Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Leia Baez . We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Leia , appreciate you joining us today. Before we talk about all of your success, let’s start with a story of failure. Can you open up about a time when you’ve failed?
I used to despise the “F” word – failure. I didn’t talk about it or bring it up in conversation. In fact, I preferred to talk about my achievements. I was proud that people knew me as a successful Latina and an award-winning journalist. But in 2015, my perspective changed when my life was flipped upside down. I went from feeling like I had everything – I was a homeowner, a wife, a mother – to nearly losing it all. I had to prove to a judge that I was worthy of being a mother in the first round of a lengthy custody battle with my soon-to-be ex-husband.
I had failed as a wife and mother, and my battle with alcoholism was exposed. But I’m also a fighter and refused to allow this setback to hold me back for good. My eye-opening trials forced me to re-evaluate my life, habits, and the role model I wanted to be for my daughter.
That dark time led me to who I was supposed to be. It allowed me to pull back the curtain on my choices and what I needed to do to reach my full potential. My biggest failures allowed me to tap into the best version of myself and achieve my goals, including sobriety, becoming an award-winning author, and traveling as a keynote speaker. As a speaker, I can now share my story of hope and inspiration with people worldwide, and that would have never been possible without my failures.
Failure builds resilience, promotes growth, and is a stepping stone toward building your best self. I am no longer afraid to fail because failure is the start of something greater.
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.
One moment of courage and vulnerability led me to my entrepreneurship journey as a keynote speaker and award-winning author.
In 14 years as an award-winning journalist, I took great pride in sharing other people’s stories of hope and inspiration. But on January 27, 2018 – for the first time in my life – I publicly shared raw details of my own life on a stage in front of hundreds of people. I was graduating with a master’s degree from Bellevue University and was selected to be the commencement speaker. Even though it was one of the most challenging things I have ever done, I found the courage to be vulnerable and talk about the darkest times of my life – a divorce and custody battle. I told the audience how I felt like a failure as a wife and a mother, and I thought my life was over.
That courageous moment sent me on quite the adventure, opening doors to opportunities I never imagined. After Bellevue University shared my speech on YouTube, it was shared by a motivational company called Goalcast. Overnight, I became a viral motivational speaker, reaching more than 6.5 million people across the globe. My viral speech led me to several paid speaking engagements and eventually my decision to write my memoir.
Owning my story and being authentic paid off in significant ways and was the proof I needed that all the good stuff happens on the other side of our fears. I believe we step into our power whenever we find the courage to share a piece of our journeys – especially the hard-to-talk-about stuff. I’ve learned that vulnerability is the key to authentic connections.
Aside from my work as a keynote speaker and award-winning author, I now coach leaders to build their confidence and share their stories.
For you, what’s the most rewarding aspect of being a creative?
The most rewarding aspect of being a speaker and author is the opportunity for connection. Being open with my struggles has allowed me to make authentic connections with people from all walks of life.
I’ve learned that vulnerability can be a powerful catalyst for bringing people together on a deeper and more meaningful level. Authenticity has a magical way of creating space for people to relate and empathize with each other’s setbacks and challenges.
I love nothing more than getting a random direct message on social media from a stranger who can empathize with my sobriety journey. It’s incredible to know we are not alone, no matter what we face. It’s also a great reminder that we all struggle in some way. When we can break down the walls between our differences, we can foster compassion and honesty.
Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?
I became known as a thought leader and powerful speaker when my commencement speech went viral, reaching more than 6.5 million people. It wasn’t long before my email inbox was blowing up with requests from event organizers for me to speak at events. I landed my first paid speaking engagement in London for a women’s leadership conference. The event organizer loved my story of overcoming so much that she even featured me on her radio show and the cover of her magazine. 
Contact Info:
- Website: leiabaez.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/leia_baez/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/leiabaezspeaks
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/leiabaez/
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/leiabaez
Image Credits
SIERA NIKOLE PHOTOGRAPHY