Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Tania Velasco . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Tania, we’re thrilled to have you on our platform and we think there is so much folks can learn from you and your story. Something that matters deeply to us is living a life and leading a career filled with purpose and so let’s start by chatting about how you found your purpose.
I am a single mother of now two young men (19, 22). Setting a good example for them has always been my number one priority. I always challenged myself to teach them that the sky is the limit! They are my rock and keep me moving forward.
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 am the founder of A Touch of Light Events (A.T.L Events). ATL Events is an event staffing agency established in 2016. It provides high quality staff for all types of events: Coordinators, servers and bartenders. I wanted to create a staffing company that not only sent “people” to events but made sure that our team arrived well equipped and trained, providing excellent service and exceeding expectations.
I am also one of three partners at Cafe Biaani’, a cafe in which we seek to craft quality and promote tradition through Oaxacan inspired Coffee and Cuisine. I always dreamt about owning a coffee shop, where culture, art and promoting a good cause were the main factors. During the pandemic, the need for these became more evident. With the help of Dominic (my boyfriend) and Saul (my best friend and partner at ATL Events) we set forth to make this dream come true. We started our journey thinking we were only going to provide coffee services for events; however, the “what ifs” kept popping up. We found a location and realized we could offer food and went for it. From trips to our beloved Oaxaca for inspiration to building the majority of our concept with our own hands by painting every wall, sanding pallets, demolishing the drop ceiling, every inch was created with passion and excitement. Family members join us and support us in our crazy adventure.
The word Biaani’ is derived from the Zapotec dialect, and it means “Light.” Which for us represents new beginnings, positivity and a bright future. .
A year in we have seen our place grow to be a positive and community driven spot. We are able to promote culture, have live painting promoting local artists, and currently a part of our proceeds goes to “With Hope Foundation” a suicide prevention organization which we are grateful to be a part of. It is surreal to see the positive impact we had so far and how our customers have become friends!
There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?
The three things that have made a difference in our businesses have been: Staying genuine / true to our values, hard work and definitely being able to stay organized. In a world of technology and social media, it is very easy to lose touch with reality. I believe that having true connections with your clients / customers are imperative. Caring and honesty are a must.
Before we go, any advice you can share with people who are feeling overwhelmed?
I tend to shut down and isolate myself when I am overwhelmed. This is something I had to really learn how to cope with in the last 12 months. Things that have helped me overcome this are: trusting my loved ones and asking for help! knowing my definition of self-care, for me Pilates, my favorite spa or a glass wine will do it…haha, but mainly knowing how to communicate when you feel stressed- our brain plays too many tricks and it’s very easy to go in the wrong direction when we feel uneasy. Again, trust your loved ones, talk about how you feel…
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.cafebiaani.com/
- Instagram: @cafebiaani @atlventstaff
- Yelp: https://www.yelp.com/biz/cafe-biaani-anaheim-3
Image Credits
Eve Rox Photography (insta: @everoxphotography) Frank G Films (insta: frankgfilms)
