We were lucky to catch up with Brenda Arce recently and have shared our conversation below.

Brenda, appreciate you joining us today. Can you tell us the backstory behind how you came up with the idea?

My career has been in the staffing industry for over 16 years. I manage our Miami operations for contract and contract to hire roles in the administrative and accounting field for Fortune 500 company – Robert Half. I have always been active when it comes to being a leader for topics related to DEI. Though my work with Robert Half as a DEI ambassador and by my volunteer work with The Latina Pro a movement to helps the Latina community to grow professionally and personally though the power of networking. But it was tapping into my personal experiences as growing up as a Puerto Rican in United States that made me decide to write a Children’s Book on such an important topic as diversity and self-acceptance.

My father was in the army and we did not have the resources to be traveling back to Puerto Rico when I was younger and we also did not have the technology we have today. Growing up it was very difficult for me to understand my hispanic heritage.

As I shared my stories of growing up with friends, they encouraged me to write a book. Although I had a very busy schedule from work and being a mom. It was also something I had visualized doing in the future, so I started my journey of writing “Kissed by the Sun”. A story about family, acceptance, diversity, and what makes us unique. Where a young girl learns about who she is and why she is different from her classmates. As she embraces her identity, accent, and use of Spanglish words, she wins over everyone’s hearts. This book teaches children it is important to learn to accept one another no matter how we look, speak, or where we come from.

Now that I am a mother to toddler, I saw how books are such an important tool to teach our children about stories that to help them get through challenges and learn different topics. Writing a book on diversity for children I believe could help reduce stereotypes in the future, make children feel more comfortable with differences and overall help parents open up the conversation.

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?

My name is Brenda Arce. I am Puerto Rican who was born in Texas. Growing up I loved the arts! I did theater, beauty pageants, voice-over work all while in college earning my bachelor’s degree in Advertising. After college I decided to move to Miami. I had a few creative projects here but ultimately ended up working in corporate. I shift my focus on growing a career in the staffing industry which is very focused on business development and recruiting. It was not an easy in the beginning but I was able to make a name for myself through cultivating and creating relationships. I was able to win top awards at Robert Half like “Reach for the Star” for performance, be on Brickell Magazine list of top 20 under 40 and in 2017 was named one of Florida’s most Powerful and Influential women by the Florida Diversity Council. Although my corporate career was growing, I have always believed that once you are a creative individual, there is always going to be a part of you that needs a creative outlet. My new creative endeavor was to write a children’s book! I decided to do a self-published book, so I can be a part of the creative process when it came to illustrations and learning the book business/industry. It was process that took over a year and a half to complete but I am proud that I never gave up. Proving to myself that anything is possible with hard work and dedication.

How’d you build such a strong reputation within your market?

I believe that when you have a strong network it helps you create a reputation. Earlier in my career, I started networking to just meet people and collect business cards it was not helpful. When I started letting people get to know me, understanding their business and creating actual connections it really help me create a stronger network and actual true friends. When my network learned about me trying to create my book and the message on diversity I intended to deliver, it was unbelievable the support I received. They kept me motivated, bounce ideas with me and helped with introductions that helped me in research process. On the other hand, you also need to keep your network in mind anytime you can offer a recommendation or advice.

How do you keep in touch with clients and foster brand loyalty?

I created a website with a shopify expert and have an active instagram account but keeping close to my audience has been the most rewarding. Connecting with children and adults through school visits, readings at bookstores and libraries. Author visits create a lasting impressions. I try with each visit to make it more than just a book reading by sharing my experience on actually writing a book and getting it to be published. Giving the students inspiration that anything can be achieved that they put their minds to. I also love hearing from adults about their struggles on accents and acceptance when they transitioned to new schools or jobs. Bringing the message of Kissed by the Sun directly to my audience about embracing diversity and acceptance has become my mission.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.kissedbythesun.org
• Instagram: @kissedbythesun_book
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/brendaenise

Image Credits
Intagram: @amandaronphotography