Today we’d like to introduce you to Rosa Benavides
Hi Rosa, please kick things off for us with an introduction to yourself and your story.
I was born to immigrant parents from Mexico and am the oldest of five. Being the oldest came with its own challenges. However, the sisters I helped raise are now the women who support and believe in me. We grew up in Boyle Heights with minimal resources, and I was keenly aware of it. We had a house, but that left very little for basic personal necessities. I always understood that my parents worked hard to get us what we had, and I am grateful.
I married a wonderful man, and together, we went through a traumatic, expensive, and painful immigration process. I learned about immigration law and met lovely people who were also trying to be good-standing citizens in the States. I’m thankful for our attorney, Elizabeth P. Uribe, who fought for my husband’s case. My husband and I now have two children and the freedom to walk the streets without fearing deportation. Unfortunately, not all families can enjoy that privilege.
As an adult and through coaching, I have slowly unfolded the various layers of the unhealthy stories I collected along the way. Stories about being unworthy, unintelligent, and inferior. I am grateful for all the inner work and the amazing women I have in my life because now I know I can choose what I believe about myself, which is a powerful feeling. I am very grateful for the family and friends who surround me, uplift me, and remind me that I am cared for, valued, and loved.
Now, I use my past to redefine my future. From the grace of this universe, much effort, and the people who helped me along the way, I graduated from UCLA, invested in my skillsets, and dared to envision myself in an executive role, which I am grateful to have achieved. As I have gained experience, knowledge, and expertise, I have leaned into my inborn talents, authentic voice, heart, and courage to launch Speak Up Mujer. Through Speak Up Mujer, I mentor women of color so they can gain the clarity to see their infinite potential and have an opportunity to redefine their life, talents, and goals through THEIR eyes and heartfelt wants.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
As a child, I constantly struggled due to financial restrictions, lack of resources, lack of understanding of how things worked, lack of mentorship and guidance, lack of support and love, feeling insecure about who I was, and so on. Because I constantly struggled—I truly believed that things were difficult for me because of who I was.
I believed my struggle was my fault, and I did not have the proper guidance to help me see things differently.
This frame of mind led me into debt, avoiding opportunities and painful self-doubt. I tried to fit myself into a box not made for me, leaving out all the unique qualities that made me me.
Later in life and through coaching, I learned the concept of “stories in our heads.” I learned that these negative thoughts came from stories others gave and assigned to me, and I accepted them as my own. All those negative opinions I had about myself were the reflection of others’ voices heard throughout my childhood.
Understanding how the old stories worked was a game changer because it gave me back my power to reclaim who I am, what I can achieve, and who I can become.
Now, I leverage my experience and knowledge to mentor women of color so they can, too, break away from the old stories that are not serving them and be empowered to reimagine who they want to be.
As you know, we’re big fans of Speak Up Mujer. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Speak Up Mujer was established from the passion and desire to help first-generation professional women get unstuck, lean into their talents, gain clarity, and amplify their voices. Unfortunately, it’s common to see bright, talented, hard-working women doubt themselves into silence and inaction. Negative thoughts can go so hard on us that we miss an opportunity when we least know it. Lamentably, this keeping quiet is more common in women of color.
Our voice is one of our most vital assets. It is a conduit to our creative ideas and suggestions and for others to get to know who we are. People must hear from us. We can second-guess ourselves, wondering what others will make of our question, thought, or pitch—and when we keep quiet, guess what? The world will never know. It’s crucial that women’s voices are heard in the workplace, empowering and motivating us all.
And further, opportunities are lost when people don’t know who we are and what we have to offer. We are doing others a disservice by keeping quiet. The world would benefit from more women of color speaking up and sharing what they have to say. Speak Up Mujer is making a significant impact in this area, inspiring hope and change.
Speak Up Mujer specializes in mentoring women of color to break down old, unhealthy stories that don’t serve us. Through one-on-one virtual coaching, we explore the experiences, talents, and skill sets that make you unique. Through empathy and active listening, we explore your ultimate goals so that you gain clarity and the courage to reimagine your version of success. Speak Up Mujer has vast experience working in a professional setting, in career growth, managing projects, supervising staff, problem-solving, and implementing collaborative process changes. The menu of services also includes professional development training on a one-on-one and group basis.
What are your plans for the future?
Yes! Speak Up Mujer is expanding to provide group mentoring and training. We strongly feel that learning with other women fosters sisterhood and reminds us that we are not alone, making way for a more enriching experience.
Many of us grew up being told that we didn’t know how to manage our money or that our ideas were silly or dumb. In essence, we were taught not to trust ourselves. Speak Up Mujer is here to tell you that your ideas, passions, and desires make you unique, and you deserve to live a fulfilling life—a life that reflects your dreams, wants, and heartfelt desires.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.speakupmujer.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupmujer
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakUpMujer
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SpeakUpMujer
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@speakupmujer
