Andrea Guendelman, co-founder of BeVisible, has inspired me to highlight great Latinas and resources for Latinas whenever I can. So when I came across Vivian Nunez I couldn’t be but excited to share her entrepreneur story.
Join me in exploring inside the mind of this awesome Latina below.
Tell us about your entrepreneurial ventures and why you started them?
From the outside it may seem that I'm working on a lot of unrelated projects, but the truth is that they all fall under the umbrella of Digital Content Producer and Founder. Too Damn Young kickstarted my career as an entrepreneur in 2014. I'd just graduated from college, was grieving and knew that if I felt alone in my grief there was a good chance that others did too. Too Damn Young is a little over two years old now and since its inception we've published over 400 articles that add to the reality of what it means to be a young adult who has lost someone they love.
All of the other projects I'm working on fall directly under Digital Content Producer. I have the fortune of getting to work with other entrepreneurs and small businesses to make sure that their story online is on message for what their goals are. Since my passion has always rested on community building, when I got the opportunity to co-host Creating Espacios, a Forbes podcast, I embraced it. There's something really special about getting the chance to tell the stories of empowering Latinas that I wish I would have heard when I was growing up.
What do you like most about being a Latina entrepreneur?
As a Latina I'm lucky to have very nuanced cultural experiences that have molded the entrepreneur I am today. My grandma's example taught me the importance of having your voice heard and making sure that you are always listening as much as you're speaking. That's such a key trait in being an entrepreneur — if you're able to really listen to what's going on around you, you give yourself the chance to pinpoint problems that need solving or conversations that need to be started.
Who inspires you?
My mentor, Molly Ford Beck, is definitely one of my biggest inspirations. She has such a strong grasp on who she is as a person and they translate into the values that she anchors her career on. I'm also a big reader, so anything written by Brene Brown or Paulo Coelho's The Alchemist, are big inspirations for me.
What trends do you see impacting the Latina startup scene?
Through Creating Espacios I've seen more and more that Latinxs, especially Latinas, are making sure that their voices are being heard and that their needs in different market spaces are being met. Two of my favorite trailblazers that we've dedicated episodes to are Ana Flores, who started WeAllGrow Latina, and Patty Rodriguez, one of the founders behind Lil Libros. Both women saw that Latinxs weren't being spoken to directly, whether in the media or publishing worlds, and so they created their own touch points from which so many Latinxs have benefited.
What one skill or trait do you think is important for Latina entrepreneurs to have?
Any entrepreneur should be intentional in developing their ability to self-advocate for themselves. As Latinas this can be one of the harder things to do because we're so often encouraged to apologize or remain silent in our culture, so we have to first unlearn this and then begin small when it comes to building the foundation for self-advocating. I consider this the most important trait because for a really long time, especially right after you launch something, you're probably going to be one of very few who believe in it wholeheartedly, you need to be able to confidently speak on what you believe in and why it's important in this time and space.
What’s your top piece of advice to aspiring Latina entrepreneurs?
Don't be afraid to be vulnerable, some of the best growth comes from being brave enough to admit where you are and looking to others for support.
What resources should aspiring Latina entrepreneurs look into?
I would recommend checking out WeAllGrow Latina, BeVisible, Mi Dinero, Mi Futuro, and the podcast I co-host, Creating Espacios. Some of these resources will give you tangible advice and others will inspire you with success stories; both are needed for the harder days as an entrepreneur.
How can we connect with you?
You can follow me on Twitter and Instagram @vivnunez.