Meet Sara Diaz | Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Life & Transition Coach

We had the good fortune of connecting with Sara Diaz and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Sara, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
My business is called The First Gen Madrina (godmother in English). It provides programming opportunities for the first-generation community on topics such as mental health, managing imposter syndrome, managing burnout, building a self-care plan and much more! I work with colleges and universities to support students, but I also have a coaching practice for professionals that are in a period of transition or looking to make a pivot.

I originally started my business on the side while navigating a traditional social work job during the day. I did this for about a year and a half and realized that my full-time job was actually limiting my potential to do a lot more with my business. I didn’t want to limit myself to working with just one college or university, when I can contract with multiple and have more impact on the college students that I am serving. This opened up so many doors and opportunities. As a first gen myself, this was not something that was easy to do. I had to break through limiting beliefs, leave that scarcity mindset behind, and start finding my purpose. Ultimately, this allowed me to take the leap of faith and quit my 9-5 to pursue my business full time.

Another thought process behind starting my own business was that I wanted more for myself financially. I was tired of hearing about the stigma regarding social workers being underpaid, and I wanted to change that narrative. I want to build financial security for myself, while also thinking about building generational wealth! We need to have more conversations like this within our community.

What should our readers know about your business?
The First Gen Madrina represents the person that I wish I had while I was navigating college for the first time. My parents were both born in Cuba and did not have the opportunity to obtain a college degree. I was the first to finish college, and I did it with very little support aside from my family. I didn’t know that I was a first-generation college student and was unfortunately not connected to any resources while I was in sch0ol. I also navigated college while managing a diagnosis of Generalized Anxiety Disorder. I ended up graduating with a degree in Social Work and eventually became a licensed clinical social worker. I knew I wanted to give back and support my community so The First Gen Madrina was created so that I could be that person that I wish I had while I was in school. I want to be that person that anyone can go to for emotional support as well as resources.

My business now serves both college students and professionals. I partner with colleges and universities to provide workshops for students on topics such as managing your mental health, navigating imposter syndrome, how to manage your time so that you don’t burnout and how to create a self-care plan if you need additional support. I also work with professionals because I started to realize that you don’t stop being first gen when you graduate college. You enter what I call “a lifetime of firsts”. With this, I started a coaching program for first-generation professionals who are experiencing certain life challenges and transitions as the first to do so. I educate them and provide them with resources on their journey so that they can live the life of their dreams!

I truly believe that what sets me apart from others is that I am also a first gen that is helping other first gens. I know the specific pain points that our community experiences and can give back with the resources that I have collected along my own journey. As a social worker, I also have the unique opportunity to support first gens with their emotional wellness. Most first gens come from cultures where there is still a stigma attached to mental health, and I want to be that Madrina or godmother that a first gen can go to when they might not be able to have these conversations with their families.

I will end with this; it is not an easy journey. The best lesson that I have learned is that it is a journey not a race. There are certain things, like imposter syndrome, that we cannot overcome, but we can learn how to manage it so that we can still reach our full potential. This is an experience that I continue to navigate along my own journey, while learning and growing from my community. Just because something is scary, doesn’t mean that it should hold us back. We don’t know what our potential is until we give it a try, and what better way to do it than with a Madrina in your corner?

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This is an awesome question! I recently moved to Miami as of September of last year, but I have found a couple great spots! One of my favs is Bulla, a Tapas restaurant, in Coral Gables. The food is amazing here and the environment is perfect! They actually have a few spots around Florida so check out the one closest to you!

I do have to give a special shoutout to my Cuban familia as Miami is rich with Cuban culture. I am always proud to immerse my friends that are visiting in the Cuban culture and cuisine that Miami has to offer. My top two favorite spots include Islas Canarias in Kendall and La Sin Rival Bakery on 8th street. Since my mom’s family has lived in Miami for some time, these two spots will always remind me of home and my culture. For more of a cultural feel, visit Calle 8, the Freedom Tower, The Bay of Pigs Museum, and other cultural locations. Learn more about our story and what has brought some of us here. I am so honored to pass down the legacy and history of my community as a way to build hope and awareness to my home away from home. Go check it out!

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Yes! I would love to give a shoutout to all the jefas in the Jefa Circle! This group is led by the amazing Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda, who has been my business strategist/consultant since the beginning of the year. Before I started my business, I had a lot of imposter syndrome on how I was going to start the process. Her book, Jefa in Training, made it so easy to take the leap! Ashley leads a group of amazing Latina entrepreneurs who have become like family to me. They are there for me when I have a business question and when I need emotional support on the difficult days. I cannot imagine having to navigate my business without them!

Lastly, I want to shoutout Dr. Esther Zeledon, who is also a part of the Jefa Circle and introduced me to Shoutout Miami! She is an amazing person and her business Be.Act.Change is doing amazing work! Check her out!

Website: https://thefirstgenmadrina.com

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

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sara-diaz-lcsw

Other: You can find my podcast, The First Gen Madrina Podcast, on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and iHeartRadio!