Meet Grace Ramirez

We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Grace Ramirez. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Grace below.

Hi Grace , thank you so much for opening up with us about some important, but sometimes personal topics. One that really matters to us is overcoming Imposter Syndrome because we’ve seen how so many people are held back in life because of this and so we’d really appreciate hearing about how you overcame Imposter Syndrome.

Overcoming imposter syndrome isn’t a single battle; it’s a constant dance with doubt, a tightrope walk between questioning your worth and owning your place. It sneaks up when you’re standing in rooms where you once dreamed of being, whispering, Do you really belong here? And in those moments, we have a choice—to listen to that chatter or to step out of our heads and into the space, anchor ourselves in trust, and let go.

I first felt it at MTV, surrounded by people who seemed to glide through life with effortless confidence—older, sharper, with a kind of coolness I wasn’t sure I could ever possess. I questioned everything. Did I belong? Was I good enough? But instead of letting the doubt paralyze me, I let it push me. If I couldn’t be the most experienced, I could be the most prepared, the most hardworking. I focused on what I could control—my effort, my perspective, my voice. And slowly, I learned that the very thing I feared—the feeling of being an outsider—was my superpower.

Then came the kitchen, where imposter syndrome thrives. At first, I was just an enthusiastic home cook, throwing myself into the art of food with curiosity and passion. But that wasn’t enough for me—I wanted to understand, to refine, to master the craft. So I went to culinary school and became classically trained. Even then, I still felt like I had something to prove, as though technique alone could grant me belonging. But food isn’t just about skill; it’s about soul. It’s about trust. About feeling your way through the ingredients, the fire, the moment. When I stopped obsessing over what I wasn’t and focused on what I was, I found my flow. I may not have a Michelin star, but I have a story. And that is enough.

As an entrepreneur, the cycle started again. No MBA. No business pedigree. But did that mean I didn’t belong? Or was that just another lie I could choose not to believe? I looked at what I had built—not by accident, not by luck, but through relentless dedication, through showing up, through the kind of grit that no textbook could teach.
Imposter syndrome feeds on comparison, on external validation, on the idea that we need permission to be great. But the truth is, we don’t. We have the power to decide what we focus on—whether we let self-doubt run the show or we step outside of it, anchor in our trust, and just be. I’ve learned that confidence isn’t about erasing doubt; it’s about acknowledging it, then choosing to move forward anyway. It’s about stepping into the space, trusting the work, and flowing with it—knowing that we are, in fact, exactly where we’re meant to be.

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?

I am a chef, humanitarian, educator, author, and TV personality, dedicated to sharing the richness of Latin American heritage through food. My journey has been shaped by a deep love for culinary traditions and a commitment to using food as a way to connect, educate, and uplift communities. Whether through cooking, storytelling, or advocacy, I strive to bring authenticity and warmth to everything I do.

My passion for education and community work led me to join NYC’s Chefs Council, where I help develop culturally relevant, plant-based recipes for the NYC Department of Education. I also collaborate with Aid for Life on workforce development initiatives, supporting efforts to create opportunities for those in need.

I’ve been fortunate to contribute to projects that celebrate culture and community, including the first-ever Day of the Dead celebration in Times Square. Along the way, I’ve been honored to receive recognition for my work, including the Excellence in Philanthropy award at the Grace Awards 2023, as well as acknowledgments from Cherry Bombe, People en Español, the City of New York, and the Puerto Rican Bar Association for my efforts in food access and disaster relief. More than anything, I see these as reminders of the power of food to bring people together and make a difference.

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?

Resilience & Adaptability

My journey has taken me through wildly different industries—TV production, corporate America, and the culinary world—and each one has tested and strengthened my ability to adapt. Working in corporate America, in particular, was like a boot camp in navigating the complexities of business. It taught me how to think on my feet, how to move through challenges with strategy rather than emotion, and how to stay steady when things get tough. The ability to pivot, to embrace change rather than resist it, has been one of the most valuable skills I’ve carried with me.

Organizational & Leadership Skills

My time at Nickelodeon, MTV, and Food Network wasn’t just about creating content—it was about learning how to manage people, communicate ideas clearly, and execute projects at a high level. Corporate America gave me a strong foundation in structure, process, and leadership. It’s a world that forces you to understand how business truly operates—the negotiations, the relationships, the decision-making under pressure. That experience helped me build the confidence to run my own ventures, manage teams, and create systems that allow creativity and execution to coexist.

Confidence & Self-Trust

Moving to New York was a defining moment for me. It was a city that didn’t wait for you to catch up—you either kept up or got left behind. But proving to myself that I could make it, that I could find my way in one of the most competitive cities in the world, gave me a kind of internal strength that I still rely on today. Confidence isn’t about knowing everything—it’s about trusting that you’ll figure it out. That you belong in the room. That you have what it takes to build something meaningful.

Advice for Those Starting Out

Pick one thing and go all in. Corporate life teaches you how to juggle a hundred things at once, but the real magic happens when you commit—fully, unapologetically. Don’t get lost in the paralysis of too many choices. Dive in, give it everything, and if it’s not the right fit, pivot. But always take action. Because experience—good or bad—is never wasted.

Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?

I’ve been fortunate to have incredible mentors throughout my journey—people who have guided me, challenged me, and opened doors I never knew existed. My experiences in corporate America, especially working at MTV, Nickelodeon, and Food Network, taught me invaluable lessons about leadership, teamwork, and perseverance. But at the end of the day, no mentor, no job, no external force can replace the one thing that truly moves you forward: trusting yourself.

And that trust isn’t something you’re just born with—it’s a muscle you have to work for. You build it every time you overcome your own obstacles, every time you take action despite fear, every time you prove to yourself that you can. The more you push through, the more confidence you gain, and suddenly, the impossible starts to feel within reach. But you can’t trust yourself if you don’t step into action. Confidence isn’t built in theory; it’s built in motion.

That’s why it’s just as crucial to surround yourself with greatness—with people who lift you up, who challenge you to be better, who remind you of your strength when you momentarily forget. The ones who have your back, not just when things are good, but when you’re in the trenches, fighting for what matters. Because while self-trust is essential, no one does it alone. The right people don’t just support you—they make you believe in yourself even more.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://chefgraceramirez.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chefgraceramirez/