Meet Jefa: Angel Rodriguez - rfc21

Meet Jefa: Angel Rodriguez - rfc21

Angel is an Expert Social Worker and Innovator with more than two decades of experience, specializing in public child welfare. Currently serving as the CEO of rfc21, she provides a comprehensive range of services to organizations seeking transformation and innovative solutions through curriculum development, leadership coaching, and grant management services. She also serves as an Expert Witness for law firms. Angel holds a Master of Science in Social Administration (MSSA/MSW) from Case Western Reserve University.

As a seasoned consultant and accomplished executive leader, Angel leverages her extensive experience to drive meaningful change in communities of color and advance realm of public child welfare.

In her personal time, Angel enjoys spending time with her wife and dogs. She practices Pilates, loves to travel, and is an avid hockey fan.

Connect with Angel on Instagram at https://www.instagram.com/rfconsult21/
or on LinkedIn at https://www.linkedin.com/in/angel-y-rodriguez/
Website: https://rfc21.com

Embracing Epilepsy, Building Community, and Transforming Child Welfare.

What if a life-changing diagnosis could be the catalyst for a more fulfilling career? In this enlightening episode of Cafecito con Jefas, we sit down with Angel Rodriguez, a seasoned social worker turned CEO of RFC21, who shares her incredible 20-year journey in public child welfare, the profound impact of her epilepsy diagnosis, and her transition into entrepreneurship. Angel's story is one of resilience and transformation, as she navigates the challenges of leaving a high-stress job, reassessing her life, and building a new path driven by her passion for community and advocacy.

Angel opens up about the emotional toll her previous roles took on her well-being, leading to a courageous decision to step away due to burnout. We discuss her strategic approach to entrepreneurship, leveraging a robust professional network, and the importance of community support. Angel's creation of a community center to prevent child abuse and promote family unity underscores the importance of reputation and trust. Her vision for a holistic entrepreneurial space that fosters connection and growth is both inspiring and actionable, especially for those looking to make a meaningful impact.

We also explore Angel's personal journey of embracing her unique superpowers and the importance of clear communication in building confidence in oneself and others. From heartwarming personal anecdotes to insightful book recommendations, this episode is a rich tapestry of wisdom and practical advice. Join us as we celebrate the transformative power of helping others and the importance of not feeling alone in the entrepreneurial journey. Don't miss out on this heartfelt conversation that promises to leave you inspired and motivated.

Transcript

Storytelling Journey of an Entrepreneur

Kita Zuleta 0:00

Hi, jefas, welcome to the Cafecito con Jefas podcast. I'm your host, kita Zuleta, a brand strategist and photographer born and raised in the city of Los Angeles. My passion is to help Jefas like yourself understand the concept of personal branding, to equip you with the tools and strategies to show up online. Show up, jefa. Join me and your fellow jefas on this storytelling adventure as we dive deep into conversations that bridge the gap between the real, unfiltered moments of life and the journey of entrepreneurship. While our paths may vary, the emotions and experiences that unite us remain undeniably relatable we're all the same, same but different.

Kita Zuleta 0:44

In today's episode, I get to talk to Angel Rodriguez. Angel is an expert social worker and innovator with more than two decades of experience specializing in public child welfare. Currently serving as the CEO of RFC21, she provides a comprehensive range of services to organizations seeking transformation and innovative solutions through curriculum development, leadership, coaching and grant management services. She also serves as an expert witness for law firms. Angel holds a Master of Science in Social Administration from Case Western Reserve University. As a seasoned consultant and accomplished executive leader, angel leverages her extensive experience to drive meaningful change in communities of color and advance realm of public child welfare. In her personal time. Angel enjoys spending time with her wife and dogs. She practices Pilates, loves to travel and is an avid hockey fan. So grab your favorite mug, pour yourself a cup of cafecito and immerse yourself in conversations that will ignite your passion, spark creativity, elevate your thinking and fuel your determination. I see you, jefa, keep going. Welcome to the Cafecito con Jefa's podcast. Hello.

Kita Zuleta 2:19

What the heck of a bio there, amiga.

Angel Rodriguez 2:22

Well, I've been around a while about bio there, amiga.

Kita Zuleta 2:31

Well, I've been around a while, so now we heard the official bio. Thank you so much for coming and sharing your jefa story. I am honored and privileged to have you in community with me and to have had you around as long as you have. I'm really excited to find out exactly when you remember joining Capacito, but I'm just so excited to have you here. Thank you so much.

Angel Rodriguez 2:53

Thank you for having me. It's an honor to be here with you, to have joined you on this Hefa journey, so really it's an honor to be here. I appreciate you bringing me into this podcast journey with you too, so thanks for having me.

Kita Zuleta 3:10

Of course. Of course, I'm really excited. I am privileged to have already heard a glimpse and a segment of your Heffa story when you shared it at the storytelling workshop. That was a part of the holistic entrepreneurship series that we did for Cafecito con Jefas this past fall. So I'm really, really excited to now be able to share your story with more jefas and have you be able to tell them a bit more of who you are and what you do and what all this bio means and who you serve and where you're located.

Angel Rodriguez 3:50

Well, thank you, the holistic entrepreneurship series was a lot of fun. I had a great time learning from everyone, so that was fun. Well, in addition to everything that you said, I'm a wife, I'm a dog mom and a world traveler. Those are some of the things that I am and that I love doing. My family is of mixed descent. My mom's family is from Mexico. They've been here in the US for three generations. My father's family is from Nicaragua. My dad immigrated to the US when he was in his mid-20s, so that's when he met my mom and they got married and then they got divorced and family is family and lots of things happen and that's how it goes. That's probably a whole other podcast episode.

Angel Rodriguez 4:49

So every story is there's so much that happens and you know you, you laugh, you cry Like there's just a lot that goes on. But, um, so I'm in Los Angeles, um, I'm in the East San Gabriel Valley. Um, for those of you that are those of you that are in the know about LA, but I work all throughout the state of California. I've got clients up and down the state and I also have provided services just across the country, so I will work anywhere actually. So I mostly- Worldwide. Yes, worldwide, I'll go wherever I have a passport. So I'm good, I'm good to go.

Angel Rodriguez 5:28

I serve organizations in the public child welfare space, as you mentioned, executive leadership teams that are really in need of coaching, that want to support culture. Change is really what gets me excited. They want to take their business, their teams, to the next level. And then law firms that are looking to settle lawsuits and they need someone that is an expert in public child welfare, child abuse and neglect. So those are people that typically look for me. So those are people that typically look for me, and I've always had a passion for nonprofit agencies.

Angel Rodriguez 6:14

They were always people that I worked with when I was in government service, and so those agencies are serving communities of color, indigenous communities, and I like to support them in getting their work done, and so sometimes that takes the form of being on their grant team or helping them find grants. Sometimes it's supporting their research, maybe doing some data collection or report writing things like that, and it's a lot of fun. I serve on a nonprofit board and it's a lot of fun. I serve on a nonprofit board and that's a lot of fun. I love being around all the teams that work for the agency and finding out what they're doing and how much they love what they're doing their jobs. And I recently joined the National Small Business Association's Leadership Council. So any small businesses out there, if you have any needs, thoughts, interests you're concerned about what's happening to small business, call me. I'm serving on the council and so I want to represent small businesses' interests and so I'm doing that. They asked me to serve, so that's what I'm doing.

Kita Zuleta 7:44

That's incredible, angel. Look out Hifas Y. I love it. Okay, so now I want to hear a little bit about what motivated you to start this Hefa journey. Right, like, why entrepreneurship I am sure, amongst all of the accolades and skill sets and things that you have done amongst your career, that was not a linear journey. So I would love to hear about what motivated you to pursue this chapter this season, this portion of what it is that you're doing now.

Angel Rodriguez 8:23

Well, I think about when you talk about the journey and it's not linear. I think I don't know if you've seen those pictures where it shows the arrow that goes up and up, and up and up, but then you see next to it it's that drawing that looks like a child with a crayon drew it and it goes in all kinds of different directions and it's all messy and it's all messy and it's just, you mean the description of my life it's.

Navigating Entrepreneurship After Life-Changing Diagnosis

Angel Rodriguez 8:51

It's really the description of all of our lives, right? We go in so many different directions, truly right, so it's the story of everyone's life. We just don't know all of those little pieces of how people got to where they are. So, you know, when I think about how I got here and you know how I pursued entrepreneurship, I would say I did not pursue entrepreneurship, it really pursued me, entrepreneurship, it really pursued me. And I say that because when I entered government service, I mean it was a privilege, I saw it as really, you know, an honor to be there to work with families, to do the work that I was doing. I loved it. And you know, entrepreneurship is my second career. Really.

Angel Rodriguez 9:53

I spent 23 years in the county and I was I started in Los Angeles County. I was working there for 20 years. I was a social worker. I had lots of different jobs. I had lots of different titles. Worker, I had lots of different jobs, I had lots of different titles. I started different programs there and then I was just about to turn 40. And you know, some people get a little sensitive about it and you know, as you turn that decade, people get a little antsy. I was fine with it. I was excited. People say the 40s are the best. I would agree.

Angel Rodriguez 10:32

But just as I was about to turn 40, a couple weeks, I ended up with a very life-changing diagnosis of epilepsy and it devastated my family, my wife, my mom, everyone, my friends that are my family. It was just really heavy. It changed everything, and part of what happened at that point is that I really had to reevaluate my life and what I needed to do and how stress was affecting me and my health. So, um, because what stress was doing was having an effect, having an effect on my illness, and epilepsy isn't something that you can ever get rid of. It doesn't go away. You can't use medication to make it go away, but you can get it under control. And so that became the goal, um, and it is under control now. So that's the end of you know, that's what the end in mind. So, uh, I'm doing well, um, so I decided, you know, after that was just about um, I think that was right around my 20th year mark I decided maybe going to a smaller county would help. Not a small county, a smaller county, right?

Kita Zuleta 12:15

We're still in Southern California, y'all.

Angel Rodriguez 12:17

Right, exactly. So I went from the largest county in the country to probably the next largest county in the country. San Bernardino, so I took an exam. I know. You know it's overachieving is really.

Kita Zuleta 12:37

We're going to work on it. Mujer, we're going to take care of you. It's me, that's the abundance we're claiming for you this year. Mujad, we're going to take care of Angel. Yep, yes, mujad, we see you working hard for everybody else. Mujad, yes, yes.

Angel Rodriguez 12:54

I work hard for myself. Now I've gotten a lot better. Good. So I went to San Bernardino. They took me in. I took an executive leadership position there and it was really interesting.

Angel Rodriguez 13:11

You know, I had to learn a whole new set of people. You know, the laws were the same but it was just a different culture. It was a different community. It was different acronyms. You know government people like to talk in a was different acronyms, government people like to talk in a lot of acronyms. And I just was kind of wandering around like what's happening? What are these things? And so I had a lot of great people around me that would give me the. It means this oh God, thank you. So I had to translate everything into what I knew. Right, you know, and when you've had a brain issue, I was constantly trying to catch up like wow, what is happening? So I was just kind of going through it and I ended up staying there for about three years. And I ended up staying there for about three years.

Angel Rodriguez 14:05

But really, you know, it's still public child welfare, it's still the deepest depths of what happens in and with families. It's tough, it's tough. Hmm, in and with families, it's tough, it's tough, and the toll it took on my body was the same. I wasn't going into family homes and I hadn't for a little while but I was still working with social workers and supervisors and hearing their stories and I was still reviewing cases where terrible things had happened. And I was also still witnessing adoptions and listening about great things when kids got to go back home to their parents and found relatives, and go back home to their parents and found relatives and lots of different great things. So it was a little bit of both, but it still was really heavy.

Angel Rodriguez 15:10

So I knew I was kind of at the burnout stage so I had to figure out what was next. What was I going to do? What was I going to do? So I thought, well, I could maybe go into working in nonprofit myself or working in a philanthropic organization. So I started considering that. But I'm going to be real and tell you that I didn't get any of the jobs I applied for. I didn't, and that was a little bit hard because I thought I could, right, but I didn't. Obviously that was for a reason, but it's still tough at the time, right, you know.

Kita Zuleta 16:04

Of course we know that now yeah.

Angel Rodriguez 16:08

Yeah, yeah, yeah. So my wife and I had to decide, you know, what's going to be the next viable, next step, right, and that's when we kind of started tossing around this entrepreneurship idea. We knew other people that had done it. I wouldn't say it seemed easy by any stretch, but it seemed doable.

Kita Zuleta 16:36

Right, not impossible, not impossible. Not impossible. You can figure it out, yep.

Angel Rodriguez 16:43

Yeah, we're smart people, I could do this absolutely a little bit of delulu.

Kita Zuleta 16:49

Let's go, I am that friend, sign me up, right you?

Angel Rodriguez 16:56

know it wasn't easy. It wasn't an easy decision, of course it wasn't. It wasn't one that I took lightly. You know you have to figure out finances, because you don't jump into entrepreneurship from a position of leaving a job and have clients right away. Maybe some people do. I wasn't at the place where I could do that. I didn't have that capacity. The place where I could do that, I didn't have that capacity. So that's kind of where I was Given that. I had spent over two decades in the field, I had made connections right, I built a community of people I could rely on. I had people that cared about me, that knew the quality of work that I had done. So in late 2020, I took a leap of faith and I let the universe catch me. So that's sort of how I landed in this entrepreneurial spot. Because when I started, you know, as a social worker, I thought I was going to retire as an older person, not as an old person. As an older person.

Kita Zuleta 18:25

Whenever you decide.

Angel Rodriguez 18:28

Whatever that looks like Later. Later, you know, I was going to say you know, thank you, it's been wonderful, and get a little plaque or something and say, like with all my Get a key to the city. Key to the camp. I don't know. I need a pillar.

Kita Zuleta 18:46

I need a pillar in the building people and then Write my name on these walls, because blood, sweat and tears have been poured into them. Mujer. Ay tanto tiempo mujer. No, seriously, you give so much?

Angel Rodriguez 19:03

Yeah, it's true, it's hard. It's hard, it's true, yeah, but I just it wasn't. It just wasn't going to be, it just wasn't going to be the path. So when I started as an entrepreneur, I really wasn't sure how my past was going to shape my future.

Kita Zuleta 19:25

Huh, oh, I'm so excited for this.

Angel Rodriguez 19:30

Okay, settle in. Settle in. I mean, you know, I knew I could be an expert witness. I had heard about these people. It seemed a little bit scary, but you know, I could answer this phone call from law firms. I could receive those thousands of pages of case files. I could read them, I could write the reports, I could talk about them, and probably mostly because I wasn't responsible for fixing anything. That was the difference for me, Because sometimes people ask well, it's kind of still the same thing, You're still reading all of that stuff? Yes, and I don't have to fix that particular situation. I can still have an opinion about it, which, you know, we always do.

Building Community and Transforming Organizations

Angel Rodriguez 20:34

But so, aside from that, I really wasn't sure what the day-to-day was going to bring, and it was. It was um, challenging, that's the best word I have for it. It was challenging. I was, I was wandering that's where that that picture comes in, or all the lines go everywhere Cause I didn't know what I was doing. I didn't know where to go. Because I didn't know what I was doing, I didn't know where to go Um one project that had come up was um one with a tribal community that's indigenous to LA County, and we decided to work together.

Angel Rodriguez 21:18

We're still working together. Um, I love them. They're so much fun and the goal is really to establish a community center and they are going to use it to reclaim their members, to set up activities for the community, for the kids to have access to sports, to do fun things, to set up their own podcasts, to have a healing garden all kinds of great things. That is awesome. It's just going to be a place for people to gather and it really kind of serves as a place where, when you think about holistically, where when you think about holistically, it's a source of prevention. When kids and families can be together and do things that are positive and can support each other without the intervention of the government, there's a reduced risk for child abuse and neglect. You know your neighbor, you know when something's not right, you know with the kids or the parents or the grandma or whoever. So that was the first project that sort of that came up. But you know this is 2020, 2021, a little early.

Angel Rodriguez 22:45

But you know, I was still kind of struggling a little bit with what to do and, as the years kind of progressed and ticked on, more work in that public child welfare space found me. Those connections, those people that know me, wanted to work with me. Those connections, those people that know me, wanted to work with me. Why would I say no? They're people that I love. It's what I know, it's who I am. It's the purpose that I believe you know, in what I'm meant to do right now. So I started taking it on and that's where I find myself today, you know, writing curriculum supporting those agencies that are training new and existing social workers and supervisors and people that work in the system, providing coaching and training for them, doing speaking engagements, leadership coaching for those executive team leaders that really do want to change their culture in their agencies, and all the other things I've talked about. So that's my journey.

Kita Zuleta 24:12

There's so much there. There's so much there. Thank you for sharing so much of your story. There's so much that I can't let's not even rabbit hole it, because I want you to keep going, I want your voice to continue to be heard, because there's so much wisdom in all of the years that you have been doing what you've been doing and now translating that back into the community directly on your name.

Kita Zuleta 24:46

Like, do you see that? Like, have you? Have you seen? Have you like? Have you been able to like? Let me, let me, let me reflect to you the mirror that is hearing your story and catching it for the first time in this manner, where you're talking about how this transition right, I had heard what had happened in that entrepreneurship found you, or it became that holistic entrepreneurship that you needed to take care of Angel first, you know, and ensure that you would be at capacity to be able to serve anyone else before anything else, you know, and so we had had a bit more of that conversation. But do you realize how strong your community is that you have built?

Angel Rodriguez 25:47

I guess I didn't really.

Kita Zuleta 25:49

I guess I didn't. You took a leap of faith in Southern California. You realize it's a big place. Let's talk about it. It's a big place. It's a gamble. It doesn't matter where your starting point is. Really. I'm a gambler, I don't know what to tell you.

Kita Zuleta 26:07

You know. But I mean I'm right there with you, still right on the edge of that decision, brand new space. I just jumped, this leap of faith is right here and we're jumping all over again. But you were able to make that jump and get caught because you're here and you were able to receive back from your community who loves and trusts you, because you have put in that time, you have absolutely poured your blood, sweat and tears into your community. They saw you, they felt you, they received it, they seen it. It's not just work. There was impact there Enough for it to carry into professional work relationships, because that's not easy to do. It takes a while, we know that. I mean we talk about that in Cafecito. You know, like build a relationship so that we can refer one another you know what I'm saying. Like we got to trust each other too. You know we can't take that lightly. That's not easy. We're still small businesses like this. It matters. You know what I?

Kita Zuleta 27:29

mean, like who we're representing businesses like this it matters. You know what I mean. Like who we're representing, right can our names. Are they gonna also take care of this person that I also care about, that trusts my opinion, right, like? Take care of it so you have that reputation that is your brand on your name you see that on the ground.

Angel Rodriguez 27:48

Yeah, yeah, that's true, that is true. Yes, yeah, yeah, my reputation always meant a lot to me and it's and I guess I see now that it's what has led me to be able to build this base, to now take this entrepreneurial journey and make it what it is and have fun with it and I'm so excited because now I do want to ask about your brand's why?

Kita Zuleta 28:20

and your mission and your purpose behind all of it. As you're moving forward, I get the privilege to know that you're working behind the scenes. I'd love for you to share with your fellow Hefas a bit about your mission and everything that's coming for you and what you're pursuing now as you own your Hefa title and this new season on your Hefa journey.

Angel Rodriguez 28:45

I am fortunate enough to be working with another Heffa at this moment, joe from the Creative Inca and doing a rebrand, because, you know, when I started everything, you know I just kind of put everything together to have a presence, to sort of feel legitimate. You know, I didn't know how to be a businesswoman, so I put up some socials and got a pretty good website together to start with and did a few things. Everything was great. But now, as this new season of transition is here, it's time to level up and as I joined you in this amazing community, found Jo, and so she's working on supporting me in that rebrand.

Angel Rodriguez 29:47

So, um, I think the mission and the vision has, at its core, always been the same, but really, you know, it's to drive meaningful change in communities of color, um, and in the public child welfare system, because really that's in the public child welfare system, because really that's leaving the system. Yes, it was for me to take care of me, but it was also to see what I could do from the outside, to see what kind of change I could make from the outside. I feel like I had done everything I could do as an insider and I think it takes both. I think it takes people from both inside and the outside to work together to make that happen, to make the improvements. So my goal is really to transform.

Angel Rodriguez 31:02

My goal is really to transform organizations to perform at their highest levels, to be excellent, to be innovative and to be effective. So that's what my mission is on a daily basis. The purpose of what I do, my vision, is to lead transformative change and to leave the work, to leave this earth with a legacy of equity, of compassion and of progress. So you know, I don't know what I can accomplish in this lifetime. I can with the time, with the energy, with the resources that I have, so that the generations to come will have something to pick up and to work with. And so that's what fuels me every day to do what I get to do, because I think it's a privilege.

Speaker 3 32:11

It's a privilege Well, it is my privilege to be able to call you friend and to be able to learn that much more about this journey for you, because I had told you even before we started recording I admire you so much. Thank you, Y ahora put a couple more notches on that.

Kita Zuleta 32:29

You know what I'm saying. I admire you so much. Thank you y ahora. Put a couple more notches on that. You know what I'm saying. Like what, what? Who is this woman that I get to say that I know what is happening right now. Like wait, I know you wait, wait, wait, this is really cool. Like I need a, can we, can we go for a one-on-one? Like I need real time, wait, I know you. Wait, wait, wait, this is really cool. Can we go for a one-on-one? I need real time Anytime. Who is this woman? I'm just honored, mujer, your heart is so big.

Angel Rodriguez 33:09

As is yours, heart is so big as is yours, and I think what people don't know until I tell them is that, meeting you, you're the one that helped me really narrow down and get clear and serious about how I introduced myself. I was a hot mess when I showed up at that first got to see them co-working.

Kita Zuleta 33:37

Do you remember when that was?

Angel Rodriguez 33:40

I want to say it was probably in April of 2023. It was right around then. Okay, it had to have been right around then. Okay, it had to have been right around then. Okay, spring, yeah, spring. I was rebirthing. So you know it was. I didn't know what to say or how to say it or who I was becoming, and you really just helped me narrow that down and I think really, truly, if I hadn't met you, I don't know where that would have come from. I would just be running around out here with no real direction on being able to introduce myself. And I see you do that time and time again. Every single time that someone new shows up and doesn't know how to talk about who they are, what they do, you just narrow it right down with and for them, and they leave feeling light and confident, and that's what happened for me, and so I really want to thank you for that, because that really was truly changing for me, life-changing for me. Thank you.

Kita Zuleta 35:06

Y'all can't see me, but I am breathing very deeply as I receive it, as a girl is working on receiving, trying to calm my heart down, that's okay where I burst.

Angel Rodriguez 35:30

It matters, you know it matters for people to be able to accurately I mean more than adequately just really have a sentence or two about who they are and then practice it. The practicing is really what gets you right, because then you stumble sometimes.

Angel Rodriguez 35:55

And especially for someone because they think so. What I've learned is, as an entrepreneur, as someone who develops who and what you are, you get to decide what to call yourself and who to be, and I didn't want to be a consultant. The next question that someone comes up with is oh, what do you consult on? It feels a little awkward to me. I don't know that.

Angel Rodriguez 36:24

I really love that, and when I think back to having a job, to being part of a government system, everything that happens is tied to your title and that ends up being your identity and it's not necessarily descriptive of what you do, of your mission, and I think that that's how. That's why it gets really challenging to describe what is your mission, what's the purpose of what you're doing? As an entrepreneur, at least that's what it was like for me. Maybe some others don't resonate with that. Maybe for others it's like no, I know what I'm doing, I know why I want to do this and I can talk about it for days, but for some of us it's a little more challenging, especially for those of us that have spent a million years doing other things.

Empowering Entrepreneurial Superpowers

Kita Zuleta 37:28

And or being told that whatever we did want to do wasn't okay or we weren't fitting. Someone else's mold or some other labor description only partially described us, because we're so multi-layered, you know, and multi-faceted, and there's so much to who we are that truly, it's just about everything about who we are that creates this service, this superpower, ability to serve in this capacity, right, like there's so much of me that can, I'm happy to serve in all the ways that I can be at. What do you need? Right, like what? What do you? What is the problem you're trying to solve?

Kita Zuleta 38:14

Let me see how I can fix it here. Just dump it. Let me gather the data and I'll tell you yes, no, yes, no, yes, no. That's what I can do for you. Here you go you know what I'm saying Like we figure things out for people and when I think you a lot to hear you, especially as someone who has so loyally been coming since you've joined, you've gotten also to experience, not just yourself, but, as you said it back to me, that I don't process it in that way. I'm over here like I just have cabecito with people. You know what?

Kita Zuleta 38:48

I'm saying so, I don't look at it in that manner, like my brain just looks at it like oh well, let me try to help you, like, because my brain, like, I'm a very literal person, I'm a photographer, like. So you know, like, and I'm give me a tangible, real easy way to describe it. You know, as you know, I'm dyslexic. And give me a tangible, real easy way to describe it. You know, as you know, I'm dyslexic. So reading books or a lot of words, or, you know, listening to lyrics and songs like so difficult for me, like, so hearing the words first, or getting a lot of words that make me ask questions to try to understand it and find clarity, like. That's why I am skilled at being able to ask the clarifying questions, because I just want to understand. That's the only reason why I'm asking the question. Wait, wait, wait. So what do you mean? Okay, okay, am I understanding this correctly? You know what I'm saying. Like, I may not understand all of the nitty gritty of all the things that you do, but especially if we're putting ourselves in this position or trying to practice selling ourselves, right, if we're unable to clearly communicate, that I mean we lost the sale without being able to say who. We are right. So what do you do? Okay? Well, I'm not investing my money in you because whatever you're selling, you don't know about it, you don't believe in it. You know what I'm saying? It doesn't build confidence in someone that you're trying to serve if we are struggling with owning our superpower. That is that and so much of that I know for me, as you've been in the room, you have seen a bit of that evolution and practice and how it's helped me, because I needed that practice.

Kita Zuleta 40:49

I mean, y'all, I'm telling you, I tell people all the time I started CCJ because I was lonely, like that's why it's the first thing on my mission. It is meant to remove the loneliness from being an entrepreneur. Punto, first and foremost, it has evolved and there the mission and the vision has expanded and it's growing and it's going to do. The goal is to change our community and to change our world. But that's coming. But this all started to remove that loneliness and to practice and to take up that space, because I was showing up in other spaces not taking up that space, and when I did it was voice shaking and I would get off camera and start crying Like I was in a season of healing and owning my jefa title and trying to now show up as Kita Zuleta and myself and own all of the ways that people are telling me I should be able to charge hundreds of dollars for my consulting for just an hour, because my consulting changes businesses, they're making money and it's and my heart's just like no, I just, I just want to help.

Kita Zuleta 42:05

I didn't have that when I was starting, when I was in their shoes. I didn't have that when I was starting, when I was in their shoes, I didn't have that kind of per hour cash. I mean, really, if I'm being real, I still don't. You know what I mean. So therefore, I'm over here like toma, everything take it. You know, you know, and it's all I've been doing and been trying as much as I can, as much as I can, as often as I'm being shown a mirror. That is the impact that it's growing also businesses, not just you know, fellow amigas which is still helping, still the truth, right, like it's still also helping and healing in that way, but also being able to own our space as half us and how we can remind ourselves to take care of ourselves in order to be able to serve and accomplish all of the world, changing things right, because we want to be worldwide right. I mean, take me with you, go ahead, where are you going? I'm like let's go.

Kita Zuleta 43:26

Let's go.

Kita Zuleta 43:27

We're going and so with these things like, we know that we can create that impact and be able to serve, but in order to be able to do that, nothing else can do that, and that's what this space really is about and honestly, I can speak for that as CCJ.

Kita Zuleta 43:41

But true to form, as I was sharing even this morning, we each have our communities around us, have our communities around us and you so beautifully shared, without even recognizing or seeing the hard, tangible relationships that you have created. If you were to pull a call out for your people to show up, I'm sure people would show up for you. You know what I mean Because you've been building your community as well, and so I am honored honored to have been able to make and receive the impact that was being able to help you introduce yourself and have that be the start of you being able to own your superpowers, be the start of you being able to own your superpowers. So I'm honored to be able to play, have played that role, but I believe, with or without me, hefa, you would have owned and taken up your space because you deserve that and you are destined for big things, and there will be a plaque with your name on it somewhere.

Angel Rodriguez 44:47

We'll see, We'll see. Maybe I'll make it myself hey.

Entrepreneurial Community Building for Success

Kita Zuleta 44:54

I'll give you a founding hair fabric. I'm telling you, I'm over here, I have, I will have. I see it in the vision. It's long term, it's not here tomorrow, but I see a brick and mortar. I see that healing garden that you're talking about, mujer, holistic entrepreneurship. Could you imagine if we had a CCJ playground? Oh man, go working space. Have a cabecito shop, have a soundproof children's place so that that way, have us who are moms can have a place and fellow safe moms, but it's soundproof, because then everyone else in the space has silence or their headphones or keys to focus.

Kita Zuleta 45:39

You know, I'm just trying to build a compound out over here. The vision is large. Y'all, y'all, we're going. It's gonna take us a minute, but we get there. So I'm honored to have you with me on this ride and, thank you, it's coming. I'm so, so excited for the impact you will continue to be making and I mean I already see you as a pillar in our small but humble and oh so proud Capacito Con Jefas community and I'm just so, so grateful to have you in my life, truly, so, thank you, thank you for that, for showing up.

Angel Rodriguez 46:25

Thank you for creating a space.

Kita Zuleta 46:29

Well, I'm honored to host and I'm honored to have you show up time and time again for me in all the ways, so I'm just so grateful. Now, before I ask you where the audience can find your work and how they can support you and all of these things, I do want. I know there's so much wisdom in all of the things that you have done, but what would be your piece of advice that you would give your fellow jefas in their jefa journeys?

Angel Rodriguez 47:03

Well, I think it goes without saying um, find or build a community. For me, as you mentioned, you know I had one. I came with one. They were always there and I think finding one like Cafecito con Jefas and so many others that are out there for entrepreneurs, specifically women, latinas or any group, really doesn't have to be about necessarily who you are or what you identify as, but a group that resonates with your mission and values, and if it's all of those things, that's amazing. But finding a community that you can talk to people in and share ideas and get feedback and just coexist with, I think is probably some of the best advice that I could give.

Angel Rodriguez 48:19

I think it really changed the trajectory of my business to be able to find, know and love other entrepreneurs. That really did that really changed it, because it really forced me to take imperfect action, as somebody that I know often says Not letting good be the enemy of perfect. You know it still takes time to get used to that concept. You know it still takes time to get used to that concept. So I think that's probably the most important piece. Being a lifelong learner is really important, you know, being able to talk about your achievements. I won't say that that's easy for me, but I think that that's advice I would give somebody and advice I should give myself. You do it, let me help you do that.

Kita Zuleta 49:18

Let me show you do it. I'm working on it.

Angel Rodriguez 49:20

but I'm not going to talk about it myself. Let me assist you.

Kita Zuleta 49:25

But now we get to hold each other accountable because we will be doing it.

Angel Rodriguez 49:29

We will be doing it because now, we're naming it.

Kita Zuleta 49:31

We're naming it.

Angel Rodriguez 49:32

Exactly, it's growth, and that's this year's theme is growth. So that's what I would say. I think it's really it's critical. Yeah.

Kita Zuleta 49:44

I love that Ditto In order to keep it short, as y'all already know. So now I'm gonna transition though Um, and I only, I only transition out of that because, again, y'all already know that I can quite literally talk for hours. This podcast season so far, and all of the episodes in the past, proves that quite literally. Y'all can see all the hours I have talked to y'all about this community and what it means to me and how it has changed my life and how it has changed my entrepreneurial journey, leap of faith of believing not just in my business, but knowing that I had a community that somehow was going to catch me. We were all, we were just like here we go, but no estoy sola, exactly, and that part, that's it. No estamos solas, you know what I mean, because we're not scared of the hard work, we're not scared of the real life that's coming. It's gonna come. It's gonna be hard, but it's nice to not be alone through all of that and, especially as jefas, with all of the things that come with that, it's important. So, of course, if you are at all in a season where you feel lonely, hefa, and you are not or have yet to join us for Cafesita and Coworking. We are available and accessible to you every week at 11 am Pacific Standard Time. It is my commitment to hold space and open the door for you. You are welcome to come the first hour. It is in silence. You get to bring whoever you want to this Zoom room. We have our screens, we have our cameras on just so that we are able to see each other's faces, but we each are working on our own work towards our own goals. But we just know that we are all clocking in and focusing some time for our business together Y no estamos solas, and we're able to remember that. And then we close out with some cafecito and we have 30 minutes of speedy connections where we practice taking up space, owning our jefa titles, connecting with each other, cheering each other on, as this jefa journey is a wild one. So being able to do that together and being able to walk alongside each other the way Injo and I have been able to do so for almost a year now probably by the time the podcast episodes drops it'll be right at the year mark, but it's just truly is life-changing. And so, jefas, if it is your first introduction to Cabecito con Jefas, of course you are welcome here.

Kita Zuleta 52:37

There are many, many communities within you know Jefas, inside of Cabecito con Jefas, that host communities. So, if not CCJ on Wednesdays, there are plenty other spaces to ensure that you are not alone. Seek us out. We are out there. We want to meet you, we want you to come, we want to hear your voice, we want you to take up space. So please, please, know that we want you to join us. You are not alone and you deserve to be seen and heard and felt. And it is hard and it is okay for you to seek out the community to be able to heal and come back stronger. So, if you are in that season, we see you, I see you, and please just join us. We're here with you and reach out, because any one of us can be that person for you in this season.

Kita Zuleta 53:22

So, venganse Bueno, no estan solas.

Community Connection and Coffee Conversations

Kita Zuleta 53:26

And of course, I ended up talking about it because you know what I said. Hey, it's going to be important because guess what? Angel's gonna be talking to people. She knows people. So people about to be listening to this episode and some of them may, may need community and some of our heffas may need that reminder too, and maybe you may not be in that season, heffa, but if you know somebody that might be in that season, invite us tell them, because there's at this point, by the time this episode drops, there will be plenty of ways for them to be able to plug into the community and get connected with a fellow jefa that can walk alongside them and be that jefa bestie that's going to help pull them through the thick, the thin, the hard, the ugly, the all of it during this wild ride. So, jefas, no estan solas, venganse para que estamos a servirles. So back to you, angel, two rapid fire questions really quickly. These you did not have privy to. I know my good students. I apologize, it's okay, they're really, really easy, though I promise.

Angel Rodriguez 54:26

The first one is your favorite way to drink cafecito, favorite way to drink cafecito, usually hot and with okay, don't laugh at me with a little protein powder, so I can get some extra protein and be healthy, and that's good for the brain, girl, I know I have to take care of my brain and some prebiotic and heavy whipping cream, but I love a good cafe de olla. I love cafe de olla.

Kita Zuleta 55:03

I'm just saying so good, so good, but I love the protein coffee. Great way to start the day, for sure. Yes, yes, okay. And then, finally, I know there's plenty of them, but if you were to recommend a book to your fellow Hefa, just your favorite doesn't have to be in a specific subject. A book for a fellow Hefa in the room.

Angel Rodriguez 55:23

Let me look at my beautiful bookshelf back here. I'm notorious for starting books and then not finishing them because I get distracted. That's all right. I feel that I will say Brene Brown's Atlas of the Heart.

Kita Zuleta 55:45

Yes, I have that one right here I love it and it's beautiful.

Angel Rodriguez 55:50

It's beautiful, but really anything that she publishes says anything I'm in for. So I love her and I'm going to make her my bestie. She doesn't know it, but if you find her.

Kita Zuleta 56:05

Please tell her. Yeah, I have had. Okay, so now we're in this circle together. We are on a mission. Brene Brown, firstly, we love you. Secondly, we would love love and be honored to have you on this podcast, because this is a community that loves to learn about all the things, but especially when it comes to the connections of head and heart and navigating life through all of those things. So, Brene, if you listen to this, we would love to have you come. We are manifesting that at some point, this is our vulnerable queen. We are over here Podcast. God's algorithm People somebody put this in front of Brene Brown's people. Angel and I were on a mission. Who's going? To join this mission.

Kita Zuleta 56:58

Let's get this in front of Brene Brown because, brene, we need to learn from you, mujer. There's so much goodness in your books and honestly, can I say that, brene, as I mentioned, I'm dyslexic, so reading books I'm also have ADHD. So then, between getting distracted and then the reading comprehension and struggling through it, you know I was not a reader Like that was the title I carried for so long. Well, I was introduced to audio books and then that was like light bulb that I'm supposed to learn. So I started, you know, consuming audiobooks.

Kita Zuleta 57:35

Here we go, my brain going in hyperspeed that way, and, of course, fell in love with Brene and I. Maybe I'm missing a book, maybe yeah, but I love her work, she's amazing. But when she told in one of her books the story that she would write her books differently and she shared her stories with her, she goes up. Her writing process is she goes up to a cabin with two of her best girlfriends. She goes and tells them stories, they take notes and then they give those notes back to her when it's fresh in her head, and then she goes and then writes and I was like, brilliant, she's brilliant, we can do that. I was like, oh, I can talk to my friends. Okay, here we go, we're going to start a party y'all, okay, okay, dicho y hecho. Okay, that's another thing we got to plan for, bueno.

Kita Zuleta 58:42

So it was amazing in that moment that I heard her say that and of course, brene reads all of her books. So then it was in her voice, in my ears, like listening to it, to it, of course, straight to my heart. Like that was one of those like si se puede, moments like yeah, oh, just yeah, I'm not, I don't have all of those fancy letters behind my name, but I understand all the things she's saying. Oh, oh, I'm smart too. Oh, like it was so validating being able to not just hear her work but so many of the other books. Thankfully, since finding audio books, I've consumed almost 300. Like I really need to make that count and gather that data somewhere.

Angel Rodriguez 59:22

But it's been a lot of learning.

Kita Zuleta 59:26

So then, when she's like oh, I'm a data researcher and I was like, I do a version of that, but I don't know what that looks like technically, you know, I've told you my brain doesn't work in those structures, so I've always been the creative bouncing off of the ground, like off of the ground and off of the walls. I just have extra wiggles but and a lot of feelings. So, in theme, brene, you're inspirational. The knowledge, the message and your mission and the path you've been paving for so many of us to be able to host and hold these conversations in an inclusive, clear, kind manner is impressive and my hats go off to you all the flowers, because truly it's been life-changing for me to be able to learn and be able to see that and have access to that information. So kudos to her, and we're manifesting her on the podcast, whatever season, but one day she's coming. So we're on a mission.

Kita Zuleta 1:00:35

Bueno, so any of the Brene Browns, but if not, atlas of the Horns, yes, all right, y'all, bueno. Lastly, we officially went over our mark, but it's okay, because we are at the final place where I want to know and have you share with your fellow jefas where can they find you? Where do you like to hang out? Because they're about to be looking for you now, so where can?

Kita Zuleta 1:01:02

they find you and where can they connect with you and how can they best support your work.

Angel Rodriguez 1:01:08

Well, when I'm on social media, which is a fair amount of time, I'm usually on Instagram, and so you can find me at rfconsult21. And I'm also on LinkedIn, and so you can find me using my name, but with my middle initial, y, so Angel Y Rodriguez, and the Y is for Yolanda, my mom's name, um, so that's where you can typically find me. Um, I love meeting people for coffee, both virtually and in real life. Um, and I mean, it's I guess it's really just how I develop and maintain community, so, um. So on my socials you can find my email and my scheduling link to grab some time with me.

Angel Rodriguez 1:02:07

Always happy to chat about projects and things like that. Um, I'm available for speaking engagements. I'm doing some panels, keynote podcasts. Obviously, I'm happy to chat about lots of different topics entrepreneurship, especially as a woman of color, especially as a second career, love talking about storytelling, travel, leadership, my former career in the public child welfare arena, and social workers in general, that kind of thing. So, all those different things happy to talk about, or anything else you know, like eating, yeah, love tacos Food, yeah, all the things you know, always eating um.

Kita Zuleta 1:02:57

You know, love tacos food all the things you know always back, always back to tacos, always back to food.

Kita Zuleta 1:03:02

So I'm so excited and thank you so much. Yes, have us please be sure to follow her on Instagram, at RF21, and on LinkedIn, angel Y Rodriguez Mujer. I'm learning so much about you because my jaw dropped when I heard that the Y was for Yolanda Mujer. See, this is why I love this platform so much and I am so honored to be your host, because this is just, it's a privilege. It is a privilege to sit and catch these stories and get to know you and allowing like having you allowing me in. So, thank you, thank you, thank you so much for this privilege. Um, I am so excited to watch you grow this year and I am so excited to see the impact you're going to make.

Angel Rodriguez 1:04:05

Thank you, I appreciate it. Thank you for holding space, thank you for always being you and being there and all of the things. So appreciate you very much.

Kita Zuleta 1:04:19

Likewise, so much love for you. Mujer Bueno, jefas, Thank you. Thank you so much for spending time with us. As you probably are feeling on the other side of this mic, all the love between Angel and I there's so much love here so grateful for what she has done and the culture she has brought to our organization as Cafecito con Jefas. She has been a pillar and if y'all just want to meet up for coffee, reach out to Angel, because she is a woman to know y'all. So I'm telling you, do it, do it right now that she's available, because I'm telling you this one's about to be busy real soon and ain't nobody going to be able to touch her. I'm just saying I'm claiming it, it's happening because she's growing. She's not going to be able to have just coffee y'all. At least not for free.

Kita Zuleta 1:05:12

So I'm telling you do it, jump in now, jump in now, get on Angel. If you don't know her now, you know, so be sure to follow her y'all. I am so excited for you. Amiga, thank you so much and, jefas, thank you for listening. Until next time. Thank you for listening to the Cafecito con Jefas podcast.

Kita Zuleta 1:05:42

Well, jefas, that's a wrap for today's episode of the Cafecito con Jefas podcast. I sincerely hope these conversations have lifted your spirits and left you with a renewed sense of purpose. Remember, jefas, you are not alone on this journey journey. Our community is here to lift you up, offer guidance and share in your success, knowing that there's an abundance of work for each of us and believing that we will go farther together. If you enjoyed today's episode, please leave a review or share the episode that you're listening to online. Be sure to hit that subscribe button so you never miss out on the incredible stories we have in store for you. Connect with the community on Instagram at Cafecito con Jefas, and reach out directly to yours truly at Quita Zuleta Photo.

Kita Zuleta 1:06:26

Let's keep these conversations alive, continue to foster connections and continue growing as a united community where the goal is for every jefa to thrive. If you haven't already joined us for our cabecito and co-working sessions, please be sure to sign up to get those invitations directly into your inbox. Come as you are when you can and surround yourself with your fellow jefas. I can't wait to connect with you at a future cafecito. If you're needing guidance on how to take your brand to the next level, I'm here to walk that path with you. Book a free consultation with me and together we'll develop strategies that will feel in alignment with the season that you're in, as well as setting yourself up for the growth that you desire. As we close today's episode, remember that your journey as a jefa is an ever-evolving one. Keep going, pasito. A pasito. You deserve it. Until next time, jefas, I'm your host, kita Azuleta. Thank you for listening to this episode of the Cafecito con Jefas podcast.