Today we’d like to introduce you to Tatiana Cura
Hi Tatiana, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I was in the last year of my doctoral program and we were in the COVID-19 pandemic when George Floyd was killed by the police. During the protests was really when I had my “Aha!” moment that I would start a business breaking mental health stigmas and bridging the gap to accessible healthcare in our communities. I thought “Enough is enough…” and created my first business educating and advocating for underserved families and individuals with ASD and learning differences.
On year 4 now of my entrepreneurial journey, we’ve grown tremendously and I don’t have one regret. It has been the best decision of my life to start my own business and grow to a level I could have never imagined. Today, I consider my business a heath and wellness brand and powerhouse providing more than just education and advocacy. It is a lifelong and comprehensive program connecting families and individuals with special needs exclusive access to clinical therapy, programs, services and supports; and highly trained, quality, certified and professional nurses, therapists, and caregivers.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
No road is smooth, not especially for an entrepreneur. Growth requires change and sometimes we don’t like change or feel challenged by it as humans, but you learn it is required for the next level of business and the next level of yourself.
Your ascension makes you a target – People will create lies and try to bring you down; we also experienced temporary closures due to the LA wildfires; and our office was broken into resulting in having to relocate. But I will say this – You are not judged by your success or titles. You are judged by your progress and how you come up from those challenges.
Being an entrepreneur is about having character, and the real currency is who you are and your impact on the communities/lives that you serve – not money. So during challenging times is when I would say that I am the most powerful because it inspires me to do more.
That said, working in this field I learned that it doesn’t matter what your socioeconomic status is; there is a major lack of information/education on mental and behavioral health and is stigmatized across. So what you can expect from me next is a donation of in-kind services worth $250,000 – I will be heavily involved in my own community, partnering with organizations, our school district and the City to spread education and information. My goal is to enhance educational support services and raise mental health awareness for all.
Appreciate you sharing that. What should we know about Dr. Tatiana?
We are an extremely unique and individualized program following each client’s journey with ASD and learning differences, and provide them with services from the time of diagnosis to and throughout each phase of their lives – hence the growth to 100+ clients and the capacity to serve all 21 regional centers in the State of CA.
Services include not only education and advocacy but also person-centered planning, referrals to (normally long waitlisted) services like: ABA, adaptive skills, social skills, independent living skills, supported living services, day programs, community integration, social recreational activities, job placement, housing and so much more.
We also have a great professional network with other doctors, psychologists and special needs attorneys in the field; assist with conservatorship and financial planning (e.g. life insurance and special needs trusts); and qualified/certified direct staff. I am most proud of this and it is what sets us apart because I haven’t yet heard of another organization/agency out there providing a lifelong and comprehensive program like we do.
Can you talk to us about how you think about risk?
Risk taking is how I knew I was meant for entrepreneurship because if I could use any words to describe myself, it would definitely be: bold, fearless, and unsettling. Yes, I have taken major risks and I take them on every day. Growth for me looks like taking on more clients, hiring more staff, changing systems, operations, policies and protocols; the ability to step back and have your business run on its own. These are all risks, however, it’s important to know that the more you grow, the more exposure you have to liabilities. Risks on your entrepreneurial journey are going to be inevitable but you have to learn how to take risks without fearing change and protected. As a business owner, thinking long term and everything you’ve worked hard for, you want to make sure you are prepared to take risks and for change by having things like business insurance, connections with lawyers, a CPA, a support system (social circles that align with who you are); have clear contracts and strict policies, terms and conditions; and look into alternative assets where you can invest your gains, grow and protect your wealth.
Pricing:
- $2500 Retainer Fee
- $1000 Person Centered Planning + Hourly Counseling Fee
- FREE for Low-Income/Underserved Communities (with Approved Application)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://drtatiana.co
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drtatiana.co
