Over the last six years, I’ve really been getting into the science of manifesting. Because it is a science! Manifesting has everything to do with neuroplasticity, neuroscience, and epigenetics. There’s a reason I created my dream life when I left my tech job. And there’s one specific method of manifesting that always works for me, so I’m going to share it with you today.

It’s called the BFF method, and it's called the BFF method because this manifestation method is about to be your best friend forever. Using this method in your daily life is going to teach you how to be the creator of your life rather than feeling like life is happening to you instead of with you.

In this week’s episode, we’re taking control of our lives with the BFF method. I’m going to share real-life examples of how I’ve used the BFF methods to manifest some of the most amazing moments in my career. And if I can do it, you can do it too!

Follow Erika on:
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Website:
http://www.theerikacruz.com

How to work with Erika:

Join the waitlist for the Courage Driven Latina program here.

Join the waitlist for the Magnetic Mastermind here.

Click here to listen to Manifest Your Next Level, the free guided visualization

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Here’s the thing: no matter what your catalyst is, whether it’s a layoff or you quit and pivoted, you’ll always end up where you need to be. Take our guest, Lucia, for example. She was laid off during the pandemic, and soon after, she realized her dream wasn’t to be an art director for Amazon. That company, by the way, laid off her entire team as soon as things got rough. Now that she had the freedom to take a breath and think about what she actually wanted to do, Lucia knew she wanted to work for herself and be an illustrator. Now, she's a successful working artist who has partnered with some of the biggest brands in the world.

Lucia Diaz is a published illustrator and co-author of Viva Latina, created in collaboration with Sandra Velasquez, the visionary CEO of Nopalera. As a sought-after public speaker, she has delivered impactful talks for prestigious brands, including American Express, Target, WBENC, We All Grow Latina, and Latinas in Tech. In her work as an illustrator, she has partnered with iconic global brands such as DIOR, Tiffany & Co., CHANEL, Giorgio Armani, SAKS, DVF, and Carolina Herrera, elevating events through live sketching and art that captures the essence of culture and elegance. Lucia Diaz's passion for illustration stems from a deep desire to ensure Latinas see themselves authentically represented.

Growing up, the only Latina she encountered in history books was Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. This lack of visibility inspired her to take action. Studies indicate that Latinas constitute only 3-5% of the figures featured in U.S. history textbooks—a statistic that does not reflect their profound contributions to America’s legacy. Through her art and storytelling, she illuminates the power of representation. Whether creating inspiring illustrations or leading dynamic workshops, her mission is to celebrate Latinas, amplify their voices, and ensure young girls—like her goddaughter—see themselves in stories of wisdom, strength, and achievement.

In this week’s episode, she shares her story of how she went from being a child of a low-income family to working with luxury brands and having an extremely coveted mentor. She went from being laid off to creating a successful business that works with some of the biggest brands in the world. She now shares her story and encourages other artists to start working for themselves rather than relying on corporate entities that don’t care about them. Listen to Lucia’s episode for incredible entrepreneurial tips, real-life experiences, and heartfelt connections now.

Follow Lucia on:
Instagram: @holaluciadiaz

LinkedIn: Lucia Diaz LLC

Book Link + Subscribe: https://fearlessyaya.com/subscribe/

Check out Lucia’s services here: https://byluciadiaz.com/services

Follow Erika on:
Instagram @‌theerikacruz
TikTok @‌theerikacruz
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Website:
http://www.theerikacruz.com

How to work with Erika:

Join the waitlist for the Courage Driven Latina program here.

Join the waitlist for the Magnetic Mastermind here.

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

AI is an extremely powerful tool that is currently accessible to anyone with an internet connection. We, in the Latino community, can use to give ourselves the leg up we may not have had access to before. Say, for example, you couldn’t get a Master's in Marketing Data Analytics when you were in college, but now you need to make a marketing plan for your business. AI can help you create a personalized marketing plan that appeals to any and every algorithm out there. That being said, not everyone knows how to use AI or use it well.

A lot of people are afraid that AI is going to steal their jobs and leave them destitute. But AI is a tool - it’s as much a tool for you as a hammer is to a carpenter. And in this week’s episode, we’re talking to an expert in tech to teach you how to take your business to the next level.

This week’s guest is Nikki Barua, the Interim CEO of Latinas in Tech. Nikki is a serial entrepreneur, keynote speaker, bestselling author, and leading expert in helping people and organizations accelerate success. In her 25-year career in innovation, she has helped global brands transform their culture and capabilities. Now she is on a mission to help business leaders reinvent the way they lead, live, and succeed in the age of AI. Nikki has won numerous awards, including Entrepreneur of the Year by ACE, named as an EY North America Entrepreneurial Winning Woman, honored as one of the 21 Leaders for the 21st Century, recognized as Entrepreneur Magazine’s 100 Most Influential Women, LA Woman of Influence by The Business Journals and Women of Entrepreneurship by LA Lakers. Nikki holds three Master's degrees and is a lifelong learner with insatiable curiosity. She believes that we are all limitless and leads her life committed to inspiring people to live up to their highest potential.

In this week’s episode, Nikki tells us how we can level up as business leaders and use AI to take our businesses to the next level. We are entering a new age of leadership, and I don’t want any of you to get left behind just because you didn’t know how to use the most powerful tool of our generation. Tune in to hear how you can leverage AI to improve your business and hear all the leadership lessons Nikki has learned to become the powerhouse she is today.

Follow Nikki on:
Instagram: @thenikkibarua

Instagram: @latinasintechorg

LinkedIn: Nikki Barua

Website: https://latinasintechsummit.org

Get your tickets for the Latinas at Tech Summit here!

Follow Erika on:
Instagram @‌theerikacruz
TikTok @‌theerikacruz
LinkedIn

Website:
http://www.theerikacruz.com

How to work with Erika:

Join the waitlist for the Courage Driven Latina program here.

Join the waitlist for the Magnetic Mastermind here.

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

You can do anything with the right community behind you, and this week’s guest can testify to that. Lourdes was going through an extremely tough time - she was put through the ringer in the military, she found herself in $75k of household debt, and her (now ex) husband kicked her out of her own home. She needed to make a change and FAST. So she reached out to her community, including the Courage Driven Latina community, and her community came through for her.

Lourdes Fernando is a passionate advocate for veterans and a Chicago realtor specializing in VA loans. An 11-year Army National Guard veteran, she empowers fellow veterans, particularly women, to achieve financial independence and stability through the strategic use of their VA benefits. Over 90% of her business focuses on assisting veterans in securing homeownership. Beyond real estate, Lourdes actively engages in community initiatives, serving as chair of the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion committee at Keller Williams Realty. Her dedication has earned her recognition, including the REALTOR® Community Service Award, underscoring her commitment to supporting and uplifting the veteran community.

In this week’s episode, Lourdes shares her story of building wealth and community after her military service. She was able to find herself a new home, invest in property, clear out her debt, and save $40k in just a few years. When her previous community fell through, she joined Courage Driven Latina and dove headfirst into studying the VA benefits that are available to her. Now, she helps other vets take full advantage of their benefits and build generational wealth. Listen to Lourdes’s episode to learn how you can leverage your community even in the worst of times.

Follow Lourdes on:
Instagram: @lourdes_lu_fernando

Website: https://www.jlhomesforyou.com/

Follow Erika on:
Instagram @‌theerikacruz
TikTok @‌theerikacruz
LinkedIn

Website:
http://www.theerikacruz.com

How to work with Erika:

Join the waitlist for the Courage Driven Latina program here.

Join the waitlist for the Magnetic Mastermind here.

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

It all comes down to learning how to trust ourselves. For example, picking between two great job offers and not being able to choose which one to take. They’re both great! They’re not perfect, some of the benefits could be better, and there's going to be some annoying parts of the job, but both opportunities are still great. And still, you can’t make a decision.

If you know that something like picking between two great job offers paralyzes you, then we need to start strengthening your decision-making skills. Don’t worry! We’ll do this together.

In this week’s episode, we’re talking about the power of making a decision. I’ve made so many career changes in the last five years alone. And even though most of these career decisions wouldn’t be the ones I stuck with, they would lead me to create the Courage Driven Latina program. And I never would have gotten there if I had never made the decision to pivot. Listen to this week's episode to learn how you can start trusting yourself and believing in the power of making a decision.

Follow Erika on:
Instagram @‌theerikacruz
TikTok @‌theerikacruz
LinkedIn

Website:
http://www.theerikacruz.com

How to work with Erika:

Join the waitlist for the Courage Driven Latina program here.

Join the waitlist for the Magnetic Mastermind here.

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

One, admittedly major, decision can change the course of your life for the better. Especially if that major decision involves you leaning into your life’s purpose. Because once you see the chance to align yourself with your goals, and you take it, everything starts to fall into place. This is exactly what happened with this week’s guest, Bricia Lopez. She started her culinary career taking over her parents’ struggling restaurant with her siblings, and now she’s a critically acclaimed, globally recognized chef.

Bricia Lopez is a chef, entrepreneur, and acclaimed author. She is a partner at Guelaguetza Restaurant, recipient of The James Beard American Classics award and lauded by the late L.A. Times food critic Jonathan Gold as “The best Oaxacan restaurant in the United States.” Bricia has authored two cookbooks. “OAXACA Home Cooking From the Heart of Mexico” became an instant Amazon bestseller and earned a 2020 James Beard nomination. Her second cookbook, “Asada,” published in 2023, was included in the New York Times' list of best cookbooks of the year. In collaboration with her siblings, Bricia has launched two nationally distributed brands, including the bottled cocktail mix, I Love Micheladas™️, and Guelaguetza™️ mole starters. A sought-after featured guest, Bricia has appeared on NBC’s Today Show and judged Bravo’s Top Chef, while also being featured in high-profile outlets such as Forbes, NPR, Food & Wine, BBC, and The New Yorker.

In this week’s episode, we’re talking to Bricia about how she built a culinary empire rooted in culture. We also dive into how she maintains the confidence to build her dream life and how she can do it as a mother to two small children. Bricia is proof that you can give yourself anything you want; you just have to go for it.

Follow Bricia on:
Instagram: @bricialopez

Website: https://www.bricialopez.com/

Follow Erika on:
Instagram @‌theerikacruz
TikTok @‌theerikacruz
LinkedIn

Website:
http://www.theerikacruz.com

How to work with Erika:

Join the waitlist for the Courage Driven Latina program here.

Join the waitlist for the Magnetic Mastermind here.

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.

Sex can be a beautiful experience full of love and fulfilled desires. It’s this amazing expression of love and intimacy that you can share with your partner and with yourself! But to be able to reach the sexual freedom we all hope for, we have to do some soul searching.

Jocelyn Silva is a Life and Intimacy Coach with over 13 years of experience helping people break free from limiting beliefs and fully embrace their sexual power. Once a Catholic schoolgirl who dreamed of being a nun (true story!), she now teaches clients how to embody confidence, connection, and pleasure—without guilt or shame. With a Master’s in Social Work and a background in sex education, Jocelyn’s approach blends psychology, embodiment, and radical self-love. She’s the creator of Pleasure Playground, a transformative group coaching program, and a passionate digital nomad who believes sexual empowerment makes life easier (and way more fun).

In this week’s episode, we’re talking to Jocelyn about healing sexual shame, embracing pleasure, and cultivating self-acceptance. If you’re feeling sexually repressed, undesirable, or you feel like there’s something broken inside of you, it might be time to go on a journey of sexual self-discovery. The more you grow to love yourself and accept every part of yourself, the more pleasure you’ll feel in the bedroom. It’s all connected!

Follow Jocelyn on:
Instagram: @iamjocelynsilva

Website: www.jocelynsilva.com
LinkedIn: Jocelyn Silva

Follow Erika on:
Instagram @‌theerikacruz
TikTok @‌theerikacruz
LinkedIn

Website:
http://www.theerikacruz.com

How to work with Erika:

Join the waitlist for the Courage Driven Latina program here.

Join the waitlist for the Magnetic Mastermind here.

Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.