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In this week’s NextGen to Watch, we’re highlighting Yanel Rivera, who is the founder of nonprofit, Women Speak Up, and the secretary of the Perth Amboy Arts Council. She specializes in digital media and public relations work for both her positions.
Who inspired you the most in your life growing up?
The person who inspired me most growing up was my English teacher Ms. Sanabria in high school. She never gave up on me even when I was unsure of the path I was set to be on. There weren’t that many female role models in my life growing up other than the women in my family. It wasn’t common during that time in my life.
What lesson did you learn early in your career that still serves you today?
One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned in my career is if you have the choice of being right or kind, you always choose being kind. Many opportunities have come my way solely because the act of kindness I’ve displayed to women over the last eight years. You never know who can teach you something in the midst of sharing your kindness and having an open heart/mind. You also never know who you can truly inspire.
What are some of the biggest challenges you see for Latino professionals early in their careers?
Speaking from experience, I’ve always felt it used to be hard wearing my hair down and releasing my fro. We have seen it’s now become more acceptable in 2024, but when I first started stepping foot into the corporate world with people who weren’t Latina, it was a tad bit intimidating to be the one person with a fro in the room. You may face people pronouncing your name wrong and asking questions about your hair, but it also teaches you that your culture and your identity can be your power. At first it can be challenging to be the only Latina in the room at all, but learning to understand that no matter where you’re from, you still possess the power to make the same career moves as anyone else, and you are worthy of the same opportunities.
What is part of your daily routine that you look forward to every day?
What I look forward to as a part of my daily routine is being able to put my phone down for thirty minutes and not look at social media. When I first wake up in the morning, I try not to look at my phone for the first thirty minutes because I can already feel my body pulling me to check emails without first brushing my teeth. I find that doing so can bring a better productive and levelheaded start to your day.
When you get a new idea, what’s the first thing you do with it?
The moment inspiration strikes for me, I bring out my audio journal and say it out loud, so I don’t forget the moment or context of my thought. It can happen very randomly, and even if I’m in public, I’ll whisper it in an audio voice note if I don’t necessarily right it down. My best ideas have come from other women inspiring me in daily conversation.
What behavior or personality traits do you attribute to your success?
One of the traits I find that has gotten me far is my ability to listen and understand anyone who has come across my life even if I do not necessarily relate to what they need or what they’re going through. With Women Speak Up, I started it because of that reason but to also give women a place to feel safe and heard without being expected to do anything they do not want to. Every woman deserves to express her story and feel lighter once it’s been shared.
What is one nonwork-related goal that you would like to achieve in the next five years?
I want to make sure that no matter what happens in the next five years, my goal is to always have an open heart and never change because of my success. I always want to be an example of someone who can be teachable and helpful at the same time. I want to someday be the best wife, mother, and friend when those chapters of my life start, even if the world takes me further than I imagine.
Connect with Yanel Rivera on LinkedIn, and follow her on Instagram.
