We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Moses Lopez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Moses below.
Hi Moses , 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?
My parents always taught me to be myself and not be afraid to use my voice. At times it was difficult as being different or choosing to be a leader and not a follower can be lonely. It requires sacrifice, resilience and the ability to make your own path. It also means doing what has not been done before or to take things that already exist and make them better. Both my parents came to this country for better opportunities and had to pave their own path that took blood, sweat and tears. The outcome is that both my sister and I are college educated and are on our way to paving our own paths. You have to believe in yourself and in something bigger than you which in my case is God. He continues to guide and lead me. I truly believe in celebrating everyone’s uniqueness as there is no one in the world like you and I believe this is key. If you are able to stay true to yourself and be you, you can overcome any obstacle and not be deterred by criticism or gossip. It will allow you to stay focused on what is ahead of you and not what has already passed. Life is about perspective and having the right perspective is so important as it leads to success but more importantly you find happiness even in the simplest of things. If you stand out then you are doing something right as you have chosen not to be a copy but an original. Celebrate your uniqueness, be yourself and never forget where you came from all these things make you who you are. The world is a better place because of you, remember that! So the next time you walk into a room and feel that you stand out don’t be afraid just smile and be yourself the right people will always love you for who you are.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am a digital creator who creates content about k-pop, fitness, coffee, fashion and food. It all begin after the tragic and sudden passing of my dad 2 years ago. Creating content is how I heal and continue to heal. Plus I hope that it helps others who are traversing a similar situation as mine to heal or be inspired to be themselves. I hope that when people see my content that they realize the importance of being yourself and that it is exemplified in the content they create. I love sharing what I love through my content whether it be about the latest news in K-pop or a new and trendy coffeeshop in L.A or a fashion trend on the rise. For example when it comes to fashion I tend to lean toward simple yet classy clothing from brands like Zara or Buck Mason. My content reflects part of who I am and that’s why I love sharing it – it’s a glimpse into who I am and what makes me unique. Further, I have always considered myself a creative and at every opportunity I get I love to showcase the beauty of the world around us through my perspective. I love being a creative as you are given the opportunity to use your voice and in turn give voice to those that perhaps don’t know they have one. Art can heal us and I want people to know that for it continues to heal me. Apart from being a creative I also work as the DEI Coordinator for the Loma Linda University School of Pharmacy. I love that I get to work with students on the daily. Further I help coordinate the only Hispanic Center of Excellence in Pharmacy in all the United States which opens pathways for more Hispanic/Latino Pharmacist representation. As per anything new, I would love to highlight that I started my own creative brand called ML.TheStudio. It is just the beginning and right now it is just me running the whole show, but in time I hope that it grows into another opportunity to showcase who I am and inspires others to be themselves. I am excited to see where my brand goes, but always remaining humble. As the goal of my brand is to showcase my unique content that inspires others to be themselves and create a path of their own while also enjoying the journey.
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?
Being yourself, resilience and open to learning. All these skills/qualities are what keep me going. Life will always be challenging but that doesn’t mean you can’t have fun as well. You are given opportunities everyday to make the world a better place and sometimes it can be as simple as making someone smile. Also it’s important that you are teachable as we don’t know everything. The beauty of accepting that you don’t know everything is that you open the door to learning more about yourself, others and the world around you. You will uncover things that you had not thought of or imagined. It is a journey of discovery and as you embrace change and opportunities you will grow and realize that the sky is the limit. Further , you have to be resilient as life is not meant to be easy and you have to learn to embrace the challenge as it will only further develop you into a better person. Don’t be afraid to make mistakes as that is part of life and it is how you learn. Don’t be afraid to take calculated risks and to explore the world, you begin to grow at the end of your comfort zone. You will develop your own skills at your time so be patient with yourself and don’t rush. There is beauty in the journey, so enjoy it and learn from it. The problem in today’s society is that we want instant gratification whether that be with likes or followers or getting to the top no matter it takes. While getting to the top will take sacrifice and determination it should not be at the cost of others. We need to learn to celebrate other’s success and be content with who we are. We are all on different and unique paths, so enjoy the ride and be yourself always.
Before we go, maybe you can tell us a bit about your parents and what you feel was the most impactful thing they did for you?
My parents taught me to be myself and to celebrate uniqueness. That is the driving force in my life and continues to be. Both my parents are immigrants and they had to work for everything they have. They sacrificed so much so that my sister and I could get a college education and have countless opportunities that they did not have. My parents are my greatest inspiration and with the recent tragic and unexpected loss of my dad my determination has only increased to continue my dad’s legacy and make him proud. Further my parents have given me the gift of a rich and vibrant Hispanic/Latino heritage that makes me who I am. I will never be able to repay my parents for everything that they sacrificed but I will do my best to live a life that will always make them proud and creating a lasting legacy so that further generations of our family will have an abundance of opportunities and financial stability. My parents are a gift and I am beyond grateful to God for them, I am proud to be their son. Every time I look at my mom and remember my dad I get sentimental as I am reminisce of how blessed I am and the importance of honoring my father and mother in everything I do. I hope to be able to replicate how great of my father my dad was when I get the opportunity to be a dad. That to me would mean the world. I will always tell my kids how great of a grandfather they had and how I wish they could have been able to meet him but that when they look at me they will see him.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/m0_0ses/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/moses-lopez-mba-83132199/
Image Credits
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