The Nopalera Podcast

Sandra Velasquez

My name is Sandra Velasquez and I am the Founder of Nopalera, a Mexican Botanical Bath & Body brand that celebrates an elevates culture. I founded Nopalera with a vision to change the cultural perception of the value of Latino goods in the marketplace while inspiring my community to stand in their worth. This podcast is a mix of solo episodes and conversations with industry friends where I discuss the strategies, systems, ups & downs, of building a brand from the ground up. I am very passionate about providing access to my fellow entrepreneurs about what it's really like to build a business that can scale. If you are a bootstrapped founder too, this is for you. This is for us. read less

Ep. 25 Making Financial Literacy Fun with Beatriz Acevedo
Mar 15 2023
Ep. 25 Making Financial Literacy Fun with Beatriz Acevedo
NEW EPISODE! Ep. 25  Making Financial Literacy Fun with Beatriz AcevedoBeatriz Acevedo is one of the leading inspirational voices and Latina entrepreneurs in the United States. She has dedicated her career to empowering and opening doors for the next generation of Latino leaders.  Beatriz and Sandra discuss financial histories involving family and educational upbringings and how her latest startup SUMA Wealth is making an impact in the Latino community.  It is the leading financial technology company devoted to increasing prosperity, opportunity, and financial inclusion for young U.S.-born Latinos. SUMA's innovative approach deploys technology to build financial tools that are engaging, culturally relevant, and useful to the community. SUMA also creates user-centric content and brand-based experiences that inspire, inform and empower the community to build wealth and control their financial future.Connect with BeatrizLinkedinInstagramtwitterConnect with NopaleraWebsiteInstagramYoutubeTik TokJoin Sandra's Entrepreneurial NewsletterAsk a business questionREAD MORE ABOUT BEATRIZ:Beatriz started her career in media at a young age, first on radio and later on television. Her work earned her three Emmys, one MTV Music Award, and a Media Correspondent Award, among others. She later became a tech media entrepreneur as the Co-Founder and President of mitú, the leading digital media brand for young Latinos in the U.S. Under her leadership, she went on to raise $50M in funding, led by some of the most successful venture capital groups in California. The mentorship initiatives that she created through her Accelerator Program, have also provided invaluable access to the next generation of multicultural storytellers, with an emphasis on female leadership. Beatriz's expertise has been to create content at the intersection of media, technology, and social impact.Beatriz is a passionate and sought-after speaker who enjoys discussions around diversity as good business, female leadership, and the economic impact of Latinos in America. Additionally, she sits on numerous boards and advisory committees.Beatriz recently co-founded and co-chairs LA Collab, a Hollywood initiative aimed at doubling Latino representation in Hollywood, both in front and behind the camera by 2030.BOARD MEMBER● Adara Acquisition Corp (NYSE: ADRA)● 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Committee● Homeboy Industries● 9th Wonder, Marketing Agency Group● Latino Community Foundation● PocketWatch, Digital Media Studi
Ep.16 Releasing Money Wounds And Opening The Gate Of Possibility With Linda Garcia Of In Luz We Trust
Sep 28 2022
Ep.16 Releasing Money Wounds And Opening The Gate Of Possibility With Linda Garcia Of In Luz We Trust
This week continues the celebration of Latino Heritage month with a healing and empowering discussion with Sandra and Linda Garcia of In Luz We Trust.A Cali native and proud Latina, Linda Garcia spent 17 years working in the TV and film industry helping well-recognized TV networks, movie studios, and streaming services build programming for the U.S. Hispanic market. Despite enjoying the work, Linda knew there was more to life than working to make someone else rich. Eventually, she took the knowledge she’d gained and used it to launch the Let There Be Luz podcast: a weekly podcast aimed to channel one’s spiritual journey.In 2019, after relocating to Dallas, Linda’s spiritual journey led her to what she considers her life’s purpose: to help the Latinx community heal the generational money wounds that prevent them from achieving wealth. In 2020, at the height of the pandemic, Linda launched her first stock market course for beginners and created a rapidly growing community of Latinx investors on Patreon and Instagram known as In Luz We Trust. Today Linda is a published children’s book author, a self-made business owner, and a guiding Luz for thousands of BIPOC who are looking to break free from limiting and toxic money mentalities.Linda and Sandra share their personal experiences, challenges and epiphanies surrounding their relationship with money, wealth and self worth. This inspiring and emotional discussion is bound to motivate all who listen to look within, inspire a new relationship with oneself and develop a fresh perspective on building wealth in all aspects of life.Connect with LindaWebsiteInstagram Linda García Connect with NopaleraWebsiteInstagramTik TokJoin Sandra's Entrepreneurial NewsletterAsk a business question
Ep. 15: Releasing Fear and Building Through Community with Patty Rodriguez of Lil' Libros
Sep 21 2022
Ep. 15: Releasing Fear and Building Through Community with Patty Rodriguez of Lil' Libros
Sandra kicks off her celebration of Latino Heritage Month with Latina entrepreneurial pioneer, leader and radio personality Patty Rodriguez! Patty Rodriguez is one of the most influential American Latino leaders as a nationally recognized entrepreneur, radio producer, media personality, founder, angel investor, and best-selling author who was proudly raised in Los Angeles by Mexican immigrant parents. Patty founded Lil’ Libros, the #1 family-trusted bilingual children's media publisher, inspired by her desire to teach her two beautiful boys, Alexander and Oliver, about their family’s culture and language. Lil Libros impressively raised 2.3 Million from the community, making it the first community owned Latino book company.Her passion for uplifting her community extends beyond children's books, having made angel investments in early-stage startups and launching sin miedo productions in 2021 to elevate the voices and stories of the American Latino experience. Patty is best known as Senior Producer and On-Air Talent for the internationally syndicated radio show,"On Air With Ryan Seacrest," on iHeartMedia’s 102.7 KIIS FM Los Angeles.Patty’s inspiring story as a Los Angeles native born to immigrant parents exemplifies the power potential of the Latino/American experience evolving through family, friends and community. Through struggles and victories, Patty’s passion and resilience shines through brightly and has been a beacon for Nopalera specifically but for so many across the entire LatinX community and beyond!Connect with PattyWebsiteInstagramTwitterWikipediaPublicConnect with NopaleraWebsiteInstagramTik TokJoin Sandra's Entrepreneurial NewsletterAsk a business question
Ep. 11: From Fish to Lipstick: The Thread of Sustainability with Jenn Harper of Cheekbone Beauty
Jun 22 2022
Ep. 11: From Fish to Lipstick: The Thread of Sustainability with Jenn Harper of Cheekbone Beauty
This week’s episode Sandra meets with Cheekbone Beauty founder Jenn Harper. They discuss the value of bringing your previous experience and mission’s into entrepreneurship as well as an array of personal and professional challenges that not only help your business grow but help your individual growth as a human.Jenn Harper is the founder and CEO of Cheekbone Beauty Cheekbone Beauty is a digitally native direct to consumer brand that is helping Indigenous youth see themselves in a beauty brand while using the concept of Life Cycle Thinking (LCT) in the brand's ethos and in developing products.  Creating a new segment in the beauty industry - Sustainable Socially Conscious Beauty.  Jennifer Harper has been making a name for herself in the beauty industry for a number of years but has been gaining popularity quickly after being on the hit CBC show, Dragons Den https://www.cbc.ca/dragonsden/m_pitches/cheekbone-beauty in 2019. Cheekbone Beauty’s mission is to help every Indigenous youth see and feel their enormous value in the world while creating sustainable cosmetics.In addition to Cheekbone’s mission, she strives to educate as many people as possible about the Residential School System and the effects it has had on my family and friends through decades of generational trauma. She speaks regularly to university, college and high school students about social entrepreneurship, empathy and the history of her First Nations family. She has also been invited to speak to various entrepreneur groups including women in business associations, Apple Canada and First Nations organizations.Connect with Jenn Harperwww.cheekbonebeauty.comCheekbone Beauty InstagramCheekbone Beauty FacebookConnect with NopaleraWebsiteInstagramTik TokJoin Sandra's Entrepreneurial NewsletterAsk a business question