why the smallest gesture can change someone’s career. A warm and practical conversation for anyone who wants to connect better without feeling fake, awkward, or transactional.  #Networking #CareerGrowth #DesktimeStories #Leadership #ProfessionalGrowth #Mentorship #WorkplaceRelationships 00:00 Networking Isn’t Asking for Favors — It’s Building Trust with Rebeca de la Piedra 00:06 Welcome to the Show 01:24 What Networking Is 02:53 Recommendations and Shortcuts 04:59 Listening and Following Up 08:50 Empathy During the Pandemic 10:35 Fake Networking and Boundaries 11:21 A Referral Story 14:43 A Support Network During Crisis 17:44 Humility and Forgiveness 19:06 A Lesson from September 11 22:24 Ethical Inside Information 24:55 Serving with Love 25:31 Everyday Connections 27:53 Practicing Awareness 28:40 Networking for Introverts 29:35 Humility in Business 32:47 Mistakes That Break Trust 35:23 Boundaries and Saying No 37:48 Doors That Change Lives 40:31 Keeping Relationships Alive 41:36 The Power of a Gesture 43:41 Stay Humble, Stay Hungry 45:11 Closing and Contact En Español 00:06 Bienvenida al show 01:24 Qué es networking 02:53 Recomendaciones y atajos 04:59 Escuchar y dar seguimiento 08:50 Empatía en pandemia 10:35 Networking falso y límites 11:21 Historia de recomendación 14:43 Red de apoyo en crisis 17:44 Humildad y perdón 19:06 Lección del 11 de septiembre 22:24 Información privilegiada ética 24:55 Servir con amor 25:31 Conexiones cotidianas 27:53 Practicar la conciencia 28:40 Networking para introvertidos 29:35 Humildad en negocios 32:47 Errores que rompen confianza 35:23 Límites y decir no 37:48 Puertas que cambian vidas 40:31 Mantener relaciones vivas 41:36 El poder de un gesto 43:41 Stay humble stay hungry 45:11 Despedida y contacto

Ep. 11 She Got a Director Role at 27 — Here’s How She Prepared

Lily Lopez, Director of External Affairs & Sustainability at Walnut Valley Water District and founder of Latinas in Water, shares how she broke into the water industry, prepared for a leadership role at 27, handled rejection, built mentorship relationships, and learned that true leadership is not about ego — it is about listening, building trust, and opening bigger doors for others.   In this episode of Desktime Stories, we talk about career growth, leadership, mentorship, emotional intelligence, Latinas in leadership, public sector careers, and how to become the kind of leader people actually trust

Ep. 10 Work Life Flow with Natalie Mendez

In Work Life Flow with Natalie Mendez, Natalie returns to Desktime Stories to talk about ambition, boundaries, motherhood, leadership, and learning how to enjoy the life you worked so hard to build. From career growth to protecting your peace, this conversation explores how success can flow with family, health, joy, and authenticity.

Ep. 9 Becoming the Coach He Needed with Carlos Martin

Carlos Martín, executive coach and CEO of Continuum Leaders, shares how becoming the coach he needed as a young Mexican American shaped his approach to leadership, growth, emotional intelligence, and helping others feel seen. In this episode of Desktime Stories, Carlos talks about finding your why, getting comfortable with the unknown, asking for help, and why great leaders treat people like people. #DesktimeStories #CarlosMartin #Leadership #ExecutiveCoaching #EmotionalIntelligence #CareerGrowth #PersonalGrowth #SelfAwareness #LatinoLeadership #GrowthMindset #LeadershipDevelopment #Coaching #Purpose #Mentorship #WorkplaceCulture