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From left to right: Ana Gil Garcia, Karina Llergo Salto, Trina Fresco, Leticia Romero, Evelin Freytas

by Trina M. Fresco

Latinas that Lead; an apropos title for the 2016 Latina Trailblazers event which took us to every real place no one talks about.  It has received so much positive feedback, that HispanicPro president, Alfonso Barrera, has launched an editorial series to memorialize the lessons learned.  We have all been to events where the panel promises to uncover the secrets to success, yet when we get into the thick of it there isn’t really much substance.  Instead, it all seems so simple and the people must have had sunshine and rainbows served for breakfast on a daily rotation.  Not so this time.  No, this time we heard the truth about how these Latinas that Lead had to forge their way through a history of violence, divorce, murder and extreme poverty to live their purpose.  It does have tones of a novela, but real life can be crushing and if you are trying to follow your dreams, it is almost guaranteed life will be really tough.  Throughout all of the struggles, they made it and I have the great fortune to tell their stories in hopes that maybe one person can exhale for just a moment in their turmoil and KNOW they too can make it.

The line up:

• Evelin Freytas: Agent and Owner-New York Life Insurance, President-University of Illinois Latina/Latino Alumni Association
• Ana Gil Garcia: Professor-Northeastern Illinois University
• Karina Llergo Salto: Arts & Crafts Professional-Karina Llergo Art
• Leticia Romero: Owner-Azul Holistic Spa & Wellness Center, Author-Today’s Inspired LATINA

Success certainly isn’t easy for Latin women in this country knowing we are compensated, on average, just 55 cents for every dollar paid to white, non-Hispanic men according to the National Partnership for Women & Families.  Imagine then, the cross-cultural navigation required for each of these immigrant powerhouses to own their journeys.  It is beautiful.  These Latina Trailblazers were put up against some serious trials: for one of them, just as the plan was coming together, a murdered family member flipped reality on its head and for another, the community had no faith in their pursuit of education.  Those obstacles only made for wiser, more determined souls.  Evelin, Ana, Karina and Leticia have developed much needed emotional muscles, so strong that the uncertainty which once attempted to hold them back is nowhere to be found.  They shared some guiding principles that can be added like ingredients to anyone’s secret sauce.

Mantras for success:

• Do what you say. Basically have the integrity to be a person of your word.
• Follow your passion WITH balance in ALL aspects your life.  Though it sounds challenging, the guidance for this mantra is to recognize the valued aspects of your life and ensure you are spending balanced time in all of them.
• Trust.  You must have faith to trust in your path.
• “You can have everything in life you want, if you will just help other people get what they want,” Zig Ziglar
• You can do anything anyone else can.  Success isn’t reserved for a select few, no absolutely not.  If another human being can do it, so can you.
• Kindness is free.  Being kind to people puts yourself in harmony with the world around you and ultimately the law of attraction will deliver kindness right back to you.

Advice to their younger selves:

• Words are empty meaningless vessels; don’t let that affect your life.  Sometimes the people we hold dearest say things that stay with us for far too long and can replay over and over in your head.  Ultimately it’s meaningless, forget it. 
• Invest in yourself with a mentor.  When you are young you think you have the answers to everything and a mentor can help evaluate your strategy to make sure you are making the most effective choices.
• Networking, networking, connect and ask questions.  Knowing people and people knowing what you do helps you achieve your dreams faster.  It is so much about who you know.
• Don’t get married too young.  There is enough time in life to wait a bit.
• Learn multiple languages.  We live in a global economy and learning more languages exposes us to global opportunities.

Remember that anyone can be a trailblazer, no matter the degree or the pedigree.  Who knows, you may very well be blazing a trail for the next generation to learn from your experiences.  Grab one of the mantras that aligns with your greatest opportunity to become your best self and know destiny is yours for the taking.  Mistakes might be made along the way, but that is precisely why we learned about the lessons the panel wished they could’ve told their younger selves.  Hindsight really is 20/20, unless you have a few generous Latinas who want to fast track your success.