We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Gabriela Veloz a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Gabriela, thanks for joining us today. Can you walk us through some of the key steps that allowed you move beyond an idea and actually launch?

How I Became a Motivational Speaker: Winning with Attitude- Transforming Challenges into Opportunities
It all started with one realization: my positive attitude had been the driving force behind every success in my life. From selling hot dogs at 14 to pay for my flight to the U.S., to navigating living in a new country, having career roadblocks and turning setbacks into opportunities, my mindset made all the difference. I knew I had a story to tell—one that could inspire others to change their attitude to embrace change, take initiative, and have fun along the way.

But realizing I wanted to be a motivational speaker and actually becoming one were two completely different things. I had the idea, but what came next?

Inspired by keynote speaker Michelle Poler, I joined her Latina women’s community “Creetelo” and quickly became the Boston Chapter leader. This led to my speaking opportunity—a panel in Miami, where I shared our community’s journey. Stepping off that stage, I knew I wanted to inspire others.

Owning my Story and defining my message:The first step was reflecting on my journey and identifying the key lessons that shaped me. I asked myself:

What challenges have I faced?
How did I overcome them?
What mindset helped me push forward?
That’s when my Winning with Attitude framework was born. I broke it down into three principles:
1)Radical Acceptance – Acknowledge reality and focus on what you can control.
2)Gamify Challenges – Turn struggles into a game to make the process fun.
3)Take Initiative & Ownership – Don’t wait for opportunities—create them.

My first speech wasn’t on a big stage—it happened in everyday moments. Throughout my life and career, I’ve inspired those around me through my actions, attitude, and resilience. That journey led to a defining moment—standing on stage in Miami, delivering my first keynote, and realizing my true purpose: to impact and inspire even more people.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

I’m Gabriela Veloz—a Senior Sales Manager, Motivational Speaker, But beyond my career, I’m also a wife and a proud mom to my two amazing kids, Luca and Gianna. With my husband, Adam, by my side, I’ve built a life around embracing change, taking risks, and finding joy in the process.

My journey to getting my first corporate job:
When I graduated from The University of Massachusetts Boston with a degree in International Business, I had no clue what my next step was. I had student loans, no corporate experience, and found myself working as a restaurant assistant manager and at a catering company while figuring it all out.

Then came a turning point, I attended a workshop at the Venture Development Center sponsored by LaunchSource for recent grads interested in Startups. That event changed my entire career trajectory. I landed my first role in Sales as a Business Development at a Startup. 10 years later, 7 promotions, and a journey of growth—I lead sales, specializing in global market expansion, high-performing teams, and revenue-driving strategies. From GTM development to building alliances with partners, my focus is always on supporting customers, doing what’s right for them, and inspiring those around me with a positive attitude and a winning mindset.

What I Do & How I Make an Impact
1)Sales Leader – With 10+ years in Tech, I’ve helped companies grow in global markets, build strong sales teams, and create customer-driven strategies.
2)Motivational Speaker – I inspire people to embrace change, take ownership, and turn obstacles into opportunities with my Winning with Attitude framework.

What Makes Me Different?
1) I create my own opportunities. If a door isn’t open, I build my own.
2)I make challenges fun. Life is easier when you gamify the tough stuff.
3) I bring high energy & action. I don’t just talk about success—I live it, apply it, and teach others how to do the same.

I’ve been fortunate to have mentors and leaders who believed in me. I truly believe that your attitude shapes your success.
*Radical acceptance lets you focus on what you CAN control.
*Gamifying challenges makes the process fun instead of frustrating.
*Taking ownership puts YOU in charge of your career and life.

Can you share a story from your journey that illustrates your resilience?

When I was young living in Venezuela one of my Dreams was to come to America. But with no resources and no clear path, I had to get creative. So, I started a hot dog stand in Venezuela at 14, saving every penny to buy my plane ticket. While my friends were out enjoying their teenage years, I was hustling, turning my small business into my ticket to a new life.

When I finally made it to the U.S., I faced an entirely new challenge—I didn’t speak a word of English. Navigating school, a new culture, and a completely foreign environment was tough. But instead of letting fear hold me back, I embraced the challenge head-on, learning English, pushing myself through school while working 2 jobs, and eventually graduating from The University of Massachusetts Boston.

That experience taught me that resilience isn’t just about surviving—it’s about adapting, finding solutions, and creating opportunities where none seem to exist. It’s the mindset that has fueled my success ever since.

Have you ever had to pivot?

Pivoting has been part of my DNA since day one. Before I even had my hot dog stand, I was already an entrepreneur at heart—selling cakes, clothes, purses, and cosmetics. My parents always supported my ideas, so I would save up, invest in products, and resell them to friends and family. But there was a challenge—sales took time, and people didn’t always pay me on time.

That’s when I realized I needed a faster, more efficient way to make money. So thats when I decided to open a hot dog stand. I streamlined everything—offering just one item on the menu, The hot dogs were small but so delicious people couldn’t get enough with just one. People needed to buy multiple to feel full, and this ensured my cash flow. But I didn’t just sell hot dogs—I made it fun.

I turned it into a game, running competitions with friends and family to see who could eat the most hot dogs. My neighbors, classmates, and even family members got in on the challenge, making my stand the place to be.

This pivot taught me an important lesson early on—when something isn’t working, adapt. Find a better way. Be resourceful. And if you can make the process fun, even better. That mindset has shaped my entire career.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gabrielaveloz/
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/gveloz/

Image Credits

Rosa Isla @rosewithlove_ and Stacy Sullivan @setfreephotography