Not Your Spicy Latina

19: How I Built a Six-Figure Business and Quit My Job in a Year | Nicole Leon

In this episode, I sit down with Nicole Leon, a true hustler who's been grinding since she was 12 years old. From cleaning houses to starting her first business in her living room, Nicole skipped the traditional college route and bet on herself. Fast forward to today, and this Puerto Rican powerhouse has built two six-figure businesses—Lash and L Leon Virtual Assistance—all while navigating the beautiful chaos of motherhood. Nicole shares how she kept her business afloat through the COVID-19 pandemic, turned social media and word of mouth into her biggest strategies for booking clients, and redefined the American dream. In this episode: - Nicole’s journey from baking cakes as a 12-year-old hustler to running two six-figure businesses in totally different industries (no college degree required.) - How her first business, Lash, survived the COVID-19 pandemic and allowed her to quit her full-time job. - Her tried-and-true formula for business growth: authenticity, word of mouth, and the power of social media. - Plus, Nicole gets personal about choosing her own path—leaving a safe but unfulfilling marriage, starting a family on her own terms, and totally rewriting what the “American dream” looks like to her. You’ll walk away with practical career tips on: - Developing multiple skills through side hustles and gig work - Leaning into your strengths and superpowers to build unique business services - Leveraging social media and authentic word-of-mouth to organically grow your client base - Overcoming the fear of failure and ambiguity as an entrepreneur Connect with Nicole: Personal Instagram: @nicoleleonxo Business Instagram: @lleonvirtualassistance Personal LinkedIn: Nicole LeonBusiness LinkedIn: L Leon Virtual Assistance Website: NicoleLeon.co Connect with Fiorella: Website and resources: https://linktr.ee/fiorellalopezlima Book Free Discovery Call: https://calendly.com/info-71xn/discovery-call-individual?month=2024-08 Download Your Free Latina Career Playbook: https://www.fiorellalopez.com/latina-career-playbook YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@notyourspicylatinapod Follow my socials for career advice: Instagram (@notyourspicylatinapod and @latinasahead) and Tik Tok (@notyourspicylatinapod and @fiorellalopezlima) Timestamps (00:00) Welcome to Not Your Spicy Latina (00:57) Episode Overview (02:32) Early Hustle: Starting at 12 and Being Money-Driven (05:04) Challenges in Corporate America (08:13) Launching Her First Business: Lash (11:00) Navigating COVID-19 and Keeping Her Business Alive (14:08) Leveraging Social Media and Word of Mouth to Grow (15:36) Starting Her Second Business: L Leon Virtual Assistance (21:40) Authenticity as the Foundation of Success (23:43) Empowering Women and Building Community (25:48) Breaking Cultural Norms After Her Divorce (35:35) Redefining What the American Dream Means (37:38) Practical Advice for Listeners (38:52) Connect with Nicole (39:29) Connect with Fiorella

18: How This Immigration Attorney Found Her Voice Through Self-Love | Ana Gabriela Urizar

Have you ever felt like your life was falling apart, only to realize it was the beginning of something extraordinary? In this episode, we uncover the inspiring journey of Ana Gabriela, an immigration attorney who went from living in survival mode as a child in Guatemala to reclaiming her voice and building a successful law career in the US. Ana opens up about the moment her picture-perfect life crumbled overnight, forcing her to redefine the American dream and find strength she didn’t know she had. Along the way, she discovered the importance of listening to her intuition, putting herself first, and reigniting the fire within her. If you’ve ever wondered how to take back your power and truly find your voice, this is the episode you’ve been waiting for. In this episode: - Gabriela’s challenging upbringing in Guatemala and the transformative experience of moving to the U.S. as a teenager. - Navigating the tough transition from high school to becoming a successful immigration attorney, despite facing discouragement. - Her powerful decision to leave an unfulfilling marriage and embark on a journey of self-discovery and healing. - The pivotal life events that led Gabriela to establish a nonprofit aimed at empowering women to rebuild their lives and find strength after abusive relationships. - How Gabriela is redefining her dreams, focusing on self-love, and living authentically after overcoming life-altering hardships. You’ll walk away with practical career tips on: - Challenging societal and self-imposed limitations that hinder your career growth - Seeking mentors who inspire and guide you through your career challenges - Building resilience by learning from personal adversities - Pursuing educational opportunities to expand your horizons - Participating in pro bono activities or community service to give back while expanding your experience and network in the field Connect with Fiorella: Download Your Free Latina Career Playbook [https://www.fiorellalopez.com/latina-career-playbook] Join Our Newsletter [https://www.fiorellalopez.com/newsletter] ⁠Website⁠ [https://www.fiorellalopez.com/] ⁠Linktree⁠ [https://linktr.ee/fiorellalopezlima] ⁠Book Free Discovery Call⁠ [https://calendly.com/info-71xn/discovery-call-individual?month=2025-01] ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiorellalopez90/] ⁠Instagram (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠Instagram (Latinas Ahead)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/latinasahead] ⁠Tik Tok (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠Tik Tok (Fiorella Lopez Lima)⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@fiorellalopezlima] Timestamps (00:00) Teaser (00:23) Welcome to Not Your Spicy Latina (01:14) Episode Overview (02:07) Episode Kickoff (02:13) Upbringing in Guatemala & Survival Mode  (04:50) Moving to the U.S. & Family Dynamics  (06:53) High School Experience (09:03) Passion for Immigration Law (12:19) College Journey & Mentoring Impact (14:45) Navigating Law School (18:10) Career Breakthrough in Business Immigration (22:14) Personal Growth and Healing Journey (31:15) Community and New Beginnings (32:56) Founding Nonprofit & Empowering Women (39:35) Advice for Listeners (41:11) Connecting with Gabriela (42:03) Connecting with Fiorella

17. Job Searching, Resilience, and Career Tips from a BIPOC Career Coach | Alondra Canizal Hsu

Have you ever dreamed of turning your passion for helping others into a career that uplifts your community? Alondra did just that. As an immigrant from Mexico growing up in the Midwest, she faced the unique challenges of being a first-generation college student. Now, as a Career Coach and Founder of Soluna Career Consulting, Alondra helps BIPOC and first-gen professionals land their next job. This episode is packed with career advice: staying resilient during your job search, interviewing with confidence, exploring new career opportunities—even when it’s scary—and building a community that celebrates collaboration over competition. If you’re ready to rewrite your career story, this one’s for you.  In this episode: - Alondra's journey from Mexico to Iowa, where her love for education changed her life forever. - Her experience as a first-generation college student and the importance of finding your people. - How her career path from prevention educator to school counselor ignited her passion for impactful community work.  - Alondra’s fearless leap into entrepreneurship and how she’s building a supportive network for BIPOC professionals. - Actionable advice on navigating the job market, crushing interviews, and keeping a positive mindset. You’ll walk away with practical career tips on: - Turning fear into fuel to make bold career moves - Shifting from a scarcity mindset to believing in abundant opportunities - Finding allies and sponsors who help push your career forward - Breaking the cycle of competition and lifting each other up in the workplace Connect with Alondra: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/alondra-canizal-hsu/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/solunacareerpdx/] Connect with Fiorella: ⁠Website⁠ [https://www.fiorellalopez.com/] ⁠Linktree⁠ [https://linktr.ee/fiorellalopezlima] ⁠Book Free Discovery Call⁠ [https://calendly.com/info-71xn/discovery-call-individual?month=2025-01] ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiorellalopez90/] ⁠Instagram (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠Instagram (Latinas Ahead)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/latinasahead] ⁠Tik Tok (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠Tik Tok (Fiorella Lopez Lima)⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@fiorellalopezlima] Timestamps (00:00) Welcome to Not Your Spicy Latina (00:51) Episode Overview (01:38) Episode Kickoff (01:54) Moving to the U.S. from Mexico (02:47) Early Childhood & Education Experiences (04:32) High School & College Years (10:16) Journalism Interest Before Pivoting (12:14) First Job After College: Prevention Educator (15:27) School Counseling & Career Coaching (19:21) Why Representation Matters  (20:10) The Vision Behind Soluna Career Consulting (22:24) Job Search & Interviewing Advice (32:18) Mindset and Manifesting Abundance as Entrepreneurs (35:44) Advice for Listeners (37:22) Connecting with Alondra (37:52) Connecting with Fiorella

16: From Public Health to Podcasting: The Story Behind This Latina Travels | Bianca Alba

Ever wondered how to juggle a thriving 9-to-5 career while pursuing your passion project? Meet Bianca Alba, a public health baddie by day and a travel podcaster by night. In this episode, Bianca shares her inspiring journey—from working on the frontlines of major public health crises like the Zika outbreak and COVID-19 to creating This Latina Travels, a podcast dedicated to empowering women of color to explore the world fearlessly. We dive into her roots in Bolivia, her experiences as a first-generation Latina college graduate, and how she discovered self-love while starting fresh in a new city. With six continents under her belt, Bianca is on a mission to break barriers so more mujeres like us can take up space across the globe. Tune in for real talk on public health, travel, and balancing work with a side hustle—one passport stamp at a time! In this episode: - How this first-gen Boliviana transformed a CDC deployment to Puerto Rico into her dream life - The inspiring journey behind the creation of This Latina Travels podcast- Balancing life as a “public health baddie by day” and “a full-time traveler around the clock” - Real talk on breaking barriers in federal spaces that lack Latina leadership - Why time—not money—is the ultimate key to exploring the world You’ll walk away with practical career tips on: - Using your day job strategically while pursuing passion projects - Finding jobs and employers that fit your lifestyle - Building authentic connections and community before you even need them - Taking calculated risks in your career and stepping outside your comfort zone - Creating a sustainable career path that enables personal growth Connect with Bianca: LinkedIn [https://www.linkedin.com/in/biancaalba/] Instagram [https://www.instagram.com/thislatinatravels/] Facebook [https://www.facebook.com/groups/thislatinatravels] TikTok [https://www.tiktok.com/@thislatinatravels] X [https://twitter.com/thislatinaviaja] Website [https://www.thislatinatravels.com/] Connect with Fiorella Lopez Lima: ⁠Website⁠ [https://www.fiorellalopez.com/] ⁠Linktree⁠ [https://linktr.ee/fiorellalopezlima] ⁠Book Free Discovery Call⁠ [https://calendly.com/info-71xn/discovery-call-individual?month=2025-01] ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiorellalopez90/] ⁠Instagram (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠Instagram (Latinas Ahead)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/latinasahead] ⁠Tik Tok (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠Tik Tok (Fiorella Lopez Lima)⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@fiorellalopezlima] Timestamps (00:00) Welcome to Not Your Spicy Latina (00:51) Episode Overview (01:45) Episode Kickoff (02:51) Childhood & Upbringing  (06:39) College Experience as a First Gen Latina  (10:35) Master’s Degree & Starting a Career in Public Health (13:17) Self-Discovery in a New City  (17:01) Deployment to Puerto Rico & Career Growth (21:36) Creating This Latina Travels During COVID-19 (29:08) Balancing Full-Time Job and Travel Podcast  (31:35) What’s Next for This Latina Travels (32:57) Advice for Listeners (34:02) Connecting with Bianca (34:51) Connecting with Fiorella

15: How a Big 4 Accountant Turned TikToker Became a Nonprofit CEO | Sophia Zarate

From working at a Big 4 accounting firm to winning Bad Bunny's TikTok contest, Sophia’s journey shows that anything is possible! What started as a mission to make new friends in New York City became Corporate Pero Latinos—a thriving nonprofit and ultimate hub for Latino professionals. In this episode, Sophia spills the tea about quitting her corporate job, maxing out credit cards, and working at a gym to keep her dream alive. Now with 700+ active members, three chapters, a scholarship fund, and programs empowering the next generation of Latinos, Sophia is proof that taking risks can pay off. Whether you're building something from scratch or navigating corporate America, get ready for some real talk about grit, resilience, and the power of community. In this episode: * How Sophia went from small-town Texas to the Big Apple * The accidental birth of Corporate Pero Latinos (CPL) * The real (and sometimes messy) story behind running a nonprofit * All the cool stuff CPL does now: throwing epic carne asadas, helping Latino professionals level up their careers, and giving back through ESL classes and scholarships. * The behind-the-scenes tea on building a thriving community. You’ll walk away with these practical career tips: * Get your money right before taking a big career leap or starting a passion project * Build your network through genuine friendships * Don’t be afraid of "smaller" jobs: no job is beneath you when you’re chasing a bigger dream. * Use every experience to your advantage * Know when to quit and move on Connect with Sophia: Tik Tok (personal) [https://www.tiktok.com/@sophiealamexicana] Instagram (personal) [https://www.instagram.com/sophiealamexicana/] Tik Tok (CPL) [https://www.tiktok.com/@corporateperolatinos] Instagram (CPL) [https://www.instagram.com/corporateperolatinos/] Website [https://www.corporateperolatinos.org/] Connect with Fiorella: ⁠Website⁠ [https://www.fiorellalopez.com/] ⁠Linktree⁠ [https://linktr.ee/fiorellalopezlima] ⁠Book Free Discovery Call⁠ [https://calendly.com/info-71xn/discovery-call-individual?month=2025-01] ⁠YouTube⁠ [https://www.youtube.com/@notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠LinkedIn⁠ [https://www.linkedin.com/in/fiorellalopez90/] ⁠Instagram (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠Instagram (Latinas Ahead)⁠ [https://www.instagram.com/latinasahead] ⁠Tik Tok (Not Your Spicy Latina)⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@notyourspicylatinapod] ⁠Tik Tok (Fiorella Lopez Lima)⁠ [https://www.tiktok.com/@fiorellalopezlima] Timestamps (00:00) Welcome to Not Your Spicy Latina (00:51) Episode Overview (01:42) Episode Kickoff (01:52) Growing Up in Texas  (03:01) Moving to NYC & Joining ALPFA (04:56) Entering Big 4 Accounting World (05:49) Navigating Corporate Identity as a Latina  (09:53) Birth of Corporate Pero Latinos (CPL)  (13:43) Becoming a Community Builder (17:15) Establishing CPL as a Nonprofit Organization  (20:29) Financial Struggles & Mental Health (27:16) Finding Balance Between CPL and Full-Time Job (28:13) CPL's Mission and Pillars  (30:12) Advice for Listeners (31:02) Connecting with Sophia (31:50) Connecting with Fiorella