Fabian Gonzalez > www.ING.com/us

Fabian Gonzalez, Vice President for Multicultural Sales, ING U.S.


Being Hispanic, does it have any influence on your business?
My role is to focus on Hispanic insurance agents and other financial advisors who serve the U.S. Hispanic marketplace. I think it is critical that someone in this role understand the culture of the people that they’re working with. The fact that I’m from South America and have lived in different Hispanic communities in the U.S. (Texas and Florida) helps provide a diverse cultural framework for me. So, while what I do doesn’t differ greatly from my non-Hispanic counterparts, being part of the U.S. Hispanic society has been critical to my success.


In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I’m very goal-oriented. Keeping an eye on a goal helps me keep focused on what I need to do. While the past year has been a challenge for our economy, I continue to look forward and help our distribution partners help their customers with their insurance needs.


What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
I thrive on challenge and change. Both allow me to push myself, learn new skills and expand my knowledge. Therefore, I’m not sure that there is one big challenge that I have faced that has been more monumental than something else or that I haven’t been able to overcome.


If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I don’t have any complaints about my past and nothing particularly comes to mind. Perhaps, I would have asked ING to move me to one of the offices in a warmer climate. (I currently live in Minneapolis.)


What was your childhood ambition?
Like a lot of boys, I wanted to be a fireman. As I got older, I wanted to be an ambassador and travel around the globe. In some ways, I am an ambassador for ING. I get to travel around the United States, which I enjoy.


Tell us about three people that you admire?
First off, my parents are good, hard-working people who gave everything to make sure that my family had a good home, and their children had a good education. I learned a great deal from them, and admire them very much. I also admire people who dedicate their lives or make significant commitments to helping others. One of those people was Mother Theresa who worked tirelessly for the very poor people in Calcutta, India.


For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I work around what my customers prefer. I probably have more dinner meetings because many Hispanics prefer to really engage in conversation beyond just the business at hand.


What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Well, this is all a matter of perspective. Some people would say that I sacrifice my personal time because of my heavy travel schedule. However, I love working with people and believe that I have a good balance. Therefore, I’m not really sure that I am sacrificing anything.


What is your favorite quote?
Tomorrow brings a new opportunity.


Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Actually, working for ING, it isn’t difficult at all because the culture promotes good ideas, hard work and values diversity. Even our brand is a bit unconventional when you compare it to many conservative financial services companies.


Biggest mistake made?
I came to the United States in 1999 when I was 29 years old. I probably should have come earlier.


Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I do. Being innovative is important because you need to have new ideas to improve and grow. It helps to regularly look at things differently if you want to be able to have continuous growth in your business or personal life. In the business world, my goals get larger every year even if the business climate is not expanding. How do you meet your goals if you’re not bringing new ideas to the table?

About The Company:
ING is a global financial institution of Dutch origin that offers banking, investments, life insurance and retirement services to over 85 million private, corporate and institutional clients in more than 40 countries. With a diverse workforce of about 110,000 people, ING is dedicated to setting the standard in helping our clients manage their financial future.


In the U.S., the ING (NYSE: ING) family of companies offer a comprehensive array of financial services to retail and institutional clients, which include life insurance, retirement plans, mutual funds, direct banking, institutional investment management, annuities, employee benefits and financial planning. ING holds top-tier rankings in key U.S. markets and serves nearly 30 million customers across the nation. For more information, visit www.ing.com/us.

Gabriel R. de la Mora > www.CrewCuts.com

Gabriel R. de la Mora, Commercial Editor, Crew Cuts.

Being Hispanic, does it have any influence on your business?
I think being Hispanic has more than influenced my work – it has helped to build it, shape it and define it.

Here in the United States, being a Hispanic commercial editor has certainly added some new and interesting challenges for me. Coming from Mexico City, clients tend to take more risks creatively than they do here - especially when it comes to Hispanic market TV spots. My job now is to help Hispanic agency ‘creatives’ deal with their clients’ parameters through an alternative way of editing, one that will avoid using the obvious or easy solution.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
In terms of work, it’s my sense of responsibility and an enormous amount of patience that keeps me going.

In life, it’s just thinking about my own life and realizing how great it has been - having a great family and being loved by just so many good people.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
For me, the biggest challenge I face is trying never to repeat myself in my work, and always attempting to entertain myself through my work, as equally as I am entertaining those viewing my work.

Commercial editing is a tough job – you need to tell a story, evoke an emotion, sell a product, relate to and engage your consumer…all in the typical time-frame of 30 seconds. 60, if you’re lucky. And, you have to convince viewers not to flip the channel, fast forward, or divert their attention. So for me, I want to make something interesting and unique, every single time.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
Nothing at all. Every good or bad thing that has happened to me has made me who I am today.

What was your childhood ambition?
I wanted to be good at video games.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
-3D Artists or Designers because I wish I could do that.
-Paco de Lucia, because he's so fast with the guitar!
-My mom and my Mother-in-law, because they are always in a good mood no matter what happens.

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
None, I don't like to have meetings while I'm eating because it takes away the pleasure of really enjoying what you're eating.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
When I started in this business I dropped out of school and I spent all of my days glued to a computer just learning whatever software that was made available to me. The biggest sacrifice would be not spending more time with friends and family over that 5 year period in the beginning of my career.

What is your favorite quotation?
Patience is a form of action.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not really because being unconventional draws people towards you; if you are unconventional you become a mystery to them. I don't speak much while I'm working. I let my work do all the talking.

Biggest mistake made?
Once when I was an assistant editor in Mexico City they had finished this movie that took a lot of time to cut and I sent an incorrect Final Negative Cutlist of it to the Lab. None of the cuts matched and it was a real miracle that they didn't cut the negatives! At the end I had to redo the list and everything worked out fine. I thought that I was going to be fired but I wasn't!

Do you consider yourself an Innovator?
That's a big word! I don't think that I'm an innovator because I haven't changed the way I do things and I haven’t created something completely new. I've been following the footsteps of my mentors like Juan Carlos Martin or Daniel Gruener. I view them as true innovators, and trying to be as good as them brings me closer to Innovation. My style is a mix of all of their styles.

About the Company:
Industry independent, Crew Cuts, is a full service postproduction house headquartered in New York City. Home to some of the industry’s most coveted talent, Crew Cuts’ end-to-end post expertise span across all realms of commercial and film editing, visual effects, motion graphics, audio / sound design, and mixing. The facility’s ongoing investment in talent and technology has kept them at the top of their game through years of industry transition and transformation. Their ongoing success includes recent award winning work for brands like: GE, Dairy Queen, Saturday Night Live, L’Oreal, Home Depot, Time Warner Cable and Holiday Inn.

For more information, please visit the website at http://www.crewcuts.com/

Manny Ruiz > www.HispanicPRWire.com

Manny Ruiz, President, Multicultural Markets & Hispanic PR Wire.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
In some good and bad ways being Hispanic does influence the way I do business. Early in my media and marketing career I realized that while being Hispanic often made others label me in a discriminatory way it also helped me because I made being Hispanic my niche. When you come from a blue collar background like I did, you grasp at the lowest hanging opportunity that you can and that’s what I did. I embraced my Hispanic culture in the niche field of PR because I knew I would be one of the few to do so. While some Latinos think it’s bad to be seen as Hispanic I've used it as my strength. I said to myself, if I'm going to be labeled Hispanic because that's just the way things are, I'm going to be 1000% Hispanic. So I called my first company Hispanic PR Wire in case anybody had any doubt what I knew best. It worked!

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
First of all, my faith in my Lord Jesus. The good Lord has given me the wisdom, courage and ability to overcome things in life and business that I couldn't have done alone. The other thing that deeply motivates me is my intense desire to succeed for my family. I come from a blue collar family and we d me that I have to I come from a working class family and I want to help my children rise higher than I will.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
In business it was starting Hispanic PR Wire with a limited business background and no money to compete against a determined, huge competitor that on paper should have beat me to the pulp. The irony is that the huge competitor I'm referring to, PR Newswire, is now my former competitor because last year PR Newswire bought my company and I'm currently the president of PR Newswire's Multicultural Service division. To their credit, PR Newswire not only has preserved Hispanic PR Wire but we've even expanded our multicultural services to include Hispanic multimedia and web marketing tools.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I wish my grandparents who raised me and my dad were still alive. I would love to share my successes with them because they gave me the foundation I needed.

What was your childhood ambition?
My earliest ambition was to be a soldier because my earliest hero was John Wayne and all the movies I saw when I was little was of him in World War II. Once I realized we weren't in war, my realistic child ambition became to be a professional NFL quarterback and to direct movies for Hollywood. It's too late for me to join the NFL but my other dream is alive and well.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
Billy Graham for his faithfulness and integrity.
Dan Marino, former quarterback of the Miami Dolphins, because he inspired my passion for sports.
Director Robert Rodriguez because he's the ultimate, multi-talented Hollywood director and it's a bonus that he happens to be a proud Latino.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
How's this for irony? For seven years I owned a well respected media company but through those years I couldn't afford to have cable TV at home. I spent years watching my beloved Miami Dolphins games in the homes of friends, ANYBODY really, that had cable TV.

What is your favorite quote?
Seek first the Kingdom of Heaven and all things shall be added unto you. Jesus said that quote and the reason it's significant to me was because it was only when I aligned my life and thoughts with God that I was able to see the opportunities he opened up for me. The Christian life is a daily struggle and its the most challenging thing to do right because we're all fallen by nature.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Quite the opposite. At this stage in my life I find it terribly difficult to be conventional. Being conventional is "safe" but it is boring and unmemorable and I'm a bit of a risk taker. To make your business stand out, you need to strive for being unconventional in every way you can.

Biggest mistake made?
My biggest mistake business mistake was not having the right accountant to start it. Not having the right accountant to work on my business cost me more than $300,000 over the long run. That's a costly lesson.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
There are very few people that can be called innovators. I would probably count the Steve Jobs and Walt Disneys of the world in two hands. Those folks are innovators. The bulk of everyone else in business, myself included, have simply modified ideas that existed before and dressed them up with our own brands and interpretations. People compliment me for creating Hispanic PR Wire and I'm flattered by that but in reality I didn't do anything new. PR Newswire invented the paid news wire business and all I did was simply Hispanicize it to perfection for a niche market interest.

About the Company
PR Newswire provides electronic distribution, targeting, measurement and broadcast services on behalf of tens of thousands of corporate, government, association, labor, non- profit, and other customers worldwide. Using PR Newswire, these organizations reach a variety of critical audiences including the news media, the investment community, government decision-makers, and the general public with their up- to-the-minute, full-text news developments.

Digital and Social Media Convergence 2009 Conference: Meet the Latin Disruptors of Media, Entertainment, Technology & Advertising Attracts Influen...

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Latin Media and Entertainment Commission of the City of New York (LMEC) and LatinVision Media announced today the full lineup of participants in this year’s Wednesday, October 14, 2009, Digital and Social Media Convergence 2009 Conference. Janet Robinson, CEO of The New York Times, will do the opening remarks. A three-hour Business Networking Reception follows where industry, talent and investors will be able to connect in a more relaxed environment at the crossroads of the world.

The 2009 Convergence Conference is the premier event for Latin media, entertainment, technology and advertising CEOs and executives looking to grow their business and explore new opportunities with Latin audiences and to reach the mainstream, which spotlights the constant state of creation and evolution required of business leaders in today’s rapidly changing digital and social media landscape.

“This year’s Convergence Conference will bring together the best minds of the country’s Latin media, entertainment, technology and advertising sectors to the center of the world’s greatest stage – New York City,” said Mayor Bloomberg. “This collaboration between our City’s Latin Media and Entertainment Commission and LatinVision is another example of the great work our City is doing to solidify our position as the Latin media and entertainment capital of the world.”

Speakers are going to explore ideas and offer wisdom on the constant changes that are taking place within these industries. Among the varied topics are what creativity means in a digital world, whether the Web can support quality content, and how technology can change not only the way a company sends messages to consumers but also the way a company operates locally, regionally and internationally.

“Convergence 2009 captures the feverish pace of transformation happening in the media, entertainment, technology and advertising world today,” said Carlos Vassallo, CEO of LatinVision. “It is clearly a time of great change. A look at the top 50 US Websites shows that many are getting more traffic from abroad than from the US Spanish and is the third most used language in the world on the Internet with 130 million users after Chinese and English,” added Mr. Vassallo.

Speakers are a “who’s who” of CEOs, top marketers, senior executives, publishers, and industry gurus and experts. To view the speakers simply log onto

www.latinvision.com/conference/speakers.pdf

In addition to the lineup of keynotes, Convergence 2009 offers its attendees an unrivaled opportunity to learn from CEO’s and senior marketers who will share their experience from across a variety of emerging platforms including streaming, podcasting, radio, blogging, social networking, Internet, WiFi, audio, video and mobile casting and case studies of new ventures and how they got started through financing and networking events

For a full list of confirmed speakers and information on how to register, please visit www.latinvision.com/conference

Several sponsorship packages are still available. For more information on sponsorships, please contact Carlos Vassallo at 646-519-2452 or via email at: carlos@latinvision.com

About the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission (LMEC)
Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg created the LMEC in 2003 with the mission to make New York the capital of Latin media and entertainment.

The Commission advises the Mayor on business development and retention strategies for the Latin media and entertainment industry, to retain, recruit, and expand Latin media and entertainment productions, businesses, and jobs in New York City and to attract and host high-profile Latin entertainment productions and events and to support and create New York based events

The Commission is made up of leaders from the Latin and mainstream media industry, community leaders from the nonprofit and cultural sectors, and leading executives from the financial, advertising, publishing, new media, and real estate sectors.

The heads of seven City agencies, under the direction of the Deputy Mayor for Economic Development, serve on the commission as ex officio members.

About LatinVision Media
LatinVision Media Inc. is a New York based Company that operates business portals targeting US Hispanic and Latin American professionals, entrepreneurs, executives and business owners in a small and medium-sized companies.
See all our sites here: http://tinyurl.com/LatinVision and follow us on twitter at www.twitter.com/latinvision

Contacts:
Carlos Vassallo
CEOLatinVision Media Inc.
POB 376 Church St. Station
New York, NY 10008
www.latinvision.com/conference
carlos@latinvision.com
Tel: 646-519-2452
Fax: 469-533-4874

Carlos Manzano
Executive Director Latin Media and Entertainment Commission
New York City Economic Development Corporation
110 William Street • New York, NY 10038
www.nycedc.com
cmanzano@nycedc.com

Aurelio Rodriguez > www.domain.com

Aurelio Rodríguez, International Business Development, Domain.com

Being Hispanic, does it have any influence on your business?
Being Hispanic allows me to better understand greater and diverse markets segments, providing a strategic advantage. Recently, Domain.com announced that it would be offering the complete Domain.com experience—all product offerings, account management, customer support—in Spanish. This is particularly exciting for me because the U.S. Hispanic population is one of the fastest growing online markets, spending nearly twenty percent more time online than other demographics with more than half their time spent on Spanish language websites. Reaching this online demographic is becoming increasingly important for Hispanic businesses to stay relevant and increase their customer base. I am proud to work for a company that understands the importance of the emerging Hispanic business market and is able and willing to support it.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Adversity makes me work harder. If I am convinced that my thesis is correct then adversity is welcomed. I believe that there is a seed of opportunity hidden in all adversity.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
1-I owned and operated one of Miami's most famous Latin nightclubs, La Covacha. In 1999 it burned down due to arson and one of the biggest challenges I faced was mustering the courage to reopen immediately as the rebuilding process took place.

2- In 1999 I personally guaranteed all of my personal assets to start my internet venture Naveguia. I raised $3 million in start-up venture capital only to have the company fold during the dot.com bust. The failure of this venture led to near bankruptcy, divorce and starting over at the ground floor.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
Nothing ...Every mistake has been a lesson on how NOT to do something.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be an inventor which was probably my way of defining my urge to create, innovate and build.

Tell us about three people that you admire
My mother and father came to Miami as Cuban immigrants. Their hard work and dedication to making our lives better taught us a lesson in perseverance, resiliency and faith.

Disney - Building his dream against all odds

Steve Jobs – World’s best second act

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Breakfast, coffee is in the blood and all systems are go.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
More work = Less Time for Family, Personal and Spiritual life

What is your favorite quote?
The harder I work, the luckier I get.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
It can be difficult because others inability to see your vision can create roadblocks. Innovating requires horizontal thinking and, even when you can see the full picture, others fail to connect the dots.

Biggest mistake made?
I let my arrogance and greed ruin the day. I founded an internet start-up geared toward the Hispanic and Brazilian markets and failed to accept a $30 million private placement only to have the market crash in 2000 and lose funding.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
My business strategies have been referred to as innovative however I see them as common sense. As a leader you learn to look within, follow your heart and trust your instincts. This will not guarantee success BUT odds are you will be right more often than not.

About the Company
Domain.com's web solutions have helped make our customers successful since 2000. Based in Vancouver, Washington, we are one of the world's largest domain registration and web hosting companies. We strive to provide innovative products and services at a great value. Our mission has been and still is to provide that rarest combination - the highest quality products and reliability AND the most affordable prices in the industry.
We specialize in affordable domain names, web hosting, VPS hosting, Email, SSL certificates, web design, and online marketing services. Our free domain services including URL Forwarding, Email Forwarding, Transfer Lock, and Total DNS Management, give customers comprehensive control over their domain portfolios.
Strong word of mouth referrals and long-term relationships have driven our impressive growth. We are committed to making our customers successful on the web.

Edward Montes > www.havasdigital.com

Edward Montes, EVP Managing Director US, Havas Digital

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?

Yes, but mostly due to the fact that I work for a Havas Digital and Havas’ roots happen to be Spanish! I am grateful to be a part of an organization in the US which shares my Latin heritage. One of biggest perks of working with a company that has such a strong ties to its’ Spanish roots and Latin operations is that I regularly use my language skills and enjoy a tremendously diverse company culture.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I once got a fortune cookie that said “the climb gets harder as you approach the summit”- it really resonated with me. I view adversity as part of the journey to the summit. I not only think that this is true of my professional experiences but personal as well. I never want to stop learning and trying to turn adversity that I face into a learning opportunity.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
It is funny you ask that, I believe I am facing it right now as I work to continue to grow our business in the most tumultuous economy of my business career. It started last summer as some of our clients literally disappeared… Our staffing is very sensitive to fluctuations in client billings and at the same time there is a scarcity of quality talent in our industry. So, I would say weathering the current economic environment, retaining staff, as well as exceeding our forecasted budget for this year are my greatest challenges to date…

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I would have realized at a younger age that life is not only about the choices you make but also about working hard to be in a position to make choices.

What was your childhood ambition?
I always wanted to be a lawyer or a doctor. Although my current title might fool you, I have a Law Degree. I even put it to use for a as a Prosecutor in the Middlesex District Attorney’s office of Massachusetts, where I prosecuted numerous major felonies and appellate actions. I feel very fortunate that I was able to accomplish that childhood dream.

Tell us about two people that you admire?

The first person I would cite is my mother, Catalina Montes. She had to flee Cuba under difficult circumstances in the early 60’s. Having faced such adversity at an early age she could have become bitter or broken down but she chose the opposite and became one of the strongest, most determined, people I know. Proof of those qualities is in her tremendously successful career in Education. She has taught and inspired numerous disadvantaged children to pursue their dreams along the way.

Another person I really admire is David Filo, Co-Founder of Yahoo!, who I had a chance to work for at Yahoo! It was an amazing and invaluable part of my career. David’s humility is something which I will always admire and keep in the back of my mind. You would never know he was worth a small fortune and has accomplished so much. He would never boast about his career or the fruits of it. Anyone who can be that humble given his accomplishments is someone to admire.
For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

Breakfast or dinner, lunch is too much of a disruption in the middle work day. That being said, I suppose I prefer breakfast over dinner because it is the calmest and most predictable part of my day. Once things get going my schedule can fill up pretty quickly so it is best to grab me early.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

I consider myself a work in progress and not a success and I haven’t had to sacrifice much except some free time. I enjoy working and I am lucky to work with incredible people who make it an exciting and intellectually stimulating environment.

What is your favorite quote?
He who is not courageous enough to take risks will accomplish nothing in life.Muhammad Ali

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

I don’t know that I am unconventional. I try to my job to the best of my ability, put in maximum effort, and challenge things that don’t appear to be correct. On thing people might find unconventional though is that I “don’t go along to get along”. - I don’t think people should challenge status quo more often.

Biggest mistake made?
I don’t think I have one mistake which I would consider my “biggest”. I suppose I could sum a few of the biggest mistakes I’ve made by saying that I don’t say thank you enough.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

No, I don’t consider myself an innovator. I just try and approach my work with the unique lens my education and experience allow me.

About the Company:

Edward Montes is EVP, Managing Director of Havas Digital US, the interactive network of Havas Media. He is responsible for the development and leadership of Media Contacts US and Canada, managing MC staff spread across five North American offices: New York, Boston, San Francisco, Chicago and Toronto. Previously, Montes served as Managing Director of the Boston office, the largest of Media Contacts’ US operations. Within this role, Montes demonstrated an exceptional rapport with clients and a proven ability to not only lead the organization, but drive strategic new business objectives as well.

Prior to Havas Digital, Edward worked at Yahoo! Inc. During his tenure he served as the Director of Special Projects for Yahoo!’s Media, Entertainment, Information, and Finance Groups and the General Manager of Yahoo! Delivers, Yahoo!’s direct marketing advertising product. Immediately following his tenure at Yahoo!, Montes served as a consultant to the wireless technology industry providing insights into the data application sector and the delivery of advertising to mobile handsets.

Before entering the interactive industry, Montes was a Prosecutor in the Middlesex District Attorney’s office of Massachusetts, where he prosecuted numerous major felonies and appellate actions. Montes is a graduate of the Boston University School of Law, and a Cum Laude graduate of the University of Massachusetts at Amherst.

Deborah Parenti > www.radioink.com

Deborah Parenti, Radio Broadcaster, Hispanic Radio Ink

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business? only if it is applicable

I am not Hispanic. I am half Italian but I think there are many cultural similarities that strongly influence and shape our approach to business - one that places emphasis on loyalty and dedication and overflows with creative energy and drive

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I think it's important to maintain an outward focus - in other words, not to internalize too much. Sometimes the best way to get through a difficult situation is by shifting gears - devoting some of that energy and attention to someone or something else. That doesn't mean ignoring problems. Sweeping things under the rug is not an option but single minded concentration on one's own situations can easily lead to self absorption instead of solutions.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
Over the years, my biggest challenge has been maintaining a balance between professional and personal obligations. I tend to throw myself into whatever project I am involved in at the time and find myself rushing through everything else. It's true, you really do need to "stop and smell the roses."

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
To relax more and let go on occasion. My ex husband used to tease that the world did not need to worry - I had that covered.

What was your childhood ambition?
As a little girl, I wanted to be a singer or a beautiful ballet dancer. Which is odd because I was terribly shy - I could have never gotten on stage! When I was five, I was invited to ride a pony on a children's TV show. I was terrified and tried to hide behind the set curtain.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
I idolized my material grandmother - she was a quintessential "lady," a woman of great style and a love for me that I could feel from the moment she entered the room.

My sons, two of the most incredible individuals I have ever known. They are total opposites in so many ways but both such thoroughly engaging and decent human beings.

My dad, because he was just an all around wonderful man with a great voice, a crazy sense of humor and an unconditional love of family. Before we lost him last year, I watched him take such loving care of my mother who was quite ill. It was beautiful and generous and I was blessed to witness it.

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
That depends on the objective of the meeting and how well acquainted with the other party. If it's a presentation, let's skip the meal and do it at the office. That aside, I find people are usually fresher at breakfast, lunch may be rushed and dinner can take on a more relaxed tone. In all cases, however, could we all quit checking our PDA's. It's so rude (and yes, I am guilty at times)

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
The biggest sacrifice was time - time to explore other interests. Pursuing a career and raising two sons consumed, albeit gladly, all of mine for many years. Fortunately, I did get the gift of time later. I dropped out of business for about six years and "got in touch" with other areas of life like writing, volunteering, traveling and decorating. I even got a certificate in Interior Decorating - a far cry from radio.

What is your favorite quote?
"Work like you don't need money,Love like you've never been hurt,And dance like no one's watching."

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Unconventional people usually don't think they are unconventional. They tend to believe the rest of the world just doesn't get it.

Biggest mistake made?
I have made my share of mistakes but quite possibly my greater shortcoming, especially in personal areas, has been not knowing when to give up. Persistence can be a virtue but it can also be a stumbling block to moving on.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I am a bit of an innovator but would more describe myself as a creative problem solver. I'm a strong believer that alternative solutions should be part of every plan. You don't want to get caught short - and that means considering all the possible objections up front and then designing appropriate solutions in an executable fashion. Too many great ideas fail because implementation hasn't been given the same consideration as the idea. So I guess I am a mixed bag, something that used to drive my staffs crazy. They never knew which side of "Deborah" was going to show up at the meeting - the creative clown or the pragmatist.

About the Company
Radio Ink is a leading radio trade publication that focuses on broadcast sales, marketing and management. In addition to a bi-monthly print magazine, the publication includes an online web site and daily online headlines delivered every morning via email. Radio Ink also sponsors three conferences - the annual Focecast summit at the Harvard Club in New York, which examines industry economic trends, projections and analysis; ConVergence, a new media conference targeted at radio broadcasters and held in San Jose; and the Hispanic Radio Conference, the only conference dedicated solely to Hispanic radio.

Deborah Parenti is a veteran broadcaster whose career has spanned positions in her hometown of Dayton, as well as Louisville and Philadephia. Her range of experience includes promotion, marketing, business management, sales and sales and general management. She broke the glass ceiling in Dayton as the first woman to manage a radio station in the market and established one of the first consolidated operations in the country, as well as designed and branded an innovative multi-station selling platform in 1996, "Radio First!" A participant over the years in panels and as a speaker at NAB, CRS, RAB and Pollack Media conferences, Ms. Parenti will be inducted in the Dayton Broadcasters' Hall of Fame this coming September. Deborah is also a previous Radio Ink Radio Wayne nominee, and today manages Radio Ink publications and conferences.

Carlos Manzano > www.nyc.gov/lmec

Carlos Manzano, Executive Director of the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission NYC.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business? Yes. I have the ability to shape and influence how non-Latinos and even Latinos view our great and rich culture as well as engage and participate.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I keep reminding myself what my mother always said, “When you fall—and you will because that’s part of life—simply get up, take a deep breath, think strategically, and keep moving.” And try not to make the same mistake twice.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
Running for political office was my biggest challenge so far. I did not succeed, but I sure learned a great deal about people.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I would have taken music and voice lessons early in my life.

What was your childhood ambition?
I wanted to be a rock star.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
Elias and Fanny, my parents (sorry, can’t separate them =))
Mother Theresa
Harry Truman

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
It depends: For business short and to the point meetings; for politics lunch or dinner.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
I spent a lot of time getting my education part time nights and weekends. During all those years, I gave up a lot of my social and personal life.

What is your favorite quote?
Don’t do onto others what you don’t want done onto yourself.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
It can be. There must be value in unconventional approaches for people to see why what you propose is good.

Biggest mistake made?
Nobody is perfect, and God knows I made a few in my lifetime.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. I want processes and systems to be better, simpler, faster, more efficient, and fun. When you give people an experience, they’ll return.

About the Company:

Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg created the Latin Media and Entertainment Commission to make New York City the Latin media capital of the world.

The Commission advises the Mayor on business development and retention strategies for the Latin media and entertainment industry.

LMEC Goals
Develop a strategic plan to retain, recruit, and expand Latin media and entertainment productions, businesses, and jobs in New York City.
Develop a strategic plan for New York City to attract and host high-profile Latin entertainment productions and events and to support and create New York based events.

John Farrell > www.google.com

John Farrell, General Director Google Mexico.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes, it drives my interest to bring the value of Google's platforms to the hispanic community.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
In the military there is a well known axiom: "Plans mean nothing, planning is everything". We should expect adversity, it's what makes our life challenging and fun. But we should prepare for it to make us more competent.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
The first few months after my son was born 4 months premature (he's now fine).

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
Wish I had started playing golf earlier- to have a better handicap =)

What was your childhood ambition?
President of the US

Tell us about three people that you admire?
Alexander Hamilton: amazing intellect, major contributor to the survival of the US after its independence by consolidating state debts under a central bank, and creating a Federal army. Hamilton's clash of ideas with Jefferson is the foundation of our constitution.

Martin Luther King: leadership centered on courage and morality. He led black Americans to genuine freedom, and liberated white America from a shameful past.

Alvaro Uribe: rescued Colombia from terror and lawlessness. A challenge to any cynic who think some things can't change.

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
None- rather have short meeting in an office setting. If eating is imperative I rather do breakfast.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Less time available than I would have liked to spend with my family.

What is your favorite quote?
"Sometimes our best is not enough, sometime we have to do what is required." Winston Churchill

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
I think most truly unconventional people don't try- they are simply engineered to think in unconventional ways.

Biggest mistake made?
Undercapitalized start-up, cash flow challenges can create too much stress!

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes- always looking to improve things, even if only incrementally.

About the Company:
Google's mission is to organize the world's information and make it universally accessible and useful.

As a first step to fulfilling that mission, Google's founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin developed a new approach to online search that took root in a Stanford University dorm room and quickly spread to information seekers around the globe. Google is now widely recognized as the world's largest search engine -- an easy-to-use free service that usually returns relevant results in a fraction of a second.
When you visit

www.google.com or one of the dozens of other Google domains, you'll be able to find information in many different languages; check stock quotes, maps, and news headlines; lookup phonebook listings for every city in the United States; search billions of images and peruse the world's largest archive of Usenet messages -- more than 1 billion posts dating back to 1981.

Google's utility and ease of use have made it one of the world's best known brands almost entirely through word of mouth from satisfied users. As a business, Google generates revenue by providing advertisers with the opportunity to deliver measurable, cost-effective online advertising that is relevant to the information displayed on any given page. This makes the advertising useful to you as well as to the advertiser placing it. We believe you should know when someone has paid to put a message in front of you, so we always distinguish ads from the search results or other content on a page. We don't sell placement in the search results themselves, or allow people to pay for a higher ranking there.
Thousands of advertisers use our

Google AdWords program to promote their products and services on the web with targeted advertising, and we believe

AdWords is the largest program of its kind. In addition, thousands of web site managers take advantage of our Google AdSense program to deliver ads relevant to the content on their sites, improving their ability to generate revenue and enhancing the experience for their users.

To learn more about Google, click on the link at the left for the area that most interests you. Or type what you want to find into our search box and hit enter.

Jorge Mariscal > Rohatyn Group

Jorge Mariscal, one of the Founding Partners of The Rohatyn Group.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Owing to my roots there, I maintain personal and business relationships which are critical to the understanding and positioning our firm's investments in Latin America.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
I believe life rewards staying power and the most challenging environments often present the most satisfying opportunities. When things get tough, one needs to keep moving, even if at baby steps. I always remind myself that however bad it is, "it too shall pass".

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
My first job after graduate school in New York City ended shortly after the stock market crash of 1987. For several months after that I was in the Big Apple unemployed, broke and alone.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I would have liked to be a young father.

What was your childhood ambition?
I had several: to cure animals, to write novels, to visit every country of the world.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
Tony Blair
Sor Juana Ines de la Cruz
My father

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
None. When you mix food and business, you cannot really focus on either.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
To have my family far away.

What is your favorite quote?
I once saw this sculpture which was a large stone block, on it was written "nothing is written in stone".

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Yes, and not necessarily always advisable.

Biggest mistake made?
To hurt the people I love.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I try to live creatively, at home and at work. Once in a while I come up with something unique.

About the Company.
The Rohatyn Group, a New York-based asset management company focused on global emerging market investments. The firm manages over $2.5 billion in assets. Mr. Mariscal has over 20 years of experience in international financial markets, with 18 years specifically dedicated to emerging markets. His expertise is in fundamental investment research and portfolio strategy. For the last 3 years, Mr. Mariscal has also taught the course: Emerging Financial Markets: theory and practice at the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA) of Columbia University.

Mr. Mariscal has served in senior positions on Wall Street with extensive experience in building and managing top-ranked investment research teams and advising portfolio managers. Prior to joining The Rohatyn Group, Mr. Mariscal was a Managing Director at Goldman Sachs in charge of coordinating the firm's global emerging markets research product and portfolio strategy. From 1992 to 2001, he and his team were frequently named to the prestigious “Institutional Investor Latin American Research Team" as well as other similar polls. While at Goldman Sachs, he also founded and directed the Latin America Equity Research Group. Prior to this, Mr. Mariscal held senior positions at The Nomura Research Institute where he led the Latin American economic and equity research effort. He also served as a Vice President on the sovereign debt restructuring desk of Manufacturers Hanover Trust and began his career at Merrill Lynch, working with the firm's Chief Economist.

Mr. Mariscal was born and raised in Mexico City. He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from The Universidad Autonoma Metropolitana and holds a Ph.D. in Economics from New York University.

Fernando Rodriguez > www.terra.com

Fernando Rodríguez joined Terra Networks in 2000 as Chief Financial Officer and as a founding member of the team that launched Terra.com. In 2004 he took on the position of Chief Executive Officer and he now oversees the operations of Terra Networks in the US, with headquarters based in Miami and offices in New York, Chicago, Los Angeles and San Francisco. He has played a key role in the growth of the organization and in consolidating Terra Networks USA’s position as the leading Internet portal for the US Hispanic market.

Under his leadership, Terra.com has grown its audience to reach over 13 million unique visitors per month, and has increased its advertising revenue to become one of the leading digital platforms targeting the Latino market. The primary sources of revenue are Spanish, English and Portuguese language online advertising campaigns throughout the United States and the Latin American region.

Terra Networks USA is a division of Terra Latin America, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Telefónica Group, and the largest Internet and ISP company in the Latin American region, reaching over 58 million unique visitors monthly .

Prior to joining Terra Networks, Rodríguez worked in the Telefónica Group, the leading global telecommunications company in the world. Rodríguez held various financial positions in Telefónica de España and in Telefonica S.A.. During those years he lead a team that worked with McKinsey and Company in analyzing the performance and valuation of several Telefónica global business units - from mobile and fixed telephony to Internet access and corporate business solutions.

Fernando Rodríguez began his career as a Foreign Trade Expert working for the Madrid Chamber of Commerce in Mexico City. He holds a Master’s degree in Business Administration from the Universidad Autónoma de Madrid and several other executive programs including
an Executive Management Program by the IESE Business School and Harvard Business School. In 2007, he received the Latin Chamber of Commerce (CAMACOL) Executive of the Year award. He currently resides in Miami with his wife and son.

Alberto Cardenas > www.tewlaw.com

Alberto R. Cardenas, a partner in the law firm of Tew Cardenas LLP

Being Hispanic – does it have any influence on your business?
At this stage, my ethnicity is not much of a factor professionally. At the beginning of my career, it was tough for a young Hispanic attorney to be welcomed into South Florida’s top tier law firm.
Upon graduation I had been editor of our law review at a fine law school and watched peers with lesser credentials being offered better jobs.
Today – South Florida is far different and it’s probably an advantage for a young professional to be a minority or a female.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Adversity is an exciting, incredible opportunity to learn life’s most lasting lessons, plus it’s hard to match the personal satisfaction one can achieve when overcoming adversity at either a personal or business level.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
Personally: Losing my father early in my life at a time our family had very limited financial resources and needed his love and guidance.

Business: Losing all of our investments at the end of the 80’s during a real estate and banking crisis. I am proud that, instead of filing bankruptcy as most advisers suggested, we opted to repay our debts and rebuild our future. It was definitely the most character building experience in my life to date.

Politically: Heading Florida’s Republican Party and George Bush’s presidential campaign in 2000 during the 37 days of “Florida’s Presidential Recount”.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I would have made better use of my late teens and early twenties. I don’t regret having had the great times of youth; but should have had less of it – that’s for sure.

What was your childhood ambition?
My childhood ambitions weren’t very serious: I watched every cowboy movie available…..wanted to have a “fast draw” and be a great horseback rider. Then in my early teens it switched to be a great athlete in many sports.

I didn’t begin thinking about a career passion until college.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
How about 3 types of people?

Privileged minds – those who come around every 200 years or so, like Leonardo DaVinci, Isaac Newton; Albert Einstein.

Unsung heroes - those who dedicate their hearts to healing and helping the less fortunate, the homeless; terminally ill with contagious deceases, orphans.

Those who have fought for our country and received Congressional Medals of Honor – our bravest fighting for our freedom.

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I travel 3 or 4 days a week. So I actually have breakfast, lunch and dinner meetings almost every work day.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Advice: Stay single or marry an exceptional partner. To be truly successful in any endeavor takes a 24/7 mind set. I was fortunate to marry a true partner. Thanks to her; we lead a balanced life. It is very difficult to do but it’s the way to a fulfilled life. After all, the only thing that really counts in your death-bed is your family or human legacy.

What is your favorite quote?
To thine own self be true.
You can’t be successful in your private or business life unless you follow the principles of that quote.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Being unconventional is not difficult if it represents who you truly are. If that is you – then that’s how you should be.

Biggest mistake made?
O boy……I’ve made many.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
If innovator means being the FIRST to do something – then yes!
* I started an ATO Chapter at FAU. First fraternity on campus.
* I was FIRST Hispanic to run a major congressional campaign in Florida, vs. Claude Pepper.
* I was FIRST Hispanic elected chair of Florida’s Republican Party.
* I was a founder of the Cuban American National Foundation.
* I was a founder of the Cuban American Bar Association.

About the Firm
Tew Cardenas LLP is a full service law firm with offices in Miami, Tallahassee and Washington, D.C. Our Firm represents, advises, and advocates for a wide array of clients, including domestic and international companies, federal, state and local governments as well as foreign governments and individuals. Our team possesses vast experience across industries including aviation, communications, construction, energy, financial services, food & beverage, hospitality, real estate development, retail and pharmaceutical.

Tom Maney > www.foxsportsla.msn.com

Tom Maney Senior Vice President, Fox Sports en Español

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
I’m not Hispanic, I’m ½ Italian and ½ Irish…. But I love the culture and the warmth of the marketplace. I have embraced the Hispanic culture as one of my own. It has because it has become one of our principal cultures here in the U.S., so I am constantly surrounded by great, caring people, and one cannot help but share in its joy. In general, it makes business more fun and exciting. Being able to connect with such a rich culture is a genuine gift.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
See my favorite quote….. I love challenges and the challenge given to me 10 years ago to build and develop a Spanish language cable sports network has been the most fun and rewarding experience in my 20+ years in media. It’s fun being the underdog…..

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
I think the biggest challenge I ever faced was training to run the NYC Marathon. I always wanted to do one, but having never run more than 3 miles the 26.2 mile marathon was a huge challenge. In every way it was symbolic to how you need to approach life’s challenges. Setting a goal, developing a plan for success, sticking to the plan despite small set backs, until eventually achieving the goal. I ran it in 4 hours and 30 minutes, and finished with a smile on my face.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I would have loved to have lived/worked in Latin America or Europe for a period of time. I love different cultures….

What was your childhood ambition?
To be an Oceanographer, to study ocean and sea life. I love the water, I could swim before I could walk, and am fascinated by the under water world.

Tell us about three people that you admire?

My father- An early pioneer in television and my best friend in life.

Rupert Murdoch- His vision to build and launch new media outlets and his determination to succeed despite many challenges.
Larry Bird- A consummate professional who had an incredible work ethic to be #1 and to lead a team in winning.

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Breakfasts are great, I am an early riser. Lunch doesn’t work, too much time taken from the busy day. Dinners are great especially at great restaurants with fabulous wine.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Being away from my family with the amount of travel I have to do for my job. I have two beautiful daughters ages 7 & 10 who I love to be with every day.

What is your favorite quote?
Obstacles are what you see if you take your eyes off your goal!

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not at all. Being unconventional leads to new thinking and being innovative.

Biggest mistake made?
Not taking a 40% pay cut with a huge options package for an internet company back in 1996. The company was Yahoo and the options would have been worth a few million today…. LOL!!!

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Absolutely. From my start in Independent television in the ‘80’s to cable in the 90’s to developing and building Fox Sports en Español as the leader in Spanish language cable television marketplace, I have always sought out the opportunity to be innovative and to develop new business segments.

About the Company
Fox Sports en Español features more than 1,500 hours of live, exclusive sports programming in Spanish and, with few exceptions, English SAP each year, including InterLigaTM, the Copa Santander Libertadores, Copa Nissan Sudamericana, and the FIFA Club World Cup soccer tournaments; the Major League Baseball regular season, divisional playoffs, All-Star Game and World Series; and premier combat sports including championship boxing from Mexico and the U.S, Ultimate Fighting Championship® and kickboxing. The channel reaches more than 13 million cable and satellite households in the country, of which 4.5 million are U.S. Hispanic households.

Fox Sports en Español is distributed by Fox Cable Networks Group and operated by Fox Pan American Sports LLC, an international sports programming and production entity jointly owned by HM Capital Partners, LLC and News Corporation's (NYSE: NWS) Fox Sports International. For more information, visit Fox Sports en Español online at foxsportsla.msn.com.

Marina Mendez > www.zeddigital.com

Marina Mendez CEO Latin America and General Manager of Argentina. The company is a subsidiary of the Publicis Group

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
In accepting what I can and can't change about the situation and look for ways to embrace the challenge and learn from it. My faith, hard work and endless energy help a lot.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
I`m facing my biggest challenge at this moment. It's fantastic!!!

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I wouldn`t change my life. It's full of blessings.

What was your childhood ambition?
My childhood ambition was to become a teacher.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
The three people that I admire the most are Steve Jobs, Lance Armstrong and Mother Theresa.

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
For meetings I enjoy the early lunches that combines people, healthy food and business.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
The biggest sacrifice was to leave my children couple of weeks for business development or training opportunities. But technology allows us stay toghether, no matter where I am.

What is your favorite quote?
Imagination is more important than knowledge.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Being unconventional is a unique state of mind for communication professionals. I think it`s absolutely neccesary to be unconventional.

Biggest mistake made?
My biggest mistake in the corporate world was to stay too much time at the same company. I needed to learn more!

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. I've learned to simplified things. My leit motive: "happiness is about feeling well everyday". I transform the difficult into interesting with happiness, passion, intelligence and my characteristic drive. Once, a headhunter asked me how I managed to make things look beautiful.(and as my favorite book reads) "…And now here is my secret, a very simple secret: It is only with the heart that one can see rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye."

About the Company
Zed Digital is a leading digital media agency with a team of 600 specialists spanning 25 countries around the world. We deal with bluechip international clients such as HP, L'Oreal, and Toyota. We specialise in all digital platforms, from search engine marketing to mobile and user generated content. We are fully integrated within ZenithOptimedia, our parent company, and offer solutions which work seamlessly with our offline plans.

Contact Marina here

Marlene M Gonzalez > www.lifecoachinggroup.org

Marlene M Gonzalez Life Coaching Group LLC President

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Absolutely, I am very proud of my culture and heritage. My business is to help Latino become whole leaders by creating and sustaining a long-lasting vision for personal and professional success. According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2004; The Latino population is roughly 44.3 million people or 14.8% of the US population, US’s largest minority group. Even though there has been a steady growth in the past few decades, we need to advocate for increasing representation in higher-level and better-paying jobs for Latinos in Corporate America.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
In accepting what I can and can’t change about the situation and look for ways to embrace the challenge and learn from it.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
There is a dicho in Spanish: “El que no habla, Dios no lo oye”, if “You would not say anything, people won’t hear you”; so my biggest challenge as a manager was to “Speak Up” and make my presence known throughout the organization.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I would have pursued my Coaching and Consulting business sooner in to help shape the future Latinos Leaders and facilitate opportunities for them.

What was your childhood ambition?
My childhood ambition was to become an astronaut and fly to the moon.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
The three people that I admire the most are Jesus Christ for his humbleness and greatness; my dad for his endless teachings when I was growing up and my husband for his unconditional love, admiration and support.

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
For meetings I enjoy the early lunches that combines people, healthy food and business.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?

The biggest sacrifice was to leave my country Venezuela, my extended family and friends in search for better opportunities.

What is your favorite quote?
“You are the master of your own destiny” “ Tu eres el arquitecto de tu propio destino”.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Being unconventional is a unique state of mind for our professional coaching services by helping clients develop into successful leaders achieving more in their lives, careers or organizations.

Biggest mistake made?
My biggest mistake in the corporate world was to learn the hard way how to play the “Game of Politics” and choose my battles carefully.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. I’ve learned to simplified things and look at them in different angles, dimensions and levels of complexities to offer the best possible solutions to my clients.

About the Company
Life Coaching Group LLC, business model is to group highly experienced coaches; that specialize in partnering with Latina and Latino professionals to help them become whole leaders by creating and sustaining a long-lasting vision for personal and professional success.

Life Coaching Group LLC, Our services include professional coaching, Coaching for entrepreneurs and business leaders, Career Transition, Professional Assessment, network and mentoring groups, seminars, retreats, Books, Audio seminars, workshops, teleseminar, webinars, consulting and key note speaking arrangements. We help our clients develop into successful leaders who achieve more in their lives, both personally and professionally; by creating and sustaining a long-lasting vision for personal and professional success.

Contact Marlene at http://www.lifecoachinggroup.org/

Miguel Zabludovsky > www.slatenyc.com

CEO of Slate NYC

Slatenyc is an ec0-luxury laundry and dry cleaning company in New York City.

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Money, or the ability to raise or attract it.

What inspired you to start your business?
A dissatisfaction with the product I was buying, combined with a profound change in my life (breaking up with a long-time girl friend), supported by the appearance in my life of someone who pushed me to accomplish my dreams.

How did you finance it?
Sold my car, invested my bar mitzvah savings, asked family and friends for the rest.

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes. In everything from contact with employees, with customers, with suppliers, with the community to how long you take to pay your bills.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
It’s 90% inertia, 10% that the idea that the worst day as an entrepreneur is still better than the best day doing anything else.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
Finding the right product/market fit.

If you could change one thing about your business, what would it be?
The learning curve rate. We should be constantly learning faster.

What was your childhood ambition?
To be the owner of my own company that had its headquarters in a glass building along Reforma (the main avenue in Mexico City)

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire?
Steve Jobs, Ferdinand de Lesseps (builder of the Suez and Panama canals), and my dad.

For business meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Coffee actually. I’d rather not do business when I eat.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Less time with family. Less time for myself. Less time with my girlfriend. On the other hand, having little spare time makes you more efficient in the way you spend it.

What is your favorite quote?
It doesn’t matter what color is the cat as long as it catches the mouse.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Only if you care about the status quo.

Biggest mistake made?
I’ll give you three. Thinking small. Not being thorough enough with my own ideas and projections. Not minding the details. I can keep going for two more pages…

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Absolutely. Because we transformed an insight into the relationship between people and their clothes and turned it into a business within an industry that had been doing the same thing for 50 years.

Contact Miguel at http://www.slatenyc.com/