We were lucky to catch up with Efigenia Guzmán Domínguez recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Efigenia, appreciate you sitting with us today to share your wisdom with our readers. So, let’s start with resilience – where do you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from my dad, who grew up in a very rural and impoverished area of México. Opportunities were very limited, and for many, survival meant working the land with no guarantees of stability. Despite these hardships, my dad was determined. He refused to let his circumstances dictate his future. He worked tirelessly, fueled by a vision of something better, not just for himself but for his family.
What inspires me most is his ability to keep moving forward, even when the odds seem hard to overcome. Watching him persist, no matter how difficult things became, taught me the value of determination, focus, and hope. His example continues to be a guiding force in how I navigate challenges in my own life.
Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?
Before I started my virtual assistant business, I was running a product-based business called con intención. It was born from my passion for traditional handmade pieces, and I poured my heart into building it. However, as much as I loved it, I realized I needed additional income to provide financial stability while growing my dream.
At that point, I applied to over 200 jobs, but I didn’t hear back from a single one. Deep down, I knew why—it wasn’t meant to be. I had left my corporate job of seven years because the 9-to-5 life drained my creativity and energy, and I was determined to find a path that aligned with my values. Shortly after leaving, I had a major health scare that required emergency surgery. That experience shifted my perspective. It made me reassess not only how I worked but also how I wanted to live.
To navigate this new stage in life, I worked with a Latina coach who helped me uncover the next step: starting a virtual assistant business. At the time, I was already working on small projects for friends and realized how much I enjoyed supporting others through organizational and creative projects. It felt like the perfect way to combine my corporate experience with my passion for working with people and creativity.
As I built my VA business, I committed to staying authentic. I focused on working with women of color entrepreneurs—open-minded, ambitious individuals who value collaboration and alignment. I decided to stop code-switching or changing myself to fit into spaces that didn’t resonate with me. Instead, I created a business where I could show up as my full self and help others do the same.
This journey has been about more than just financial stability. It’s been about reclaiming my creativity, honoring my values, and building a career that allows me to support others while staying true to myself. I’m incredibly proud of building two businesses I love and how far I’ve come!
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?
Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful on my entrepreneurial journey are focus, alignment, and faith.
Focus is about keeping your energy directed toward your goals, even when distractions or challenges arise. It’s easy to lose momentum when things get tough, but staying clear on what truly matters can keep you moving forward.
Alignment means making sure that your actions, goals, and values are in sync. When you build a business that reflects who you are and what you stand for, it becomes a lot easier to navigate decisions and challenges because you’re grounded in your purpose.
Faith is the belief in yourself and your vision, even when the path feels unclear and scary. Entrepreneurship requires resilience, and having faith in the process helps you push through the moments of doubt and fear.
My advice for those starting out is to prioritize self-awareness and growth. Focus on becoming the person your business needs you to be. This might involve working through personal triggers or past traumas that surface during your journey, as your business often reflects your inner state. Practice self-care, find mentors or coaches who can provide guidance when needed, and surround yourself with a supportive community.
Tell us what your ideal client would be like?
My ideal client is a woman of color who’s compassionate, open, and ready to trust someone with her business. She understands the challenges of navigating white spaces and values working with someone who gets it. I love working with clients who are driven by a mission, kind, and great communicators—it makes our partnership flow so much easier! At the end of the day, I want to support women who are ready to let down their guard and create something amazing together.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://efivirtualassistant.my.canva.site/
- Instagram: @efi.guzman
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