Blog
Creating the Life You Want with a Growth Mindset
As I write this, I'm watching my almost two-year old son play with his piano and asking myself, where did the last three years go?
It feels like a blur when I try to replay them in my mind.
Remember when we thought the pandemic was going to be over in a few months? Yeah, that did not happen.
JUST Entrepreneur Turned Community Director
Throughout my life, I have learned to be firm when it comes to responding to the different situations life throws at us. When we say “yes” or “no” we have to mean it. Doing so helps us persevere.
La Tía Mary: The Story Behind The Lady Who Makes Piñatas
Every morning, 59-year-old Mary Coronado wakes up with a smile. She starts her day with a prayer, offering thoughts for herself, her loved ones, and even strangers. Mary embraces each day like a holiday, donning her finest dresses and meticulously doing her makeup and hair—without exception.
The Key to Progress When Starting From Zero
Female entrepreneur, Ninfa Espinoza, started living when she realized that her life might never get to be ‘easy’. Working seven days a week at multiple side hustle jobs, she decided she was going to start living on her terms instead of reacting to the stream of unfortunate events that never seemed to stop.
Closing The Racial Wealth Gap Through Community Ownership
Most of my best decisions have come out of existential dilemmas. Or rather, most of my best decisions have come from deciding to stop running away from existential dilemmas and address them head on.
I’ve been in the impact investing world for nearly a decade, and throughout that time I’ve faced several complex questions about how to create systemic change while driving a competitive financial return for investors.
The Power Of Owning Your Thoughts, From An Entrepreneur Battling Cancer
Susana’s journey as an entrepreneur began when she was nine years old in Ciudad Juarez, Chihuahua, Mexico. Her family lived in extreme poverty and from a very young age, Susie knew she needed to work in order to survive. The intrepid entrepreneur sold newspapers in the street, washed cars and cleaned houses.
Grandmother entrepreneur is ‘60 and thriving’
Yolanda is a 63-year old grandmother and seamstress. Her days consist of taking care of her plants, her family and her business. She is happy with what she has and who she has become.
“Peace, this is what success means to me. My business is small and I don’t want it to grow anymore. This is exactly how I want my life to be,” she said.
Designing for humans, not users
My journey with JUST began when I connected with CEO Steve Wanta through the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business MBA+ program. I was drawn to the organization immediately after my initial conversation with Steve and my research into their mission, the clients they serve and their $1M COVID-19 pledge. My task? To lead JUST’s new market growth strategy that focused on the expansion of their current user base to add Black entrepreneurs.
A commitment to better serving Black female entrepreneurs
My journey with JUST began when I connected with CEO Steve Wanta through the University of Texas, McCombs School of Business MBA+ program. I was drawn to the organization immediately after my initial conversation with Steve and my research into their mission, the clients they serve and their $1M COVID-19 pledge. My task? To lead JUST’s new market growth strategy that focused on the expansion of their current user base to add Black entrepreneurs.
A survivor's path to entrepreneurship
Eight years ago, Guillermina decided to turn her life around while washing dishes at a Mexican restaurant, her first job after arriving in the United States.
At the time, Guillermina was in an abusive relationship with her now ex-husband. Her fear of leaving him and having nowhere to go with her two young boys made her stay longer than she wished she had.
A labor of loss: How a woman’s grief therapy turned into a business
Archette Holmes started sewing again after she lost her mother, Nell Holmes, to ovarian cancer in 2013. The sound of her mother’s old sewing machine took her back to her childhood home. Nell and her father Eugene (aka Gene) taught her how to sew when she was eight years old. Nell sewed patches on soldier’s uniforms and Gene specialized in men’s formal wear.
The 5 Key Elements of Trust
Can you build trust systematically?
It is Sunday February 14th, 2021, Valentine’s Day in Austin, Texas. As the arctic freeze dumps a foot of snow and a global pandemic rages on, I asked my wife what she thought about trust.
“To trust people they have to be dependable.”It All Begins Here
Closing the Gap: The 3 P’s of Resilience
What is resilience?
Experts say resilient people have the three P’s - Perspective, a higher Purpose, and are ready to Pivot. The Tibetan Buddhist monk Pema Chodron challenges us to abandon hope to connect with the present moment. Consultants at McKinsey & Company encourage us to practice bounded optimism to ensure we can weather a crisis.
The Key to Success: Lessons From a Grandmother
Leti Cabrera, grandmother and JUST entrepreneur.
Leti Cabrera is a woman people usually don’t forget. She owns a cleaning business in Austin, Texas and is a proud grandmother. Her peaceful demeanor and friendly smile cover many scars.
JUST, shifting the focus from transaction to transformation
There is a popular saying that goes, “Give a man a fish and you will feed him for a day. Teach him how to fish, and you will feed him for a lifetime.” But how can the man fish if he does not have a fishing pole? And where does he get the money to buy the equipment he needs to actually become a fisherman?
JUST Fest 2019
JUST Fest 2019 received more than 600 guests at Springdale Station Sunday, November 3rd. The theme of the event was Somos Poderosas or We Are Powerful, a title fitting for the women who make up the 650+ female entrepreneur network. The festival celebrated these powerful mujeres and gave the Austin community an opportunity to get to know their work.