We were lucky to catch up with Alina Ugas recently and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Alina, thank you so much for agreeing to open up about a sensitive and personal topic like being fired or laid-off. Unfortunately, there has been a rise in layoffs recently and so your insight and experience with overcoming being let go is relevant to so many in the community.
When life handed me a professional curveball—being laid off—it felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me. But looking back, it was one of the most clarifying and transformative moments of my life. I didn’t just overcome it—I redefined it.
As a single mom, caregiver to my mother and brother, and a woman who spent decades in healthcare and mental wellness, I had long mastered the art of resilience. But this moment demanded something deeper. It called me to begin again.
Instead of spiraling, I asked myself the same questions I now ask my clients through the B.E.S.T. Framework:
Who am I without the title? What do I want this next chapter to feel like? What if this isn’t the end—but the invitation?
I got radically honest about what lit me up—and what burned me out. I leaned into my lived experiences and professional training, and turned my personal pivot into a platform to help others through theirs. That’s how 360 Mindset Group and the B.E.S.T. Framework were born—not out of desperation, but out of deep, aligned design.
So how did I overcome being laid off?
I didn’t just bounce back—I built forward. With clarity, confidence, and a purpose that finally matched the person I had become. And I now help others do the same with my B.E.S.T. Framework. Believe – Empower – Strengthen – to Transform
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 a transformational coach, resilience strategist, and creator of the B.E.S.T. Framework—a guided roadmap designed to help high-achieving women and professionals navigate life and career transitions with clarity, confidence, and purpose. Whether someone is shifting careers, stepping into entrepreneurship, caregiving, or navigating a life transition, I help them rewrite their next chapter, on their B.E.S.T. terms.
What excites me most about my work is witnessing the moment when someone realizes they’re not starting over—they’re starting from experience. That shift is powerful. That shift is everything. I get to help people embrace their journey, tap into their inner strength, and lead their life with intention.
Right now, I’m expanding the B.E.S.T. Framework into corporate wellness and leadership development programs, bringing resilience, mental fitness, and authentic leadership to the forefront of organizational culture. I’m also launching new workshops and VIP coaching experiences, and I recently wrapped up a keynote on mental fitness for the Los Angeles County Department of Public Social Services.
In short—this isn’t just a brand, it’s a movement to help people begin again with boldness, energy, and heart. Because your next chapter? It deserves to be your B.E.S.T. one yet.
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, three qualities have truly shaped my journey: resilience, emotional intelligence, and the ability to reframe challenges as opportunities.
Resilience wasn’t just a buzzword—it was a lifeline. As a single mother, long-term caregiver, and entrepreneur, life didn’t hand me easy roads. But it did teach me how to bend without breaking. My advice? Don’t wait for a crisis to build resilience. Start by honoring your limits, asking for help, and remembering that rest is a strategy, not a weakness.
Emotional intelligence—especially self-awareness and empathy—became my superpower in both leadership and healing. The more I understood my emotional patterns, the better I could navigate relationships, communicate with clarity, and lead with authenticity. For those starting out: journal regularly, get curious (not critical) about your feelings, and practice active listening. These are small habits that create massive growth.
Finally, the ability to reframe setbacks as setups changed everything. I learned to see transitions not as endings, but invitations. My B.E.S.T. Framework was born from this belief—that your breakdown can be your breakthrough. To strengthen this muscle, surround yourself with people who reflect your potential, not just your past, and speak about your future with hope, even before it’s fully formed.
You don’t need to have it all figured out. You just need to trust that what you’re building is worth the effort—and that you are becoming stronger, wiser, and more YOU with every step.
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?
The most impactful thing my parents did for me was bring me to the United States from Cuba when I was just eight years old. It wasn’t just a relocation—it was a reinvention. They left behind everything they knew for the chance to give me a future filled with possibility. That sacrifice planted the seed of resilience, courage, and gratitude in me from a very young age.
Watching them rebuild their lives with limited resources but unlimited determination taught me that success isn’t handed to you—it’s created through grit, faith, and relentless love. They showed me how to adapt without losing your identity, how to honor where you come from while reaching for where you’re going.
That one bold decision shaped everything I’ve become—and everything I now help others step into: a life where you can rise, rewrite your story, and begin again.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://360mindsetgroup.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/360mindsetgroup/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/360mindsetgroup
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/alinaugas/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@360mindsetgroup
Image Credits
Alina Ugas and Ling Lu0
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
