Here’s the thing: no matter what your catalyst is, whether it’s a layoff or you quit and pivoted, you’ll always end up where you need to be. Take our guest, Lucia, for example. She was laid off during the pandemic, and soon after, she realized her dream wasn’t to be an art director for Amazon. That company, by the way, laid off her entire team as soon as things got rough. Now that she had the freedom to take a breath and think about what she actually wanted to do, Lucia knew she wanted to work for herself and be an illustrator. Now, she's a successful working artist who has partnered with some of the biggest brands in the world.    Lucia Diaz is a published illustrator and co-author of Viva Latina, created in collaboration with Sandra Velasquez, the visionary CEO of Nopalera. As a sought-after public speaker, she has delivered impactful talks for prestigious brands, including American Express, Target, WBENC, We All Grow Latina, and Latinas in Tech. In her work as an illustrator, she has partnered with iconic global brands such as DIOR, Tiffany & Co., CHANEL, Giorgio Armani, SAKS, DVF, and Carolina Herrera, elevating events through live sketching and art that captures the essence of culture and elegance. Lucia Diaz's passion for illustration stems from a deep desire to ensure Latinas see themselves authentically represented.    Growing up, the only Latina she encountered in history books was Supreme Court Justice Sonia Sotomayor. This lack of visibility inspired her to take action. Studies indicate that Latinas constitute only 3-5% of the figures featured in U.S. history textbooks—a statistic that does not reflect their profound contributions to America’s legacy. Through her art and storytelling, she illuminates the power of representation. Whether creating inspiring illustrations or leading dynamic workshops, her mission is to celebrate Latinas, amplify their voices, and ensure young girls—like her goddaughter—see themselves in stories of wisdom, strength, and achievement.   In this week’s episode, she shares her story of how she went from being a child of a low-income family to working with luxury brands and having an extremely coveted mentor. She went from being laid off to creating a successful business that works with some of the biggest brands in the world. She now shares her story and encourages other artists to start working for themselves rather than relying on corporate entities that don’t care about them. Listen to Lucia’s episode for incredible entrepreneurial tips, real-life experiences, and heartfelt connections now.    Follow Lucia on: Instagram: @holaluciadiaz LinkedIn: Lucia Diaz LLC Book Link + Subscribe: https://fearlessyaya.com/subscribe/ Check out Lucia’s services here: https://byluciadiaz.com/services    Follow Erika on: Instagram @‌theerikacruzTikTok @‌theerikacruzLinkedIn Website: http://www.theerikacruz.com How to work with Erika: Join the waitlist for the Courage Driven Latina program here. Join the waitlist for the Magnetic Mastermind here.   Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST.