Cindy Izzo is the Global Head of Digital Risk at KPMG International and a powerful example of what it means to lead A LA LATINA. In this episode, Cindy shares her inspiring journey—from translating for her family as a child in Arizona, to navigating the Big Four as a young mother, to becoming one of the few Latinas in cybersecurity at the global level. 

🔑 Here are three key takeaways from our conversation: 

Find your tribe: As the only Latina in many rooms, Cindy proactively sought out Hispanic networks to feel seen and supported.

 You can’t be an A+ everywhere, every day: A powerful piece of advice from a mentor helped Cindy realize she could excel in different areas of life at different times—and that was more than enough. 

Turn your early experiences into superpowers: From translating for her family to bridging communication between teams at work, Cindy learned how to lead by understanding people and bringing them together. She reminds us that empathy, authenticity, and faith can be the greatest assets for building a thriving career—and that being a mother is a leadership style in itself. 

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In this new episode of Season 4 of A LA LATINA, Claudia Romo Edelman and Cynthia Kleinbaum Milner sit down with Jennifer Salinas—EVP, Chief Administrative Officer, and General Counsel at Cerence AI, a global leader in automotive voice technology. 

From growing up in a home marked by domestic violence to leading in one of the most competitive and fast-evolving sectors, Jennifer shares her remarkable journey of resilience, reinvention, and rising to the C-suite. 

One of the most senior Latinas in the AI space, she reflects on the power of betting on yourself, navigating corporate America with authenticity, and turning pain into purpose. Here are 3 key takeaways from this episode: The art of knowing your value. Jennifer shares a powerful, tactical playbook to help Latinas claim their worth—personally and professionally—without losing themselves along the way. The AI revolution is now—and it's a level playing field. 

Whether you're technical or not, this is the moment to become AI-literate and indispensable in your career. Your background doesn’t define you. Jennifer’s story proves that being the first in your family to graduate high school—or law school—can be the start of something extraordinary. 

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In this new and inspiring episode of A LA LATINA: The Playbook to Succeed Being Your Authentic Self, Claudia Romo Edelman and Cynthia Kleinbaum Milner welcome the incredible Rebeca Vargas, Chief Marketing Officer at Girl Scouts of the USA.

Rebeca’s journey is one of bold leadership, personal sacrifice, and unwavering authenticity. As the CMO of one of America’s most iconic youth organizations—serving nearly 2 million members—Rebeca is redefining what it means to lead with purpose. Her career spans powerhouse institutions like Wells Fargo, JPMorgan Chase, Citibank, and BBVA, as well as founding and growing transformative nonprofit initiatives for Latinas and underserved youth across borders.

From pitching herself directly to CEOs to launching groundbreaking multicultural campaigns and building the largest Latina STEAM mentoring network in 22 countries, Rebeca shares how she built a remarkable career—without ever leaving her culture, values, or voice behind.

Here the three takeaways of the conversation: 

1. Be your own advocate – Rebeca teaches us the value of raising your hand—even when no one asks. By directly pitching roles and ideas to leadership, she reminds us that courage and initiative open doors.
    
2. The power of sacrifice – With raw honesty, Rebeca reflects on leaving her 5-month-old daughter in Mexico to pursue her dreams in the U.S.—a decision many immigrant women know too well. Her story is one of resilience, hope, and generational impact.
    
3. Understanding DEI vs. Multicultural Marketing – In today’s evolving corporate landscape, Rebeca sheds light on the crucial differences between diversity, equity & inclusion (DEI) and multicultural marketing—and why knowing the distinction matters for real change.
    

A Latina trailblazer recognized by Adweek, Diversity MBA Magazine, and The White House, Rebeca Vargas brings unmatched insight, heart, and brilliance to this must-listen conversation.

Tune in now to be inspired, empowered, and reminded that the most powerful version of success is the one where you stay true to yourself!

Listen to the extended video version of this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ALaLatinaPodcast/videos

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In this new episode of A LA LATINA: The Playbook to Succeed Being Your Authentic Self, Claudia Romo Edelman and Cynthia Kleinbaum Milner are joined by the incredible Betsabe Botaitis, a trailblazing strategist and fintech executive with over 15 years of experience. Her career spans large financial institutions, fintech companies, and blockchain and cryptocurrency companies. Betsabe's journey is nothing short of inspiring.

Betsabe has held several senior roles at renowned, leading-edge companies, including Uplift (the leading BNPL in travel), Kueski (Mexico’s largest BNPL), Lending Club, and Citigroup. Today, she serves as the CFO and treasurer for Hedera, the number one enterprise blockchain governed by leading organizations around the world.

In this powerful conversation, Betsabe shares the lessons she's learned throughout her impressive career, the obstacles she's overcome, and how she stays true to her authentic self.

Here are the three key takeaways:

• Corporate America is not a Meritocracy: Betsabe sheds light on the reality that success in corporate America isn’t always about merit alone. She emphasizes the importance of being strategic, building your own network, and leveraging relationships to break through barriers, especially if you don’t have a prestigious degree.
• Facing the wall from Latinos: Betsabe talks about how she encountered a scarcity mentality within the Latino community, where the instinct to compete sometimes overshadowed the need for support. She advocates for a cultural shift toward collaboration, solidarity, and creating networks that lift each other up.
• What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger: Through her own hardships, Betsabe has become a living testament to the power of resilience. From humble beginnings to overcoming countless unexpected challenges, her story proves that what doesn’t break you only makes you stronger. Her journey is a beacon of hope and inspiration for anyone facing adversity on their path to success.

Betsabe’s experiences offer invaluable lessons for anyone looking to rise, stay true to themselves, and succeed on their own terms. Tune in to hear her remarkable story and feel empowered to take on whatever comes your way.

Listen to the extended video version of this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ALaLatinaPodcast/videos

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In this episode of A LA LATINA, Claudia Romo Edelman and Cynthia Kleinbaum Milner are thrilled to welcome the incredible Araceli Lewis, a powerhouse global sales executive at Dell Technologies. With a deep expertise in cybersecurity, cloud solutions, AI, and managed services, Araceli serves as a Global Account Manager, leading a team focused on forging resilient C-level partnerships and driving global sales initiatives. Her role centers around creating robust joint solutions, directly contributing to sustained revenue growth.

Araceli’s commitment to innovation and excellence, combined with her consultative selling approach, enables her to tailor strategies that address the complex needs of Dell’s strategic accounts. Through inspiring her global sales team and cultivating strong partnerships, she leads efforts that not only exceed expectations but also deliver groundbreaking technologies that elevate human progress and uplift society as a whole.

Three key takeaways from this episode:

1. The power of your roots: Araceli shares how growing up in a border town shaped her worldview, work ethic, and sense of purpose, turning her Latinx heritage into a source of strength in everything she does.
2. Turning failures into triumphs: She discusses how to embrace and unpack failures, using them as a tool for growth and resilience to ultimately achieve the success you desire, no matter the setback.
3. Leveraging latinidad as a superpower: Araceli emphasizes how to embrace your Latinx identity as a unique superpower in navigating today’s fast-paced, global environment, using cultural understanding and connection as an asset in all areas of life and career.

Tune in to hear Araceli’s empowering insights on how to lead with authenticity, build meaningful partnerships, and use your cultural strengths to make a lasting impact in the world. This episode is an inspiring reminder that being true to yourself is the key to success and progress!

#iwork4dell 

Listen to the extended video version of this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ALaLatinaPodcast/videos

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In the opening episode of Season Four of A LA LATINA podcast, hosts Claudia Romo Edelman and Cynthia Kleinbaum-Milner are delighted to start the season with the incredible Teresa Barreira, a transformational leader and innovator who currently serves as the Global Chief Marketing and Communications Officer at Publicis Sapient. 

We are beyond excited to begin this new season with such an inspiring and trailblazing guest!

Teresa’s journey is one of fearlessness and innovation, embracing the unknown and turning challenges into opportunities. Her leadership has earned her prestigious awards, including the Gold Stevie Award for Achievement in Management and Excellence in Leadership from Consulting Magazine, and she has won three Clio Awards for the social impact documentaries she produced: Never Done and Forgiving Johnny.

Here are the three takeaways from this incredible conversation:

1. Resilience and entrepreneurship from an early age: Teresa reflects on how her career began in her father’s café when she was just seven years old. This experience helped her develop resilience, scrappiness, and an entrepreneurial spirit that has shaped her entire career.
2. Embracing your background as a superpower: Teresa shares a valuable lesson—recognize your background as a source of strength. She didn’t fully realize the power of her heritage until later in her career, and she encourages everyone to embrace their roots early on to unlock their true potential.
3. Mastering the art of super prioritization: Teresa reveals her secret to success—super prioritization. Instead of focusing on everything you can do, she advises to focus on what you won’t do. This strategic approach helps you dedicate time and energy to what really matters, leading to greater success.

This episode is packed with powerful insights and inspiring stories that will leave you motivated to stay true to your authentic self and thrive in your career. We are so excited to share Teresa's wisdom and kick off this new season with such an extraordinary guest!

You can find the links to her documentaries below:

 https://www.publicissapient.com/impact/never-done-film

 https://www.publicissapient.com/impact/forgiving-johnny-film

Listen to the extended video version of this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ALaLatinaPodcast/videos

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In the latest episode of A LA LATINA: The Playbook to Succeed Being Your Authentic Self, Claudia Romo Edelman and Cynthia Kleinbaum Milner had the privilege of chatting with the multi-talented trailblazer Jessica Alba, about her journey to the top being authentically Latina. 

From her iconic roles in films, to becoming the youngest Latina to take a company public in 2021, Jessica’s story is one of resilience, innovation, and empowerment.

In this conversation, Jessica shared how she came to be the rockstar she is. Tracing back to her early years and breaking stereotypes both in Hollywood and business. Here are the three key takeaways of the conversation: 

1. Embrace and elevate your identity. Jessica inspires us to fully embrace our cultural identity and recognize the profound impact of our early role models, especially within our own families. For her, the incredible support and strength of her family were crucial in shaping her confidence, resilience, and sense of purpose. By embracing who we are, we unlock the power to achieve greatness, with our roots serving as a powerful source of strength and determination.

2. Trust your Instincts and own your journey. One of Jessica’s key pieces of advice is to trust your instincts, especially when stepping into the unknown. She encourages us to believe in our own abilities and stop seeking validation from others. Over time, she learned to trust herself and follow her unique path. 

3. Be ready to overcome obstacles Jessica’s journey teaches us that with persistence, optimism, and a mindset of growth, we can break through any obstacle. Whether launching The Honest Company or navigating the challenges of Hollywood, Jessica turned setbacks into stepping stones by staying open to learning and trusting the process. She shows that success comes not from having all the answers upfront, but from the courage to keep going, to learn, and to never give up.

Jessica’s dedication to social justice and sustainability has earned her recognition on prestigious platforms like Forbes' Self-Made Women issue and Fortune's 10 Most Powerful Women Entrepreneurs. She’s also been recognized by Fast Company, UK Glamour, and Vanity Fair, and received prestigious awards like the March of Dimes Grace Kelly Award and the Golden Heart Award for Outstanding Philanthropy.

Jessica’s journey is a testament to the power of staying authentic, embracing one’s heritage, and using success to uplift others. Don’t miss out on this uplifting and motivating episode with one of the most influential Latinas of our time. Stay tuned for all the wisdom Jessica Alba has to share!

Listen to the extended video version of this episode on our YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/@ALaLatinaPodcast/videos

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