We recently connected with Dina Feldman and have shared our conversation below.
Dina, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
Witnessing my immigrant mother toil under a mountain of responsibility to give us a future was the most potent lesson in resilience I’ve ever received. With three kids on her shoulders and a minimum wage job, she put me through college. Her resolve was a beacon in the face of hardship. Her fortitude, etched in my memory, has become my armor, guiding me through life’s storms.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
At eight, we crossed the border from Mexico, landing in a land of opportunity that shadowed my family with undocumented status. Our refuge? Low-lit kitchens, where the sizzle and clatter of my parents’ toil became the soundtrack of my childhood. We even slept tucked away in a restaurant, lulled by the scent of fryer oil.
Maybe it was the kitchen’s chaotic symphony or perhaps destiny’s whisper, but the rhythm of food seeped into my soul. I dreamt of wielding the ladle, not just stirring the pot, but my own future. But whispers of risk and low wages echoed in the industry, drowning out my culinary dreams. So, I traded the clatter of pots for the quiet hum of academia, earning a BA in Psychology and a Master’s degree, eventually building a successful career as a Board Certified Behavior Analyst. Yet, the embers of culinary dreams flickered beneath the surface, refusing to be smothered. In 2017, I took a leap of faith, trading my secure haven for the joy of sharing my creations. Feel Good Salsa, a line of fresh, farm-to-table salsas, was born. It was a gamble, yes, but one fueled by the lessons of sacrifice and resilience I learned in those smoky kitchens.
However, my journey hasn’t just been about me; it has been about building community and serving others. In 2018, I opened Long Beach’s first shared commercial kitchen, a haven for budding food entrepreneurs. And in 2020, I co-founded Sowing Seeds of Change, a non-profit urban farm empowering marginalized youth. Each step – from immigrant child in a smoky kitchen to salsa chef and entrepreneur, to community builder – has been fueled by the lessons learned at my mom’s side. It’s a story of resilience, of chasing dreams, and of proving that even the simplest ingredients can be transformed into a feast of success.
My life’s purpose is build–Imagine a world where passions ignite like sparks, catching fire and illuminating the path for others. I see myself as the catalyst, the spark that sets off a chain reaction of dreams taking flight. My mission is to build spaces where creativity thrives, communities where support and encouragement fan the flames of ambition. In these vibrant ecosystems, individuals blossom, their unique talents nurtured and unleashed to paint the world with their brilliance.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My journey has been a map etched with question marks, but fear of the unknown no longer clouds my path. I’ve learned that ignorance isn’t a flaw, but a bridge to understanding. When I stand at the precipice of not knowing, I don’t shrink back. I reach out with curiosity, searching for answers and seeking solutions.
When asking for help once felt like relinquishing control, I now see it as weaving a tapestry of strength. Each thread, a hand extended, a voice offering counsel, strengthens the fabric of my journey. Vulnerability isn’t a tear in the canvas, it’s the vibrant thread that binds us together, a reminder that we are not alone, we are all in this together.
Failure used to be a heavy weight of despair, leaving me adrift in doubt. But now I see it as fertile ground, where lessons sprout like wildflowers. Every misstep, every stumble, becomes a furrow in the soil, ready to be nurtured with reflection and determination. Failure isn’t a tombstone, it’s a whispered promise of growth, a chance to rewrite the story, to rise from the ashes with wings of wisdom and resilience.
The best advice I can give folks is to imagine your entrepreneurial journey as a garden. The seeds of your dreams are sown, but they won’t thrive without sunlight and fertile soil. That’s where your cheerleaders come in. They are the warm sunbeams, nurturing your growth with encouragement and belief. They are the rich compost, turning your setbacks into opportunities for resilience. Don’t go it alone, be a part of a vibrant garden of support, where each plant lifts the others towards the sky.
Alright, so before we go we want to ask you to take a moment to reflect and share what you think you would do if you somehow knew you only had a decade of life left?
This question cracks my soul open, spilling out dreams I haven’t even dreamed yet! Faced with a finite horizon, I’d approach life with greater boldness and a relentless pursuit to serve others leaving a legacy of love etched in every footprint of my path here on earth.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.feelgoodsalsakitchen.com
- Instagram: @feel.good,enterprises
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/dina-feldmanfeelgoodenterprises/
Image Credits
Jose Cordon, Anthony Puente, Leon Ofsky, InterTrend Lab
