An Inspired Chat with Giselle Gonzalez of Western Suburbs

We recently had the chance to connect with Giselle Gonzalez and have shared our conversation below.

Giselle, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
Many people know that I’m a huge bookworm, and as a mom of a 1-year-old, one of my biggest hopes is that my son will grow up sharing that same love for reading. I always have a book nearby—whether it’s a physical one or on my Kindle—and it’s something that brings me so much joy. Recently, I noticed him starting to pick up books on his own, flipping through the pages with so much curiosity. It made me feel insanely proud, because it was a reminder that children really do absorb everything they see around them, the good and the bad. In that moment, I realized how important it is to keep modeling the habits I value most. It was such a sweet and encouraging reminder to keep reading and to make sure my son always has books within his reach, so that stories can become a natural and joyful part of his world.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Giselle González, and I wear a few different hats that all connect back to one core mission: empowering families and communities. Professionally, I’m a legal real estate expert at a nationally recognized title company, where I help guide families through one of the biggest milestones in their lives—homeownership. I’m also the founder and CEO of Monarch Notaries, a firm I created to ensure that underserved communities have access to professional and trustworthy notarial services.

Beyond my career, I’m deeply invested in community work. I serve on the board of the Raising Our Daughters Foundation, where I advocate for and support programs that uplift young women. I also run a monthly book club in my community, which is something close to my heart—it’s a space where people come together to connect, learn, and grow through the power of storytelling.

What makes my journey unique is that I’m not just doing this work professionally, I’m also living it personally. I’m the daughter of Mexican immigrants, a first-generation college graduate, and now a proud single mom to a beautiful one-year-old boy who inspires me every day. Everything I do—whether in real estate, business, or advocacy—is fueled by my belief in inclusivity, empowerment, and creating pathways to opportunity for the next generation.

Thanks for sharing that. Would love to go back in time and hear about how your past might have impacted who you are today. Who were you before the world told you who you had to be?
Before the world told me who I had to be, I was a little girl with big dreams and an even bigger heart. I was curious, sensitive, and full of imagination. But as the daughter of Mexican immigrants, I quickly learned the weight of responsibility and the pressure to succeed—not just for myself, but for my family and community. Somewhere along the way, I started to believe I had to be strong all the time, achieve without rest, and prove that I belonged.

The truth is, that version of me—the one the world tried to shape—sometimes felt heavy and disconnected from who I really was. At my core, I’ve always been someone who loves stories, connection, and creating space for others to shine. I think that’s why I’ve carried books with me everywhere, why I feel so alive in community spaces, and why I fight so hard for equity and opportunity.

Now, as a single mom raising a little boy, I’ve come back to that original version of myself. I’m learning that vulnerability is strength, that rest is part of resilience, and that I don’t have to perform for the world—I just have to be authentic. And by living in that truth, I hope to show my son, and others watching, that who you were before the world told you who to be is more than enough—it’s exactly who you’re meant to be.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
I stopped hiding my pain and started using it as power the day I became a mother. I remember being in the labor and delivery room with only my mom by my side. There was no partner, no co-parent waiting to hold my hand or share in that first moment. It was just me, my son, and the realization that everything about my life was about to change. Those first nights alone with him—just the two of us—were some of the hardest and loneliest, but also the most defining.

As a single mom, I didn’t have the safety net many women do. Every bottle, every sleepless night, every tear—I carried it on my own. But in that space of struggle, I found a strength I didn’t know I had. My pain became my teacher. It reminded me that I’ve been preparing for this my whole life. As the oldest daughter of Mexican immigrants, I grew up carrying responsibility early, translating documents, helping raise siblings, and navigating spaces my parents couldn’t. At the time, it often felt like a burden. Now, I see that it was preparing me for this exact role: to stand tall in the face of challenge, to lead with love, and to fight for a better future for my child.

Motherhood stripped me of the illusion that I had to be perfect. Instead, it gave me permission to be real—to cry, to stumble, but also to rise again with purpose. My son doesn’t need me to be flawless; he needs me to be present, strong, and true. That’s when my pain turned into power: when I realized it wasn’t something to hide, but something to transform into fuel—for myself, for him, and for the communities I serve.

So a lot of these questions go deep, but if you are open to it, we’ve got a few more questions that we’d love to get your take on. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
One of the deepest truths in my life is that I’ve never had the option to give up. As the oldest daughter of Mexican immigrants, responsibility was woven into me at a very young age. I learned early that my choices mattered—not just for me, but for my family and for the generations that would come after me. That truth has carried me through every challenge, especially now as a single mother. Even on the hardest nights, even when I felt completely alone, I knew I had to keep going.

Another truth is that my son is my why. I rarely say it out loud because it feels so sacred, but every decision I make, every risk I take, every room I walk into—I’m doing it with him in mind. He is both my anchor and my compass, reminding me of the kind of world I want to help build.

And finally, I hold onto the truth that my pain has purpose. It’s not something to bury or be ashamed of; it’s something I can transform into fuel to help others. Those truths—resilience, responsibility, and purpose—are so foundational to me that they guide everything I do, even if I don’t always stop to put them into words.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What is the story you hope people tell about you when you’re gone?
The story I hope people tell about me when I’m gone is that I lived with purpose, love, and courage. That I wasn’t afraid to turn my pain into power and use my voice to advocate for others. That I worked to break cycles and build bridges, especially for immigrant families, women, and those who often feel unseen.

I hope they say that I was a mother who loved her son fiercely and unconditionally, and that everything I did was with him in mind. That I showed him, and others watching, that you don’t have to have a perfect path to make a lasting impact—you just have to walk it with integrity and heart.

And most of all, I hope people remember me as someone who left spaces better than I found them. Someone who created opportunities, lifted others up, and reminded people of their worth. Because at the end of the day, titles and accolades fade—but the way you make people feel, the doors you open for them, and the love you leave behind—that’s the story I want to be told about me.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gisellegonzalezesq/