We recently connected with Dr. Fabiola Riobe and have shared our conversation below.
Dr. Fabiola , 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?
My resilience is a gift handed down from the strong women in my family. My grandmother, who had little formal education, inherently understood the value of knowledge and instilled this wisdom as the matriarch of our family. She was a beacon of strength, showing us that education could elevate us beyond our immediate circumstances.
My mother, a single mother of four and a caretaker to some of my cousins, embodied resilience. She shielded us from the struggles of financial hardship, fostering a home environment where love and care were abundant, and limitations were scarce. I grew up unaware of our financial constraints, immersed instead in the richness of our familial bonds and the endless possibilities that lay before us.
These powerful examples of determination and perseverance shaped my path. They taught me that our beginnings do not determine where we end, but rather fuel our journey. Today, I stand as a testament to their legacy—a first-generation college graduate, thriving in a reality they once dreamed of for me. My mission now is to empower others, ensuring that they too recognize that their current circumstances or past misfortunes do not define their future, but rather, where they are heading does.
Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?
I’ve been on quite the journey lately, diving into the world of financial literacy and inclusion alongside my husband. It all started about five years ago when I realized there was a serious gap in resources and education, especially for women and marginalized groups. I decided to leverage my education background and business acumen to focus on a niche that was personal to me. Although my husband has been in this work for close to twenty years, this is new for me.
However, I know that is something necessary. I went to school and I got and MBA and a Doctorate; I was taught how to make money work for companies. I was never taught that outside of working for someone else, I need to know how money works so I could change the course of my family’s legacy. It was obvious, if I didn’t know these things, how many other women, black, white, Latina, all…who also don’t know these concepts.
What’s really special about what we’re doing is the stories we’ve encountered along the way. From single moms learning how to budget for the first time to young entrepreneurs breaking barriers in their communities, every journey to financial empowerment is unique and inspiring.
My grandmother and mother instilled in me the values of leadership through service. I feel like I am living my life’s purpose by helping others live theirs.
I am running a campaign called 90/90. My goal is to help 90 women in 90 days with setting goals, financial plans, and overall personal selfcare. It’s a challenge, but I am up for it.
I’d love to share more about the campaign and what we’re up to. We host a weekly business information sessions focused on entrepreneurship and personal growth. I welcome people to reach out to me on LinkedIn. It’s a great opportunity to connect, learn, and grow together.
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
Trust the process. I think about every time I was meant with an obstacle or was told no. My mother was just awesome, she always told me “No means Next”. She was right. The first time I got let go from a position. I was defeated but I knew I couldn’t show hurt, doubt, or fear. I busted my but in this role and did all the things like show up early and stay late. Then I was told I just didn’t fit the culture. I guess I wasn’t white, male or old enough. I mean I missed my daughter’s second birthday because I was at work. And yet, I still wasn’t doing enough. I left that director role and within a few months I was offered three different executive positions. I would never have had those opportunities if my head was still buried in a role that didn’t even see my value.
The next thing I could think about is my journey into motherhood. At the time I was working in a very business sales role and I was a producer. Again, my mother asked me one day, “what is going to be your legacy to this world and to your daughter?” She further explained that she has watched me achieve success and just be part of the “go getters” and “takers”, however who I am giving to and serving outside of myself and the companies I work for. What impact, positive impact am I making in the world. Her questions really to transformed my view of myself and purpose in this world. That’s when I made the move to more mission based work.
Finally the death of my mother was very difficult. I lost my bench, my foundation and felt lost. But again through the process, I was reminded of the legacy of resilience, defiance and purpose that I came from. It took time but I recognize that the values instilled in me by my mother – were already vested and part of my life.
If I were to think about the skills or knowledge that has pushed me through this journey called life, they are rooted in faith, self reflection and service, and never stop.
I would tell everyone that hard times don’t last, but goodness and people live on forever. That when they are pursuing their goals, they must do the necessary work in building their mindset and values, skill sets come along with that.
Okay, so before we go we always love to ask if you are looking for folks to partner or collaborate with?
I am always looking to partner and collaborate with people that share the same values as me. People committed to empowering themselves and helping others to make the world a bit better for everyone to enjoy it. People who believe in the power of making education accessible to others. For example people who want to learn more about financial literacy and share that information within their networks.
People who are entrepreneurial and innovative.
Contact Info:
- Linkedin: http://linkedin.com/in/fabiolariobe
