Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Juan Pablo Santa Luna. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Juan Pablo, 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.
What an intriguing question. When the Universe presented my first genuine opportunity to assist my fellow man, particularly my Hispanic community in Orlando, I leaped at the chance without hesitation. Suddenly, I found myself at the age of 44, serving as the cultural ambassador for my Hispanic community, representing my people through my work at The Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, The Global Peace Film Festival, Mills Gallery, and The Harold Garde Foundation. Once the dust settled, I realized that much of the tension I was experiencing stemmed from feeling that I had made lofty promises beyond my capabilities. I had shared my vision of uniting people from diverse cultures here in Orlando to generate a positive economic impact. My original concept was that by making the Hispanic Community truly feel welcomed and at home in Orlando, they would become an integral part of the US economy, benefiting everyone.
What I swiftly discovered, and this became a key factor in overcoming my Imposter Syndrome, was that young Hispanic males began approaching me, inquiring about ways to contribute to my mission. It suddenly dawned on me that I was instilling in people the belief that progress could be advanced and a difference could be made.
I’ve learned that nobody is flawless, and that includes myself. I’ve also come to view failure as an avenue for growth and experience. For me, Imposter Syndrome revolves around self-acceptance and embracing my imperfections.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
Before I share what I do now, allow me to provide a glimpse into who I used to be in my past. Describing the old Juan Pablo, words like selfish, self-centered, and egocentric come to mind. I pursued only pleasure and paid little attention to culture, people, and the mental well-being of those around me. In fact, I neglected my own mental health. Moreover, I wasn’t content; I felt I had let down many of the people in my life.
When I was presented with the opportunity to represent my Hispanic community here in Orlando, I knew my life was about to change. Suddenly, I could discern how my actions were benefiting others. Upon meeting gallerist Boris Garbe, I learned my first crucial lesson as a Community Unifier: I needed to approach people with an open mind, treating everyone with respect and empathy.
Boris, who operates Mills Gallery in Orlando, has greatly influenced both me and my career. This man taught me the importance of overcoming my Imposter Syndrome and embracing the notion that we are here to support one another.
The primary reason I cherish my role as a Community Unifier is the interaction it allows me to have with a diverse community, understanding their needs and desires. My objective is to bring opportunities and success to my community while witnessing the blending of the American and Hispanic cultures.
I am grateful that one of my central messages is: You are never too old to discover your goals and your purpose in life.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
To be completely honest, if you can’t communicate with people, then you’re missing out on connecting with them. Effective communication is incredibly important. I quickly realized that explaining ideas clearly to others is not easy. . Many of the issues in my life came from misunderstandings, often referred to as messages being ‘lost in translation.’ At first, I thought this might be due to my bilingualism and not being fluent in English. But guess what? I never really learned how to talk to people properly. Good communication is like glue that builds trust among communities. When messages are clear and easy to understand, there’s little room for mix-ups or changes.
Now, let’s chat about two other skills I’ve picked up: Creative and Critical Thinking. Without these two, decision-making is like a puzzle with a few missing pieces. As a community unifier, I’ve found that folks who struggle in these areas usually don’t come up with big ideas or make amazing things happen. In my Unifier role, I try to bring some excitement and motivation to the diverse group of communities that I deal with so that we can all team up and build a strong, lasting economic future.
The third and most important quality is mature assertiveness and self-control. People with strong self-control tend to have better health, relationships, finances, and careers. They’re also less likely to let negative, self-destructive feelings mess up their lives. My advice for those starting out is: helping others is the only way to help yourself.
Alright so to wrap up, who deserves credit for helping you overcome challenges or build some of the essential skills you’ve needed?
We always need a strong, positive team of people around us who share our vision. I want to introduce you to a group of individuals who have transformed my life.
First and foremost, Jennifer McInnes Coolidge, the Director of Philanthropy at the Orlando Philharmonic Orchestra, deserves my heartfelt gratitude. Jennifer granted me the opportunity to join the Orlando Philharmonic and discover the profound transformational power that music, especially classical music, brings. Jennifer is not just a friend, but also a mentor who has enlightened me about the captivating beauty of music.
Next, I’d like to acknowledge Maxine Earhart, the owner of MAXINE’S ON SHINE. She has reinforced the idea of connecting with people through the medium of food, music, and culture. As Orlando’s top-ranked restaurant (as voted by Orlando Magazine readers), Maxine has translated her passion into making people feel,as she always says, sexy, comfortable and delicious . Maxine and her husband Kirt are cherished friends of mine, and I proudly consider their restaurant my favorite dinning spot in Orlando.
Harold Garde, an acclaimed American Abstract Expressionist artist, was one of the earliest champions of my work. This esteemed figure, lauded by critics globally, instilled in me a sense of pride in my immigrant background. During an interview for his show “HAROLD GARDE UNFILTERED,” he conveyed that I held a unique place in American Art Culture and emphasized the paramount importance of my role as a Unifier.
And like I mentioned before, Boris Garbe became the most empathetic mentor I have ever had. I learned from Boris that in order to have impact in a community, you must be respected by that community, And not respected for your accomplishment, but respected for by how you help the people around you.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @mr.santaluna
- Facebook: Juan Pablo Santa Luna
