We were lucky to catch up with Dayana Hurtado and Alejandra Valdez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Dayana and Alejandra, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?
Embolden is a Latina-led entrepreneur’s network founded by two business owners looking to change the face of business networks in our community. We both grew up in spaces where we were the only ones that looked like us. Despite us feeling like we didn’t fit in, we continued to show up and let our voice be heard. Rather than defining us, we learned early on that our experiences gave us a unique perspective and drive.
Embracing what makes us unique has given us the confidence when we step into a room knowing that we bring a different representation.
Appreciate the insights and wisdom. Before we dig deeper and ask you about the skills that matter and more, maybe you can tell our readers about yourself?
Embolden is an entrepreneur’s network with a commitment to empower high performers by providing business education and resources to grow their business. Through our curated events, we create a space where ideas flourish, networks expand and knowledge is shared.
We hosts monthly events designed for entrepreneurs to connect and learn. These gatherings blend networking with essential education, giving you the tools and support needed to grow and scale your business. These events are typically scheduled during the third or fourth week of each month, with announcements made at the beginning of every month. To stay updated on all our events, sign up for our newsletter or follow us on social media.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
1. Being a visionary is an integral quality to have as an entrepreneurs. It gives you a clear vision of what you’re working towards and when obstacles come your way, it pushes you to overcome. For anyone trying to be an entrepreneur, the biggest thing is taking the first step towards your goals and dreams. Being a visionary comes from within, it’s just a matter of taking a chance on yourself.
2. Delegating is an important skillset to have. As an entrepreneur, you understand that you will not be able to be the best at everything, especially if you’re trying to build a multi-million dollar empire. As a business owner you have to be able to work in your zone of genius and learn to trust others to do the rest. In order to develop this, it’s important to understand your vision, get others to buy into your vision and begin to let go of the small things.
3. Building relationships has been vital to our journey of building community. It’s important to nourish relationships along your journey, not just when you need them. For those looking to get started, we encourage you to step out of your comfort zone and join networking groups. Always keep in mind, this is a two way relationship — don’t just show up to “take”.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
We are looking for like-minded businesses who are wanting to help entrepreneurs, to join us on our journey in helping us create more financial resources within our community. Whether it is donating to our scholarship fund, hosting us in their space or collaborating with us on events. You can connect with us directly at embolden22@gmail.com.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/emboldennetwork
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/emboldennetwork
Image Credits
Photography by Mitera Photography (first image of us two) and the rest are by Lucero Studios
