We’re looking forward to introducing you to Rocio Diaz. Check out our conversation below.
Good morning Rocio, it’s such a great way to kick off the day – I think our readers will love hearing your stories, experiences and about how you think about life and work. Let’s jump right in? Have you ever been glad you didn’t act fast?
I definitely feel glad I haven’t acted upon impulse because it can be easy to fall into trends or compare myself and my business to what others are doing but I try to always remember to slow down and focus on authenticity.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Rocio Diaz. I am from South Central Los Angeles, California. Recently, I began a home based coffee cart pop up with my partner Jose Avalos. We named it Iyali Coffee after our one and a half year old daughter Violeta Iyali. We offer specialty coffee with homemade syrups, matcha, lemonade, and homemade pastries. We felt that there was a need in our neighborhood for this type of offering because there wasn’t anything like it before us. We also began our coffee shop to host events for the community such as open mics, workshops, collaborations, and more. We love music, dance, and art and wanted to have a space where we could gather with other artists.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What relationship most shaped how you see yourself?
Motherhood has entirely shaped how I see myself today. I’ve found much deeper meaning in the things I do and I am much more intentional with how I run my business because of it. I am setting an example for my daughter, for other mothers, and families. It’s a great privilege to be able to share glimpses of how I’m managing to run a business, be a mom, a partner, a homemaker, and also connect with others who may be in similar situations or are inspired by us to begin a business of their own. My daughter is the life force of my entrepreneurship. There is no fear or doubt that it stronger than the power and motivation she gives me to keep learning and growing.
When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
With social media being such a powerful tool, I’ve enjoyed being able to use moments of struggle to create authentic content and have people relate to those difficult situations. It’s easy to share happy and successful moments with the public but there is a lot of power in being vulnerable and real about the ups and downs of being a mother, business owner, and partner. There is a lot of opportunity to connect with fellow business owners, customers, and people that may not be local to me every time that I post on my stories or feed on Instagram or TikTok. It really helps build my own online community of those who are interested in coffee, baking, motherhood, family life, and entrepreneurship.
Next, maybe we can discuss some of your foundational philosophies and views? What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
Authenticity is very important to me. Not only can it be exhausting trying to be someone else or something you aren’t but it’s also a disservice to yourself and the world to dim your own unique light. I studied cultural anthropology and find it fascinating being able to observe patterns within and among groups of people who may be united by race, religion, geography, food, language, and other aspects of what makes us human. Yet I think it’s not easy to identify those aspects which makes us very unique unless you personally get to know an individual and their own unique story. That’s why I think third spaces such as cafes are very important especially in communities like South Central LA where they may not be available or prioritized by our city. Third spaces create opportunities for individuals to connect with others they may not normally cross paths with and get to share conversations over simple things like coffee and bread that have much deeper importance than it may seem.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I’m gardening, cooking, cleaning, and baking. These activities help restore my mental state because life definitely gets overwhelming and exhausting at times. My plants have been so patient with me after becoming a mom and giving all my attention to my new baby. Now my daughter is able to admire those seeds I planted and plants that have survived that are growing and giving back to us in such subtle ways that only fellow plant lovers will understand. Cooking is my love language. Feeding and nourishing my family is one of my top priorities. This also applies to baking which is why I accidentally also started a baking business when starting my coffee business. I knew I wanted to have fresh, delicious, and great quality pastries. However, my mentality is that if you want something done well, you have to do it yourself. People have told me they can tell that I bake with love and this is true because when my house smells like freshly baked bread and my daughter is pointing to it because she wants some, I know that I’m going to give her something I’m proud of and put great care into making. Same goes for the syrups I make to go with our coffees and teas, I am sharing these offerings with my community with that level of integrity that I uphold for my own family. Taking care of my kitchen, my house, and garden helps keep me balanced.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: IyaliCoffee
Image Credits
Pedro Aaron Lara
Liliana Mejia
Rocio Diaz
Jose Noe Avalos
