We had the good fortune of connecting with Ilhiana Rojas Saldana and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Ilhiana, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
I would say three core things:

– Embracing who I am and being true to my core values, beliefs, and purpose. Throughout my life, there have been moments when I have doubted myself or adapted to fit what others have expected of me; however, when I believe in myself and stand true to who I am, things fall into place, and I thrive.

– Learning to elevate my voice. As an introvert, advocating for myself is not easy, but over time I’ve learned that nobody will know if we don’t self-advocate, no matter how good we are, and you become the world’s greatest secret, and this serves no one.

– Building a robust strategic network of incredible women and men who have been my mentors, sponsors, advocates, advisors, and even cheerleaders. I’ve learned that although you can achieve success on your own, it is easier and more fun when you have an incredible group of people around you who helps you increase your visibility, credibility, and recognition.

In addition, I have to admit that I’ve always been attracted to unconventional challenges and am always open to explore new opportunities which has led me to constantly move out of my comfort zone, no matter how nerve wrecking it may be.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Currently, I am a proud entrepreneur of two businesses: BeLIVE Coaching and Consulting (I am the Founder & Owner), and United Latinas, where I am the Co-President with an incredible partner.

If someone had told me many years ago that I would have my businesses, I would have said they were crazy (it was something that I never imagined possible). I had a very successful career in Corporate for over 20 years and have always envisioned myself retiring from a corporate career. However, after 20 years, it became a job, and working for a paycheck was no longer enough. So after several years of trying to figure out what would be the next phase of my life, I decided to take the risk and start my own company BeLIVE. I realized that building my teams to become high-performing teams and leaders to become high-performing leaders was what I loved to do, and I realized this is what I wanted to do full-time and not just a part of a role.

That is the core of BeLIVE – a professional development, leadership, and DEIB coaching and consulting practice that focuses on the meaningful transformation of professionals, leaders, and the culture of entire organizations. Our coaching programs and solutions empower professionals and teams to transform from the inside out by: a) Embracing their purpose and align it with their work; b) Leveraging their strengths & motivators to maximize performance; c) Elevating their voice to influence and drive change; and d) Develop powerful relationships for improved teamwork & collaboration.

In addition, my strong commitment to advocating for equity and supporting initiatives centered on empowering women and Hispanic communities led me to partner with Sandra Noemi Torres original founder of United Latinas. United Latinas is a collaborative organization devoted to empowering, amplifying, and connecting Hispanic Women and allies to elevate their leadership impact and presence by providing upskilling workshops, mentoring, leadership & professional development opportunities, visibility, networking, and community-building platforms and programs.

Finally, I love to support and create impact through different organizations that align with my mission and purpose. I currently serve as Chief Development Officer for ALPFA (Association of Latino Professionals for America) Boston Chapter, Vicepresident of the Board for the National Wellness Institute, and Founding Board Member of Thousand Faces. I also serve as an advisor for the Rhode Island Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, WOC Advisory Council for NextUp, WiseHer Founding Advisory Board, Center for Women & Enterprise (CWE), and Social Enterprise Greenhouse (SEG) to support their D&I initiatives and programs.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
My work takes me to different places around the US and in other countries, therefore when I am home, I like to stay home with my family, so I don’t go out much. When friends visit over we like to stay home and have a cook out and enjoy the moment.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
Uff. This is a tough one since I have a long list of people and organizations that deserve more than a little bit of credit.

If I have to narrow it down, I would say Valerie Zolezzi-Wyndham, Sandra Noemi Torres and Maritza Coscarelli, as well as ALPFA – Association of Latino Professionals for America.

And of course my incredible husband and two kids. Without their support and love I would not be where I am today.

Website: https://www.belivecoachingandconsulting.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/belivecoaching/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/ilhiana-rojas7/

Other: https://www.unitedlatinas.com/

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