Accentism is a thing…a discriminatory or unfair treatment centered on a person’s accent or use of a language. It can represent a barrier to many, but not for Ana Carolina Salazar. To her, it’s an advantage.

In this episode of "I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY" Chris Majocha and I sit down with the Founder and CEO of BOLD Digital + Hispanic Marketing Agency and as we dive into her inspiring journey of moving to the U.S. from Venezuela as a teenager, not knowing the language, and navigating the challenges of adapting to a new life in a new culture with a new family…well, let’s just say we quickly agree that Ana is no pushover.

Ana opens up about the emotional experience of losing her mother, and how she and her sister came to the U.S. to live with their father, who had remarried. As an English language learner, Ana recounts both funny and challenging anecdotes that shaped her early days in the United States. Despite the initial struggles, Ana now commands English fluently and has been recognized for her outstanding work as a Latina entrepreneur.

Last year, Ana decided to launch her own podcast, "Hablamos Spanglish," where she explores the personal journeys of people who like her, have been oftentimes challenged by how they are perceived and who have bulldozed their way through obstacles that try to get in the way. She not only celebrates her culture and its diverse voices, showcasing the evolution of her accent from a perceived weakness into a strength – her podcast now expands into English, connecting even more souls with the shared story of resilience, passion, and victory!

#Urbander #UdoU #IHAVESOMETHINGTOSAY #podcast #HabamosSpanglish #Accentism #Grit