Today we’re excited to be connecting with Lina Cordero again. If you haven’t already, we suggest you check out our prior conversation with them here.
Lina , thanks for joining us again. Just to level set a bit for folks who may have missed our last interview together, can you briefly introduce yourself?
For those who don’t know me, I’m Lina Cordero, the founder and creative director of Onlychild Design, a full-service branding studio that helps businesses stand out with bold, strategic design. I started Onlychild because I saw too many incredible founders struggling to tell their brand story in a way that truly represented them. Our approach is all about clarity, impact, and making sure brands feel as dynamic as the people behind them.
And now, I’m thrilled to share that I’ve launched a second venture: Common Sense, a creative studio focused on content and communication strategies for purpose-driven brands. This one’s all about helping businesses connect with their audience in a way that actually makes sense—cutting through the noise with smart, socially-conscious storytelling.
Between the two, I get to do what I love most: build brands that not only look good but truly feel right.
Alright, so our main goal today is to give our audience an update on what you have been up to since our last conversation. We’d love to hear how things are going and what you are most looking forward to or excited about these days.
It’s wild how much can change in a few years! Since we last spoke, life and work have both evolved in exciting ways. My daughter is growing up fast, and parenting has made me even more intentional about the kind of work I take on and the impact I want to have.
On the business side, Onlychild has continued to grow, and something unexpected happened along the way—I started working with a lot more men. At first, Onlychild was very much rooted in elevating women-led brands (and it still is!), but I’ve realized that if we want to see real change, we need more allies in the room. I’ve had the chance to collaborate with male founders who genuinely want to do things differently—who value thoughtful, strategic branding and who care about representation, equity, and doing business in a way that actually makes sense. It’s been a shift I didn’t anticipate but have really embraced.
The biggest update? I launched a second company! Common Sense is a creative studio focused on content and communication strategies for purpose-driven brands. I started it with my incredible partner, Mari, because we saw so many businesses struggling to tell their stories in a way that felt both strategic and human. With Common Sense, we’re helping brands cut through the noise with storytelling that’s clear, compelling, and actually connects.
Beyond client work, I’ve been diving deeper into community-building. I started Emprender, a free space for Latina entrepreneurs to connect, share resources, and support each other in the messy journey of running a business. I also co-created Sacred Play Camp with my friend Virginia, a retreat that blends creativity, movement, and healing—a space for women to disconnect from the daily grind and reconnect with themselves. Both of these projects have reinforced what I’ve always believed: creativity thrives in community, and real magic happens when we build spaces for people to feel seen, supported, and inspired.
So, in short—things are busy, evolving, and exciting. I feel like I’m stepping into the next phase of my career with more clarity than ever, hand in hand with so many incredible women and partners who make the journey even more fun. Can’t wait to see where this all leads!
We have now arrived at one of our favorite parts of the interview – the lightning round. We’ll ask you a few quick questions to give us all some fun insights about you.
- Favorite Movie: Almost Famous
- Favorite Book: Right now I’m reading “What If We Get It Right?” and loving it.
- Favorite TV Show: Right now, Shrinking
- Favorite Band or Artist: Monsieur Perine
- Sweet or Savory: Savory and Sweet lol
- Mountains or Beach: Beach, everyday!
- Favorite Sport (to watch): Soccer only during the worldcup!
- Favorite Sport (to play): Paddle Tennis
- As a kid, what did you want to be when you grew up: Ballerina and Police officer at first, them moved onto Marine Biologist
- French Fries or Onion Rings: Sweet Potato Fries
- Favorite Childhood movie: The Parent Trap, I keep watching it over and over with my daughter!
- Favorite Breakfast Food: Overnight Oats
What would the perfect day look like for you? Please give us as many details as possible.
Wake Up at 5:45am
Start the day with a short meditation and journaling
Swim at the YMCA for 1 hour
Breakfast with the family
Morning rollerblading at the boardwalk with my friends
Work from a nice café with my partner (Kiff or Cafe Bolivar)
Take the evening off to watch the sunset and picnic at the beach with the family and friends.
Finish the day relaxing – watching a movie or reading and planning the following day.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.onlychildesign.com / www.wearecommonsense.com
- Instagram: onlychildesign / weare.commonsense
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/licordero/
Image Credits
Jenny Ruiz
