We recently connected with Carolina Mendoza and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Carolina, 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?
The ability to adapt to adverse situations depends on multiple factors. In my case, I have often had to be resilient in the face of what life has presented to me. My greatest challenge was migrating at the age of 55, leaving behind over 30 years of professional experience in academia, and arriving in another country without knowing what awaits you. Maintaining a positive mindset, being aware of my talents, and knowing that I could continue to use them to help others motivated me to seek new tools and face this new challenge. Today, I am happy to have overcome the obstacles that come with the immigration process.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
I am from Venezuela, an economist by profession, and a perpetual lover of my career. For over 20 years, I worked as a university professor in my home country, discovering that being in a constant learning process, imparting knowledge, and guiding others to achieve their goals is my passion.
Almost 5 years ago, I immigrated to this country full of opportunities, with the typical fears of an immigrant but also convinced that, although I left many important things behind, my talents came with me. So, the first thing I did was regularize my immigration status through my talents and successfully obtained my Permanent Residency through an Extraordinary Ability Visa.
I began learning about tax matters in the United States, finding a way to help many understand taxes and the importance of compliant filings. I combined this knowledge with my expertise in the economic and financial field, giving rise to my company, Carolina Mendoza Consulting Firm. As a Business Consultant, I provide economic, financial, and tax advice to Hispanic entrepreneurs and small business owners in the United States.
My services include guidance on creating businesses in the USA and their financial and tax management. I also support entrepreneurs in building solid and profitable businesses through business mentoring, considering all the elements required for success.
I offer talks, conferences, courses, and workshops in my field and contribute to the Latin American Association as a professor of the “Plan Your Business” course in the Advancing Together Program, aimed at Hispanic women entrepreneurs.
I am here to help anyone with a business idea who wants to bring it to life, teaching them how the business system works in the USA, guiding them economically, financially, and in tax matters. Immigrants can indeed be successful in this country, and I am a living example at the age of 60.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
When I look back and see the entire journey, I can identify, among many, three fundamental skills to be here. Setting clear and realistic goals and taking the necessary actions to achieve them, for which another essential quality is Discipline. Discipline is indispensable for reaching objectives, defined as doing what needs to be done even if we don’t want to, but being sure it’s the only way to progress. Lastly, the willingness and ability to be in a continuous learning process and adapt to new environments.
For those starting a business or any other project, I say always believe in yourselves, do what you love and what others are willing to pay for, be ready to serve others, take action to achieve your goals, and make discipline a habit.
What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?
My parents play a fundamental role in my life, and the most impactful thing they did for me was provide me with the opportunity to receive an education and attend university, along with instilling values such as respect for others, honesty, and solidarity
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @caromendozaconsulting
- Facebook: Caro Mendoza Consulting
Image Credits
Rockpthofilms Creativaphotography
