Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Onelia Macchia Anzola. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Hi Onelia, thanks for joining us today. So, folks often look at a successful business and think it became a success overnight – but that often obscures all the nitty, gritty details of everything that went into the growth phase of your business. We’d love to hear about your scaling story and how you scaled up?
Growing up, I navigated two languages and two cultures as a young child. My dad, an Italian immigrant, married my mom, who is Venezuelan. This dual identity journey was both challenging and enriching. When I made the choice to move to the USA at 23, it marked a significant turning point in my life.
Learning a new language and adapting to a new culture presented its own set of challenges. I encountered barriers such as the language barrier, immigration status and a new culture . However, none of these obstacles stop me to scale.
I worked diligently in every job I took on, always seeking opportunities to learn and grow. I discovered my true passion when I entered the nonprofit sector, particularly when I moved from Florida to Tulsa, Oklahoma. Working with immigrant families, I began to step out of my comfort zone and advocate passionately for their needs, ensuring they had access to the resources necessary for success in this country.
Years of dedication and hard work led me to a pivotal moment where I had the privilege of leading a nonprofit organization called Avanzando Juntos as its Executive Director. Accepting this role, I recognized that growth requires stepping out of your comfort zone, embracing your culture, surrounding yourself with supportive individuals who see your potential, and viewing failures as opportunities for personal development.
Life may require us to wear many hats, but with commitment and clear goals, the sky is truly the limit.
As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?
I was born in Venezuela and speak three languages fluently: Spanish, English, and Italian. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Marketing.
12 years of experience in the non-profit sector
I previously worked for Family and Children Services, Communities In Schools, Tulsa Educare Early Childhood Center, and now at Avanzando Juntos
My career roles include bilingual family support, lead site coordinator, case manager, Director of family services, and my new role as Executive Director
Throughout my career, all of these positions have shaped me into the person I am today. As a result of those roles, I was able to better serve my community.
We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.
Building trust and getting to know clients is very important for my organization. In Avanzando Juntos we provide monthly workshops ,Tecnical assistance,mentoring and networking opportunities to engage with clients.
As non profit lenders we support our Latino Entrepreneurs and small businessess by creating an ecosystem of supports .
Is important that you create a trust to gain loyalty with your existing and future clients.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I love what I do .I feel that our clients can connect with me because I’m an immigrant myself, I am fluent in their language, and I’ve dedicated years to working with the Latino community. Additionally, I have strong partnerships that provide valuable support to them and to my organization.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.ajtulsa.org
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/avanzandojuntosAJ/
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/onelia-macchia-anzola-526867215/