Meet Gaby Garcia

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gaby Garcia a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Gaby, 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?

Resilience is like second nature to me now, but I know it comes from my roots. Being Mexican, it feels like resilience runs in our blood. I saw it firsthand in my family members growing up. My dad showed incredible resilience when he left us in Mexico to work in the U.S. and send money back. I heard it in his stories — how many times he tried to build a better life and create opportunities for us. I saw it in my mom, working hard on the rancho, caring for us without complaint.

When we moved to the U.S. when I was 11 years old, that’s when I had to find resilience in my own way. It was one of the biggest changes in my life — leaving my best friends in Mexico, navigating a new language, and even struggling with food that I didn’t like. Years passed and I decided to go to college so, I worked hard to save for my college tuition. I had no blueprint for what it meant to navigate higher education or corporate spaces as a first-generation Latina, but I figured it out — one step at a time.

That resilience carried me through every stage of my life. From building a successful career and reaching financial milestones, to navigating postpartum and the tender moments of motherhood, I’ve faced challenges head-on. Even now, as I embrace my Rich Motherhood Era and explore what it means to live with ease, abundance, and softness, I know resilience isn’t just about pushing through — it’s also about knowing when to pause, reflect, and choose joy.

My immigrant journey has been built on resilience. It’s a strong foundation that has shaped who I am today. And while I’m proud of how far I’ve come, I know there’s still so much more growth ahead.

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’m Gaby Garcia, a first-generation Latina who has built a successful career in corporate finance, specifically in corporate treasury. As a manager in this space, I’ve navigated the world of cash management, ensuring companies have the funds they need to operate and grow. It’s a field not many people think about, but I like to say it’s all about making sure the money moves, and moves smartly. Being a young Latina in this industry, where representation is still limited, makes me incredibly proud. I’ve had to be a trailblazer on this journey, from obtaining higher education to climbing the corporate ladder. This is proof of the resilience and determination that brought me here.

I’m also passionate about connecting with other first-gen and young professionals who are navigating their own career or education journeys. I know how valuable it can be to have someone to talk to, share experiences with, and learn from. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that we don’t have to figure it all out alone. So my inbox is always open to any professional that wants to talk through a career transition, wants to get any insights about a career in treasury, or simply talk about the challenges that come with being a first gen professional.

But now, I’m also in a season of balancing and reprioritizing. Since becoming a mom, I’ve stepped into what I call my Rich Motherhood Era, a time of embracing ease, joy, and abundance, both personally and financially. Motherhood has shifted my perspective on what success means, and it’s inspired me to explore new ways of making an impact. It pushed me to slow down and ask, “What actually feels good and aligned for me?” That’s when I started choosing softness and sustainability over hustle. I now view my role as a mother not just as a personal transformation, but a powerful lens for how I show up in my work and in the spaces I want to help create spaces that hold both ambition and rest.

While I’m proud of my career growth, I’m equally passionate about helping others. I serve as the treasurer of a nonprofit organization, using my financial expertise to give back and support causes I care about. I also find joy in empowering other first-gen Latinas through my personal finance community, sharing insights on building wealth, money mindset shifts, and making confident money decisions. That’s why I started my Instagram page, FirstGenFinanzas, to empower other first-gen Latinas with a confident money mindset I believe that understanding money is one of the most powerful tools we can have to create freedom and joy in our lives. My focus is to grow First Gen Finanzas into a community where people feel inspired, seen, and empowered, not shamed for past money decisions. I want people to feel like they have permission to start fresh, to learn, and to build wealth on their own terms. Whether it’s celebrating small savings wins, walking people through how credit and budgeting works, or unpacking scarcity mindset, I love building community through honesty and empowerment.

While my career has been a big part of my journey, what brings me the most fulfillment is knowing I can use my experiences to support others. Whether it’s through my work in corporate treasury, serving as a nonprofit treasurer, or having open conversations about money and motherhood, I believe in creating space for growth, abundance, and joy.

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Looking back, the three qualities that have been most impactful in my journey are proactiveness, courage, and self-commitment.

1. Proactiveness:
I’ve always felt that it was up to me to bring change into my life , whether that was asking for a raise, learning new skills, or raising my hand for opportunities, even when I felt nervous. That energy helped me grow into a leadership role in corporate treasury and build financial stability for myself. But the truth is, I didn’t have it all figured out at the start. I had to teach myself a lot, from navigating college to learning how to manage money.
Advice: Remember, you are the one in charge of your life. Don’t wait for permission, show up and take up space now. The moment you start showing up for yourself, doors begin to open. Even small actions, taken with intention, can create powerful shifts.

2. Courage:
Courage has shown up in many parts of my life, but one of the most defining moments was becoming a mother. That decision came with layers of healing, inner work, and reflection. It took courage to slow down, reprioritize, and shift into a softer version of myself, one that didn’t center hustle, but wholeness. It also took courage to start sharing my financial journey publicly, through my IG First Gen Finanzas, and speak to other first-gen Latinas about money, something that still isn’t talked about enough in our communities.
Advice: Courage doesn’t always look loud, sometimes it’s just choosing yourself, even when it’s uncomfortable. Think back on the situations you’ve overcame that is your evidence that you are courageous.

3. Self-Commitment:
One of the most transformative shifts in my life has been committing to my wellness and healing. After years of pushing through and doing, I realized that true abundance also means feeling good from the inside out. I started reading books that expanded my mindset, practicing meditation, and incorporating yoga and movement into my routine. Meditation, in particular, has been a game changer for my mood and mental clarity. I also seek therapy when needed and invest in coaches who help me grow and navigate different seasons of life. A huge part of my journey has been committing to building financial literacy, not just for wealth-building, but for peace of mind. Advice: Invest in yourself, you are your biggest project. Whether it’s learning how to manage money or creating space for your own healing, the time, energy, and resources you pour into yourself will always pay off.

Each of these qualities has shaped who I am today and continues to guide me through new seasons of life. Growth hasn’t always looked like upward momentum, it’s been full of pauses, pivots, healing, and rediscovery.

Growth isn’t linear, but every step, even the messy ones, counts. Trust your timing, honor your journey, and know that you’re allowed to evolve.

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?

I believe in aligned timing, aligned people, and aligned work. If something in my story or energy resonates with you, and you’re building something rooted in ease, empowerment, and purpose then I’d love to connect.

I’m especially drawn to collaborating with other first-gen creatives, money educators, wellness practitioners, coaches, or community builders who are passionate about creating soft, healing, and empowering spaces, especially for women, moms, and those navigating life transitions.

If you’re building something meaningful and feel that inner yes, let’s explore what alignment might look like. You can find me on Instagram @firstgenfinanzas or on LinkedIn

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @firstgenfinanzas & @gaby.rising
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielagarciaram/
• Other: email: [email protected]