We recently connected with Rosa Benavides and have shared our conversation below.

Rosa, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Naming anything – including a business – is so hard. Right? What’s the story behind how you came up with the name of your brand?

As an adult, there were many instances in which I had something to say, but I didn’t. I stayed quiet. I shyly smiled or looked away, and kept it to myself. Why? Because I felt what I had to say was of no interest to others. That I had to say was of no relevance, no impact. Further, I believed I wasn’t smart enough, prepared enough, good enough, educated enough, to actually have good ideas. I felt overwhelmengly under prepared to speak.

The moment I knew what I wanted to say, my body would break into a sweat, my heart racing so fast I would become dizzy and start to lose my balance. At that point, there was no way I could speak. It was physically impossible. My throat, chest, and mouth wouldn’t respond. I would stay there, frozen.

Looking back I realize this happened when I had something to say. An idea, a concern, suggestion, or a thought. It was as though I was under a spell. I wasn’t to say anything that reflected a glimmer of who I was, what I thought – forever to live in the dark.

It may sound dramatic to some. But I have learned that I am not alone. Speaking your truth doesn’t come easy to all.

Perhaps it was part of my nature. Or my upbringing. And maybe, it was a mix of the two.

I’ve also learned that I am a Late Bloomer. And I now wholeheartedly embrace that. As a woman in my 40s, I have learned a lot and have so much more to learn.

But first, I must own my truth and learn to embrace my voice.

And that’s how “Speak Up Mujer” was born.

It’s a personal reminder that I must speak whenever I have an inkling of an idea, an itch in my throat, a tug at my heart, or a clever thought to say it out loud.

As a Latina and first-generation to be born in the United States, I embrace my roots and the seedlings I have planted in this country. I speak English and Spanish. My branding reflects my cultural and linguistic background. Speak Up Woman!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

I was born and raised in the eastside of Los Angeles. I am the eldest daughter of hardworking immigrants. I grew up believing that if I studied and worked very hard, I would get a good job. These words were engraved in my subconscious as a child. As an adult, I have heard these same words repeated many times. Apparantly, many children of immigrants were retold this story. High expectations with little guidance, if any.

Growing up with very minimal resources was my reality. I figured things were just difficult and out of reach.

Nonetheless, I studied. I worked hard and was fortunate to get into UCLA. I had many dreams, and very little guidance. So, I kept working hard. I kept studying, and this time, at my own pace.

I read dozens of personal development books on public speaking, confidence, speaking up, goal setting, habits, leadership, project management, supervision – you name it! I devoured them and fancied myself implementing what I learned. I imagined myself actually taking up a leadership role. To prepare, I read some more. I volunteered for assignments. I took up tasks others weren’t interested in. I pushed myself.

Along the way, I was told things such as, “Don’t worry if you don’t get the promotion. Don’t feel bad.” I was also told, “Just keep trying when you don’t get it. Don’t give up.”

It makes me sad remembering these words. I was already pushing through an uphill battle with old-stories that weighed more than me in my luggage. I could have easily given up.

And that was my first major lesson.

I must believe in myself. I am capable of achieving so much, and then some more.

So, I kept studying, and putting myself out there.

And one day, I volunteered for a presentation. I thought I was going to faint. But then, I remembered what I read and practiced. I woke up earlier than anyone at home, and started drafting up my presentation, practicing it out loud, and pacing around the room the way I envisioned I wanted to do at the day of the presentation.

I still remember how I felt. I was prepared and that was my second lesson.

Preparation and focus will help calm my nerves and set me apart. And I loved it.

The shy person who couldn’t speak realized she had so much to say, and that she was good at it!

Since then, I have taken various supervision, managerial, leadership, and now an executive role.

What sets me apart is that I have learned how to lean into who I am, with confidence and authenticity.

Where I thrive now is in mentoring and coaching women to define their version of success through confidence building and having the audacity to believe in themselves. Witnessing the personal and professional growth in women is a gift and a blessing. Through Speak Up Mujer, I providie coaching that helps women define who they are as a person (not as a daughter, mother, sister, worker), but who they trully are and who they want to be. We explore areas where they are stuck, and together, we form a path forward. We don’t realize it, but we often live a life that has been pre-defined for us. And it’s no wonder we are not happy or in full expression. It’s time to invest in ourselves and live a fulifilled life.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

As a child I was praised for being a “good girl.” That was because I didn’t speak and did as I was told. I was also described as a shy person. But what was really operating was that I was just afraid. I was afraid to speak up. I lacked stability, support, and guidance. I didn’t know what to do. I was lost.

Speaking up terrified me. It was easier to nod and go with the flow. It felt safer to walk away and say nothing. But after walking away and saying nothing, came a feeling of painful void.

My old story that was on replay in my head was that I was shy and that I would never be good enough.

That’s the lesson I had to unlearn.

After much work on my personal growth, I’ve learned that life can be incredibly fulfilling and joyful when I embrace my thoughts and give them voice. I’ve learned that it can be intimidating at times to speak up, but I have every right to be there, just like any other person in the room. Further, I have a right to speak up.

More importantly, I have learned that as I have given voice to my thoughts, people want to work with me and get to know me. People find comfort in my friendship and I love meeting new people!

Since I began speaking up, I have made meaningful friendships that have been life changing. I don’t feel so alone. I feel supported. I can reach out to one of my friends for guidance, giving me a sense of stability.

Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?

In addition to being a personal and professional development coach and mentor, I am an Executive overseeing administrative functions (contracts, procurement, operating budget, fiscal management and monitoring, systems, and purchasing). I have over 12 years of experience supervising and leading staff, and managing projects.

I have learned that respect does not come with a title, it is earned. To be a leader, you must be worth following. To earn a promotion, you must set yourself apart and ask yourself what makes you so special? What has prepared you for this next position?

Management, supervision, and leadership are three distinct words not to be used interchangeably. You must be intentional about each.

You manage a project to ensure it’s on track by asking questions, delegating, and keeping abreast of the status. You don’t delegate the final product or the insurance that it will move forward without your involvement. You take full responsibility for a project and its results.

You supervise staff to ensure they have the support, information, training, knowledge, and resources they need to do their job. Supervision includes providing constructive criticism with respect and following up on their progress. Supervision also includes holding people accountable and having difficult conversations. Many times people want the title and pay without the responsibility. People notice that and it has a negative impact on morale and performance.

Being a Manager, Director, or Executive doesn’t equate being a leader. You are a leader when people follow you, believe you, and trust your vision. For that to happen, you must earn people’s respect and trust through authenticity and honesty.

While you treat everyone with respect and in a just way, every person is different, therefore, you cannot appraoch them all in the same way. As a leader you must know your team and how you can support them. For example, you see a woman consistently sitting at the back of the room and not taking a seat at the table, you personally invite them to take a seat at the table and encourage them to continue to do so and to share their ideas.

You also want to pay attention to cues from people. Perhaps they have something to say, but don’t speak up. You don’t assume they have nothing to say. You look for subtle gestures that indicate they are processing information. You pay attention to non-verbal cues. Then, you ask them for their thoughts. Invite people to share. Help them feel heard and listened to. Help them get out of their shell.

For high morale, you must create an environment where communication is open and welcomed.

Actions speak louder than words, always.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.speakupmujer.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/speakupmujer/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SpeakUpMujer
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/speak-up-mujer-765b76326/