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

Alright, Yesenia thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Let’s kick things off with your mission – what is it and what’s the story behind why it’s your mission?

I started my business because as a first-generation Mexican immigrant, I know what it feels like to want financial security but not have a clear roadmap to get there. Growing up, I saw how people who worked hard still struggled with having enough money. I saw how that struggle prevented people from dreaming. It’s hard to dream when you are just surviving. I knew I wanted something different, but I wasn’t sure where to start.

It took me 10 years to save up to buy my first home for $125,000 cash. At the time, I had just graduated college and wasn’t earning much. My first home was definitely not a dream home. It was a fixer-upper, and it needed a lot of work. I didn’t know if I had just bought a money pit.

I invested $75,000 in renovations, and thankfully, that first home became the foundation to help me buy my second home, my dream home, for $400,000 cash without a mortgage.

But more important than my financial success was the mindset shift I had. I used to believe that people like me didn’t build brand-new homes. But then I did. I had built my home from the ground up. That’s when I realized I had been holding onto limiting beliefs that weren’t serving me. Who told me I couldn’t build a home? Who decided what I was allowed to achieve?

I knew I wasn’t alone in these doubts. So many Latina women experience the same struggles. They follow financial advice that tells them to pinch pennies and feel guilty for spending. But that advice isn’t helping them build wealth, it’s keeping them stuck.

That’s why I started my business. I wanted to help Latinas save for their second homes, their dream homes. To remind them that they don’t have to settle. To show them that financial security is possible for them too.

Financial security looks different for everyone. The cookie-cutter methods we hear about don’t work for everyone, and when we try to force them, we often don’t feel more secure, we just feel like we failed. That’s why it’s important to define financial security on our own terms and make choices and plans that make sense for our lives.

The mission behind my business is to help Latinas save for their second homes, whether it’s their dream home or an investment property, so they can create the life they truly want.

Yesenia, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

I’m Yesenia Godoy, but I go by Yese (pronounced Yes-eh). I’m a money mindset coach dedicated to helping Latinas confidently save and buy their second homes.

I lived through the same financial fears and doubts that my clients experience. I know what it feels like to be overwhelmed with financial decisions. I know what it feels like to be afraid of making a mistake with my money, especially when it comes to a big purchase like buying a home. That’s why I don’t just focus on the tools but also on helping women build confidence in their financial decisions.

I work with Latinas who are ready to buy their second homes and finally feel financially secure. Many of my clients have already bought their first homes and either want to invest in a second home or finally buy their dream home.

My approach is different because, while there’s a lot of financial advice out there, most of it wasn’t created for Latinas. It doesn’t address the unique financial experiences we have.

I also focus on mindset work because if we don’t address the thoughts and beliefs that shape our financial behaviors, no financial strategy will help us break out of old cycles.

And I don’t believe that one-size-fits-all financial advice helps us truly step into our financial power. Instead, I help my clients create financial plans that work for their lifestyles. A plan that allows them to enjoy their money today while making homeownership a reality.

I’m proud of having helped my clients pay off $282,000 in debt, save and invest $128,000, and cancel $3,600 worth of subscriptions just in the last year. But what I’m most proud of are the mindset shifts my clients have experienced. I’ve worked with women who were afraid to even look at their bank accounts, and now they’re confidently managing their finances. I’ve helped women who never thought homeownership was possible for them save for their dream homes, and I’ve seen my clients go from feeling stuck and anxious about money to making powerful financial decisions that align with their goals.

I want people to know that financial freedom doesn’t mean following a perfect formula or always making the “right” money decisions. It means making the right decisions for YOU.

We’d love to hear a story of resilience from your journey.

One of the moments that tested my resilience the most was when I saved up to buy my first home in cash. I didn’t have any guidance. I wasn’t making a lot of money. It took me 10 years of disciplined saving to be able to afford that home. And even then, I needed more money to make it livable, so I put $75,000 into renovations.

I had so many doubts. The house was in such bad shape that I originally didn’t even consider it an option. I had no experience renovating homes or any idea how much it would really cost. If it didn’t work out, it would mean I had just thrown away my life savings.

And I had no safety net. No one in my family had made a purchase like this before. I had no one to guide me through what to do next. And certainly no one to back me up financially if this failed. But I didn’t let that stop me. I focused on what I could control, and I found ways to make it work.

That house turned out to be the best decision I ever made. I sold it and walked away with $300,000 cash in hand. I used that to buy my second home, my dream home, completely debt-free.

That experience changed the way I relate to money. It taught me that it’s important to take strategic risks and trust yourself, even when you don’t have all the answers (and you rarely will).

Now, this is what I help my clients do. So many Latinas have the discipline but not the confidence to take the next step to buy their first or second homes. They’re afraid to make a mistake. They don’t trust themselves with money. I teach them how to move past those fears and make strategic financial decisions.

Any stories or insights that might help us understand how you’ve built such a strong reputation?

I don’t teach money the traditional way. Most financial advice is either overly restrictive or overly simplified, and it focuses on strategy but ignores mindset.

We’re told to just try harder, be more disciplined, and sacrifice our joy. But when we try, it doesn’t work long-term because it doesn’t consider our real lives and lived experiences. And for many Latinas, the financial paths we’re supposed to follow don’t always fit our current realities.

That’s where I come in. I bridge the gap between strategy and mindset. My coaching is built on the same key principles that have helped me build my reputation.

I focus on financial empowerment, not just the strategy or plan. My clients don’t just need to know what to do with their money. They need to learn to trust themselves with money. I help them go from second-guessing their financial decisions to saving for and buying their second homes.

I tailor financial strategies to real people. One-size-fits-all money advice doesn’t work. I help my clients create custom financial plans that work for their lifestyles. Plans that allow them to enjoy their money in the present while still working toward financial security and homeownership.

And I provide a judgment-free space where my clients feel seen and supported. Many of my clients feel ashamed of their spending habits or think they should be further along. I help them break through that guilt so they can find clarity and take control of their finances.

But more than anything, I lead by example. My clients know I’ve been where they are. I’ve made the big financial moves they want to make. I’ve bought homes in cash. I’ve invested in my future. And I’ve achieved financial security.

And most importantly, I’ve helped my clients do the same.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.yesegodoy.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/yesegodoy
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/godoyyese
• Other: Email: [email protected]

Image Credits
Vanesa Velazquez