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

Hi Sarai, is there a quote or affirmation that’s meaningful to you?
I LOVE the phrase “She believed she could, so she did”. I heard this phrase a few times in the past, but it wasn’t until my birthday party about four years ago, when my sister got cards with really cool quotes for my friends and family to write birthday wishes for me. One of the quotes was “She believed she could, so she did” and the message my sister wrote on that card was beautiful and very encouraging. But the most important part is that I saved all these cards in a box and about a year later, I opened it and read all the birthday wishes. My sister’s card was exactly what I needed to read at that time. She reminded me of some qualities of mine that I couldn’t remember on my own and that helped me to put everything into a different perspective and keep moving forward. When I think about this phrase, I remember that birthday, I remember all the good wishes I received, and I remember how sometimes we just need to be confident and believe in the abilities and qualities that God equipped us with to then just go for it. Go for that dream, go for that degree, go for that job, go for what you are passionate about!

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?
Professionally speaking, I am in the tech space, leading all the Human Resources efforts for a global company based out of Miami. I went to school for Business, specifically Human Resources Management and since then, I have been learning, growing and truly enjoying my profession and my current role. In addition to this, I am the author of She Thrives. A space to inspire and encourage women to thrive in life and live their purpose. This is my true passion. Motivating and inspiring others, especially women!

To say that it has been difficult in both, my career and this side project, is an understatement. I have had to work extremely hard, at times overcome feelings of inadequacy, and other challenges that have come my way. But the important part is that every challenge brought a lesson with it and all the effort I had put into it has been absolutely worth it. I have learned with time that hard work pays off, that things are not supposed to be easy, and that believing in yourself and relying on God 100% of the time is key to accomplish big dreams.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am Venezuelan and fortunately, Miami is full of traditional and delicious Venezuelan restaurants and bakeries, so the itinerary would start with a delicious ham and cheese “cachito” and a cafe con leche from Don Pan, or a delicious huge fried empanada and fresh natural juice from Parguito Gourmet at the Yellow Green Farmers Market in Hollywood. There is also a “cocadas” store (Venezuelan drink made with fresh coconut meat, milk, and sweetened condensed milk – Yum! ) called Fresh Coco that you can’t miss! The beach is my favorite place ever so the next stop would be one of the several beautiful beaches in South Florida. If you are already in Hollywood, I would recommend Oleta River State Park. You can rent a kayak and find your way to Haulover sandbar. The water is beautiful and you can take a volleyball to play and have fun and a small cooler with some snacks in case you get hungry. For afternoon and night plans, Wyndoow is the perfect place! You can walk around, see some cool and colorful murals, and take really nice pictures. There are several good options for dining and breweries, if you want to try a refreshing local beer.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My shoutout goes out to my sister, Valerie. She is nine years older than me and since I was a little girl, she was always my best cheerleader. She has been there for the good and not so good times, offering me support, encouragement, prayer, and her friendship. She actually introduced me to Voyage over a year ago, which triggered my interest in writing and motivating, which ultimately resulted in my side project and hobby, She Thrives! Through time, I have learned so much from her and by her example, I have become the person I am today. My career ambition, professional development, hard work, love for God, and love for others has so much to do with who she is and the example she has been to me. So yes, I dedicate my shoutout to her! To my sister, who is nine years older than me, but who manages to look amazing enough to make people wonder who is the oldest sister🙂

Instagram: @she_thrives_
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sarai-jaimes-mba-mahrm-58988756/

Image Credits
Manuela Moncayo  IG: @manuela.moncayo and Sarai Jaimes