Tech is no longer the future. It is the present. And it is moving fast. Today’s theme, Latinas Leading the Tech Revolution, is a reminder that innovation is not reserved for a select few. It belongs to us too, and this moment demands that we stop standing on the sidelines and start shaping the world being built around us.

In today’s episode, we revisit three powerhouse conversations with four mujeres who are rewriting the narrative about who gets to lead, innovate, and take up space in tech. Their journeys are different, but they echo the same message: ownership. Ownership of their voice. Ownership of their path. Ownership of their right to stand in rooms where new ideas take shape.

We begin with Nikki Barua, interim CEO of Latinas in Tech, whose life is a masterclass in reinvention and bold vision. Nikki shows us that obstacles are not barriers; they are gateways, and when you move with intention, your path expands. Her approach to leadership encourages us to rethink what is possible when Latina women fully step into their ambitions.

Next, we revisit Christina Gallegos, leadership strategist and former Google leader. Christina gives us a behind-the-scenes understanding of what leadership looks like inside one of the world’s biggest tech ecosystems. Her message is simple and powerful: leadership without humanity is empty, and women lead differently because we care differently.

Finally, we return to a fire-filled conversation with Marisela Arechiga and Lizette Espinosa, entrepreneurs and AI educators dedicated to bringing accessible tech knowledge directly into our community. They remind us that our community cannot afford to be last in line for the tools shaping the world, especially AI.

Tune in and let these four mujeres show you what happens when Latinas stop waiting to be invited into the future and start building it.

Episode Takeaways:

Why Nikki believes obstacles are levels, not limits (2:20)

The childhood imprint that shaped her belief in possibility and impact (3:10)

How reinvention becomes a superpower when you choose curiosity over fear (4:55)

Christina’s path through top global companies and what prepared her for Google (7:50)

Why tech is “like water” and why every industry now depends on it (8:40)

Her role in expanding Google Maps to support users in crisis and emergency zones (10:00)

Why Latina representation in tech isn’t optional, it’s essential (12:50)

Marisela’s callout: our community cannot afford to be the last adopters of emerging tech (16:00)

The truth about AI tools, what they can and can’t replace, and why human connection stays central (22:40)

Connect with Nikki Barua:

X

LinkedIn

Connect with Christina D. Gallegos:

LinkedIn

Gradient Coast

Connect with Marisela Arechiga:

Instagram

New Generation Home Improvements Website

Connect with Lizette Espinosa:

Instagram

LinkedIn

Website

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Have you ever looked back at your life and realized you manifested it long before it happened?

This episode is a powerful reminder that intention, alignment, and belief are not abstract concepts but real forces that shape our reality. Through lived experience, this conversation explores how clarity of vision, authenticity, and deep inner trust can turn dreams into tangible success, even when the path feels uncertain.

Tune in to Episode 263 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, as Alexia Melocchi unpacks how manifestation has guided her extraordinary journey. From immigrating to the U.S. as a teenager to building a million-dollar career in Hollywood, Alexia shares how intention, alignment, and information became her blueprint for success. Together, they discuss women in male-dominated industries, standing in your truth, navigating power with integrity, and why knowledge is one of the most underestimated tools for confidence and leadership.

Alexia Melocchi is a prolific film producer, marketing and distribution executive, journalist, and business consultant with a long-standing career in the international film and television industry. Fluent in five languages, she has worked across global markets acquiring and distributing film and television content worldwide. Alexia is also the author of The Heart of Show Business, a guide rooted in mindset, integrity, and insider wisdom for turning passion projects into viable, purpose-driven careers.

Key Takeaways:

✨ Intention is the foundation of manifestation

✨ Alignment creates sustainable success

✨ Knowledge builds confidence and authority

✨ Passion fuels long-term vision

✨ Women must claim space unapologetically

✨ Truth is the most powerful currency

Connect with Alexia Melocchi:

• Instagram
• Facebook
• Website
• Alexia's Book: The Heart Of Show Business

Let's Connect!

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jackie Tapia Arbonne website
• Buy The Amiga Way's Book

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some shifts feel like a choice. Others hit you like a jolt that forces you to look at your life and ask, "Who am I becoming?" This week's episode brings together two mujeres whose stories mirror a truth many of us avoid: sometimes life doesn't fall apart, it pulls you forward.

In this episode, we revisit two powerful interviews from 2025 that reveal what happens when a Latina stops moving on autopilot and starts moving with intention. These women's stories are different, yet they echo the same lesson: there comes a moment when you can no longer ignore what your spirit has been asking of you.

First, we hear from Brenda Palache, serial entrepreneur and owner of LVS Creations and Bartender Brenda LVS. Brenda traded a stable banking career for the chance to raise her daughter on her terms and build businesses rooted in creativity, family, and freedom. Her leap was not glamorous or convenient. It was necessary. And it reminds us that responsibility can be an anchor or a compass, depending on how we move with it.

Then we shift into the emotional and deeply resonant story of Monique Loza, interior designer and founder of Losa Space and Design. Monique didn't step into self-worth. She was pushed into it by betrayal that forced a radical internal shift. Her breaking point became her turning point, revealing a truth she had ignored for years: love that doesn't begin within will never feel like enough.

Together, these mujeres offer a message that lands with clarity. Your life expands the moment you stop negotiating with your own needs. Your identity is allowed to evolve. And choosing yourself is not selfish. It is structure. It is healing. It is movement.

Tune in to episode 262 and let these stories anchor you in the reminder that you have permission to change your mind, your path, and your life.

Episode Takeaways:

Why motherhood forced Brenda to rethink what success really meant for her (7:30)

The moment she realized that stability was costing her presence and freedom (9:00)

How leaving corporate life cracked open her creativity and entrepreneurial courage (10:00)

The cultural expectations that shaped Monique's choices and kept her in survival mode (13:50)

How betrayal became the mirror that revealed where she had abandoned herself (15:00)

The breaking point that led Monique to choose self-worth over staying small (18:40)

Why self-love is not a feeling but a practice that rebuilds your entire life (20:00)

Why your story is still unfolding and how to step into the version of you that is waiting (22:00)

Connect with Brenda Palache:

Instagram

IVS Creations Instagram

Connect with Monique Loza:

Instagram

Follow Loza Space + Design on Instagram

Let's Connect!

Website

Facebook

Instagram

Jackie Tapia Arbonne's website

Book: The AMIGA Way

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Amiga, have you ever wondered why some things feel so aligned while others just don’t sit right—no matter how hard you try? It might be time to explore your Human Design.

In this soulful episode, Jackie taps into the magic of self-awareness, intuition, and transformation with Human Design coach and astrologer Ilona Pamplona. Together, they dive into how Human Design offers a blueprint for understanding your energetic essence, making aligned decisions, and honoring your unique purpose.

Ilona Pamplona is an Astrology Informed Life Coach who believes astrology is the psychology of our ancestors. Blending coaching, astrology, and integrative wellness, she helps clients uncover deep insights through their birth charts. She’s also the author of Human Design Made Easy, an easy-to-use guide to understanding Human Design.

Tune in to Episode 261 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, as Ilona unpacks the Human Design system, how it differs from astrology, and why it can be a powerful tool for breaking through resistance, especially for first-gen Latinas navigating deeply ingrained expectations.

Key Takeaways:

✨ Human Design shows how your energy flows best.

✨ There are five main Human Design energy types.

✨ Alignment prevents burnout and resistance.

✨ Deconditioning is part of the healing journey.

✨ Your body holds your inner authority.

✨ Awareness leads to greater self-empowerment.

Ready to step into alignment, Amiga? Let’s dive in.

Buy Ilona Pamplona’s book Human Design Made Easy

Connect with Ilona Pamplona:

• Website
• Instagram

Let's Connect!

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jackie Tapia Arbonne website
• Buy The Amiga Way's Book

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Most entrepreneurs chase strategy, hustle, and visibility, but overlook the one advantage they already carry: their culture. When you know how to translate your lived experience into market intelligence, your business doesn’t just grow. It becomes unstoppable.

This week, we revisit one of the most downloaded and transformative episodes of Amiga Handle Your Shit, my conversation with the brilliant Liliana Gil Valletta. Liliana is a former corporate executive turned global entrepreneur, Cultural Intelligence® pioneer, and business commentator whose insights are reshaping how brands understand diverse markets. Born in Colombia, she arrived in the U.S. at seventeen without speaking a word of English, yet built a career that broke ceilings most people never reach.

Today, she is the co-founder of CIEN+ and Human Dot Plus, as well as CEO and co-founder of the Culture+ Group. Her story is not just about rise. It is about intention. It is about refusing the victim narrative, stepping into uncomfortable spaces, and owning the power of identity as a business asset.

Tune in to Episode 260 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, and learn how Cultural Intelligence® was born, why your background is your competitive edge, and how to stop shrinking in rooms that need your voice. You’ll also hear Liliana’s insights on navigating the dark side of corporate success, how to market effectively to diverse audiences, how to face fear in pivotal moments, and her top strategies for handling your s#it as a Latina entrepreneur.

In This Episode, You Will Learn:

• Why Liliana’s early years “solita” shaped her leadership and grit (4:50)

• The hidden truth about reaching the top of the corporate ladder (8:10)

• Why rejecting the victim mentality changes everything (13:30)

• How Cultural Intelligence® was born and why it matters now more than ever (21:00)

• How to respond when life hands you a “face the bear” moment (30:20)

• Liliana’s top strategies for how amigas can handle their s#it and lead boldly (40:00)

Connect with Liliana Gil Valletta:

• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• YouTube
• Culture+ Group website

Let's Connect!

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jackie Tapia Arbonne's website
• Book: The AMIGA Way: Release Cultural Limiting Beliefs to Transform Your Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever reached the end of a year feeling stretched, exhausted, and grateful all at once?

This episode is a raw, unfiltered reflection on a year marked by community upheaval, personal struggle, spiritual grounding, and the powerful reminder that healing and rebuilding begin with honesty. From the LA wildfires to the emotional toll of immigration raids, and from unexpected health crises to moments of deep surrender, this conversation invites you to look at your own 2025 with compassion and truth.

Tune in to Episode 259 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, as Jackie provides a heartfelt and intimate year-end review that goes far beyond a recap. This solo episode explores the fires that shook our city and our nervous systems, the resilience that emerged in our communities, and the private battles that pushed Jackie to the edge and back into God’s grace. You’ll also be guided through a soul debriefing with reflective questions designed to help you release the weight of this year and step into 2026 with clarity, intention, and a renewed commitment to your well-being.

Key Takeaways:

✨ Your body speaks when you abandon yourself

✨ Breakdowns always hold the seed of a breakthrough

✨ Community rises strongest in moments of crisis

✨ Health must come before the hustle

✨ Reflection reveals what must be released

✨ Surrender opens the door to alignment

Let's Connect!

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jackie Tapia Arbonne website
• Buy The Amiga Way's Book

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Some people hit walls that should have taken them out. Today's guest, Ernie G, built staircases out of his. If you have ever felt behind, broken, late to the party, or unsure of what you are capable of, this one will hit you straight in the heart.

In this episode of Amiga Handle Your Shit, Jackie sits down with empowerment comedian and speaker Ernie G, a man who has spent decades transforming audiences with a mix of humor, heart, and radical self-belief. On stage, he is funny. In community, he is powerful. In life, he is a walking reminder that reinvention is real and joy is medicine.

But what makes Ernie’s story different is not the familiar arc of struggle to success. It is the way he turned every breakdown into raw material for a breakthrough. Not by pretending everything was fine. Not by pushing down the past. But by using every part of it as proof of capacity.

Raised by a single mother. Kicked out of college. Lost. Depressed. And later, years into a successful speaking career, he survived a cardiac arrest while performing on stage. He should not be here. But he is. And he is louder, clearer, and more committed than ever to the message that saved him.

Tune in to episode 258 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, if you are ready to stop waiting, stop assuming joy belongs to someone else, and rise into your own capacity.

Episode Takeaways:

• The early story he once hid, and how owning it became medicine for others (05:20)
• The unexpected moment that revealed his natural gift for moving people with words (08:40)
• The discovery that shifted everything: “If it is to be, it is up to me” (11:20)
• The birth of empowerment comedy and how he essentially invented the lane he now leads (15:40)
• Why action creates clarity and why waiting for perfect conditions keeps us stuck (18:00)
• The near-fatal cardiac arrest that forced him to rewrite how he cared for himself (20:50)
• The lesson he teaches now: happiness is not a luxury, it is service (25:00)
• How he finally attracted real partnership by turning inward instead of outward (27:20)
• Why the conversations in our heads are either hurting us or healing us (34:10)
• What to do when you cannot figure out your path: follow what sets your soul on fire (36:00)

Connect with Ernie G:

• Website
• Instagram
• X
• Facebook

Let's Connect!

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jackie Tapia Arbonne's website
• Book: The AMIGA Way: Release Cultural Limiting Beliefs to Transform Your Life

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.

Have you ever wondered what it would look like to invest in nature in a way that grows both your wealth and the planet?

This episode invites you to rethink how you view money, assets, and long-term legacy by exploring the emerging world of regenerative investments. Instead of seeing land and forests as distant resources, this conversation reframes them as living assets capable of creating generational wealth, environmental healing, and financial inclusion.

Alain Romero is the founder of Forest to Fortune, a regenerative investment company that re-imagines how high-net-worth individuals, family offices, and purpose-driven investors can align profit, planet, and people. Alain combines deep financial acumen with impact forestry strategy, using high-value tropical hardwoods, agroforestry systems, and innovative fintech to deliver long-term wealth and environmental regeneration.

Tune in to Episode 257 of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, as Jackie sits down with Alain Romero, founder of Forest to Fortune, to explore his groundbreaking approach to investing in trees, biodiversity, and regenerative ecosystems. Alain shares how treating trees as individual assets can open new avenues for wealth creation, how blockchain brings transparency to environmental investing, and why degraded land across Latin America holds massive potential for restoration and long-term financial returns. This episode is a powerful reminder that the future of wealth is sustainable, intentional, and deeply connected to the earth.

Key Takeaways:

✨ Trees can function as long-term financial assets

✨ Regeneration creates both environmental and economic value

✨ Biodiversity may become the world’s most valuable resource

✨ Blockchain brings transparency to environmental investing

✨ Degraded land can be restored into thriving ecosystems

✨ Wealth and impact can grow side by side

Connect with Alain Romero:

Forests To Fortune website

instagram

Let's Connect!

Website

Facebook

Instagram

LinkedIn

Jackie Tapia Arbonne website

Buy The Amiga Way's Book

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.