Story & Lesson Highlights with Atalie Oliva of Los Angeles, CA

Atalie Oliva shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Atalie, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
My morning routine can vary but there are usually a few things that I always stick to within the first 90 minutes. Gratitude. Journaling. Coffee. It’s pretty consistent with some things in between, but I find that starting my day with gratitude is what keeps me centered, grounded, and allows me to manage my anxiety. I always journal because it’s a way to declutter my mind, note my dreams, or express what I’m feeling. Of course, coffee is something that fuels me and it’s a part of my day. I do bounce between how much I intake, but for the most part coffee is fuel. I’m currently obsessed with making a dirty chai at home and it’s what I’m drinking now.

Always, blessed that I can be intentional with the first 90 minutes of my day since it set’s the tone for everything else.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Atalie Oliva. I am a consultant, founder of The Bitter Woman Network, and a proud daughter of immigrants. I am an LA native who leads with her heart, which has been the foundation of my work in building The Bitter Woman Network.

Over the past three years, we have continued to learn and evolve, shaping our brand into a pillar for community. We proudly serve our community by supporting leaders and their organizations through trainings, workshops, and coaching.

What makes our work distinct is our focus on creating space for healing within organizations and leadership, while bringing trauma-informed principles into every experience. We recognize the impact trauma has on today’s workforce, and we are on a mission to help relieve some of that burden.

Currently, we are focused on increasing awareness of our evolution and expanding our impact by serving more clients in the Los Angeles area.. As a first-generation Latina, I am deeply passionate about creating spaces where people feel seen, heard, and validated.

Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What part of you has served its purpose and must now be released?
The part of me that has served its purpose is the part that was afraid to take up space. The one who dimmed her light to make sure everyone else felt comfortable. The part of me that was told, “you’re too much.”

As a leader, I acknowledge that this part once kept me safe earlier in my career. But now, my impact requires me to be more visible. It is asking me to evolve into someone who is unafraid to take up space, unapologetic about who she is, and willing to sit with others’ discomfort.

As a Latina, I was conditioned not to embody the parts of myself that wanted to lead. It was not considered acceptable for a woman. I am now releasing that part of me, as it has fulfilled its purpose.

Today, I lead from a place of determination and authenticity.

When did you stop hiding your pain and start using it as power?
The pandemic was a pivotal moment in my journey. It was the first time I truly sat with the pain I carried. For much of my life, I did not have the words, tools, or awareness to understand the depth of what I was holding. Much of it did not even feel like mine, and I now know it was generational.

The moment I stopped hiding my pain came when I looked at myself in the mirror and felt deep discomfort with who I saw. I did not like my body. I did not like my hair. I did not like who I was, and it was heartbreaking. So I made a promise to myself that I would be unrecognizable by the time we came out of lockdown.

In that moment, I transformed my pain into power. My power comes from my ability to move through pain rather than away from it.

Alright, so if you are open to it, let’s explore some philosophical questions that touch on your values and worldview. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
We are divine beings, and our source comes from above. I do not always speak about God because I am a traumatized child who grew up Catholic, and many of those teachings did not align with my lived reality. Still, I love God, and I am constantly reminded that I am a child of God. I am never alone.

This is the truth of my life. I have witnessed so many miracles that nothing else could explain them. I am deeply grateful that I have the ability to understand this and share it.

At the same time, the traumatized part of me is still afraid, because society carries its own narratives about what all of this is supposed to mean. But the one truth I know is this: God is love. Love is everything. When you feel love, you know God.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. If you knew you had 10 years left, what would you stop doing immediately?
I would stop waiting for things to be perfect and start showing up more consistently. I would spend as much time as possible traveling the world with the people I love.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.thebitterwoman.com
• Instagram: healwithatalie
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/atalie-oliva-/

Image Credits
Photography By: Nicole Martinez