YOU’VE BEEN AT NBC UNIVERSAL FOR ALMOST TEN YEARS. IF THERE’S ONE WORD YOU COULD USE TO DESCRIBE YOUR CAREER, WHAT WOULD THAT BE AND WHY?

 Nontraditional! I went from Page, to behind the scenes and then in front of them. It wasn’t the most traditional path, but I think the key to pivoting (in any career you find yourself in) is to build it, and see it for yourself. If you start trusting your vision and work to show others you can do things outside of your job description (while showing them you can still do that well!), the more blocks of trust you build to show that you can turn your side hustle into the main job.

What are the key ingredients to your TV journalism success so far?

Curiosity, scrappiness, and a get it done attitude.

When your family moved to the U.S. and you were a part of the DACA program, did you envision your future success?

Part of it, was envisioning myself beyond my current circumstance – I was undocumented, didn’t come from money and had no connections or mentors. The other part was working hard, getting numerous side jobs to support myself. Also believing and trusting in yourself that you can make opportunities out of scenarios that others might not see as important – or just don’t get. Like the time I said I lived in NYC (when I was actually still in school in Ohio), just so the hiring manager wouldn’t discard my resume. They called me, wanted me in NYC the next day for an in-person interview. I packed a purse, got on a bus that night. 18 hours later and 9 stops after, I landed in NYC for that interview. It was unpaid, and unrelated to what I wanted to do professionally, but it got me in the door and in the city I wanted to make a network in, despite not knowing how I could use that experience because I was still undocumented. It doesn’t have to make sense for anyone else, if it makes sense for you. Trust your gut!

YOU’VE HAD ONE BOOK PUBLISHED WITH MIKA BREZINSKI AND ARE LAUNCHING YOUR SECOND BOOK TOUR FOR “THE OTHER”. WHAT ARE YOU HOPING READERS TAKE AWAY FROM YOUR STORY?

One of the big things the women I interviewed had a hard time with, is discerning when it’s time to ask for value back from our jobs, how to say no, ask for more, and advocate for ourselves our ideas and actually use our seat at the table and not be left behind or be another statistic to add to the pay wage gap. This is what this book is all about. A journey into getting to know ourselves better so we can dismantle the idea of being different as a liability and use it instead as an advantage and strength. That coupled with giving the reader tactical and practical tips on getting ahead in your career with the nuances of our lived experiences. I hope after reading it they know how to take their mindset from earning it to owning it.

YOU RECENTLY LAUNCHED ACCESO, A MENTORING COMMUNITY. WHAT AND WHO WAS YOUR INSPIRATION?

My inspiration is my younger self. A Latina who felt at times lonely for not having a community of people like her and being ‘the only.’ Having career mentors are so important. Mika Brzezinski has been fantastic. Everyone deserves that type of access for opportunity and mentorship.

YOU GET DRESSED UP FOR TV AND INDUSTRY EVENTS. WHAT’S YOUR SECRET TO LOOKING PULLED TOGETHER? CAN YOU SHARE YOUR “CAMERA READY” BEAUTY TIPS?

Black is my friend. Can’t go wrong with a little black dress or a tailored black blazer. Oh and lip color! Can’t leave the house without it, doesn’t matter if I’m walking the dog or grabbing coffee. Learned that from my abuela. She wouldn’t even go to the living room without it. I love a dewy skin makeup moment. Unfortunately, it doesn’t always look great under bright lights. So blotting powder or translucent powder is a must! I also always like a darker color on the eye crease to define the eye area (love to also use my bronzer color for this). And a good mascara. And blush, always blush!