Breaking Barriers and Promoting Diversity in the Finance Industry with Nancy Robles

In this episode of Dr. B Show, Dr. B interviews President Michael Baston from Cuyahoga Community College. President Baston discusses the essential role of community colleges in transforming lives and preparing essential workers. They delve into the flexibility and purpose-driven education offered by community colleges, emphasizing that community colleges provide an intentional supportive community for every student. President Baston also highlights the advocacy, policy, and professional development initiatives of the Ohio Association of Community Colleges. Tune in to discover the power and value of community colleges in higher education.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Community colleges provide purpose-driven education and flexibility.
• They offer an intentional and supportive community for all students.
• Community colleges prepare essential workers and offer affordable education.
• The Ohio Association of Community Colleges advocates for resources and policies.
• Post-pandemic, the value of education and career choices has evolved.
• Every student has a program that suits their goals at a community college.
• Education is a pathway to professional development and economic opportunity.
• Community colleges offer various modalities, including online and hybrid classes.
• Purpose-first thinking is encouraged for students to clarify their goals.
• Community colleges play a crucial role in the changing landscape of education.

QUOTES

• "Community colleges offer you the opportunity to engage in purpose-first thinking."
• "We provide an intentional supportive community for every student, through every program, in every zip code."
• "We take the top 100%. Everyone's a winner that comes to a community college."
• "The power of community college is flexibility. You have your education your way at a community college."
• "We are preparing the essential workers of our country."

You can learn more about Michael in the links below.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/michael-a-baston-j-d-ed-d-15213053/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/.

In this episode of Dr. B Show, Dr. B interviews Xavier Cano, a seasoned professional with a background in corporate America who has transitioned into a career and life coach. They discuss the significance of education in preparing individuals for success in corporate roles and how Xavier's experiences at major companies shaped his coaching expertise. The conversation delves into the importance of emotional intelligence in team dynamics and the workplace, offering insights into building emotionally intelligent teams and fostering open communication. Xavier emphasizes the future relevance of emotional intelligence as a top job skill. Mentorship and coaching are highlighted as crucial elements for personal and professional development, and Xavier provides valuable advice for individuals facing career stagnation and mental blocks.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Emphasis on Education: Xavier highlights the importance of education in his career journey, citing how his educational background prepared him for success in corporate America.
• Building Resilience: As a career and life coach, Xavier emphasizes the significance of building resilience and unblocking personal potential to enhance productivity and performance in both individuals and organizations.
• Importance of Emotional Intelligence: Xavier discusses the relevance of emotional intelligence in team dynamics, highlighting its role in conflict resolution, effective communication, and understanding diverse perspectives within teams.
• Open Communication and Inclusivity: Xavier stresses the value of fostering open communication and creating a safe, inclusive culture within organizations to encourage employees to express their ideas, emotions, and concerns without fear of judgment.
• Mentorship and Coaching: Emphasizes the importance of mentorship and coaching for personal and professional growth, highlighting that even successful individuals can benefit from ongoing mentorship and coaching to continue their development.
• Setting Clear Goals: Xavier recommends setting clear, 100% specific goals to overcome career stagnation. He also highlights the need to identify and address any mental blocks or limiting beliefs that may hinder progress.
• Authenticity in Branding: Xavier and the host discuss the importance of authenticity in branding for both individuals and organizations, emphasizing that people are increasingly looking for authenticity in the brands they support.
• Lifelong Learning: Reinforces the idea that lifelong learning is essential for personal and professional growth, with Xavier mentioning his regular interactions with various coaches to continue his own development.

QUOTES

• "Education is the foundation of success in corporate America." - Xavier Cano
• "Emotional intelligence is the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one's own emotions as well as the emotions of others." - Xavier Cano
• "Open communication is key in terms of running a successful company." - Xavier Cano
• "Mentorship can take your career exponentially to the next level." - Xavier Cano
• "Are you being 100 percent clear about what it is that you want in your career?" - Xavier Cano

You can learn more about Xavier in the links below.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/lxaviercano/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/.

In this episode of Dr. B Show, Dr. B is joined by Rod Colon, a highly experienced career consultant and executive coach. He is passionate about providing hope and guidance to students, professionals, and executives in their career journeys. With over 25 years of experience, Rod has helped countless individuals manage their careers as a great enterprise. He holds a BA and MBA from Georgian Court University and is the founder of Rod Colon Consulting.

Rod shares his insights on managing your career as a great enterprise. He discusses his journey from working in human resources at J.P. Morgan to starting his own practice. Rod emphasizes the importance of being the CEO of yourself and leveraging your skills and network to succeed. He also highlights the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion in organizations and how it can lead to increased revenue. Rod provides practical advice on reprogramming biased thinking and creating a sense of belonging in the workplace.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Being the CEO of yourself means taking ownership of your career and leveraging your skills and network.
• Diversity, equity, and inclusion are essential for organizations to thrive and increase revenue.
• Reprogramming biased thinking starts with awareness and reflection on our own biases.
• Creating a sense of belonging in the workplace leads to better team performance and results.

QUOTES

• "For me, everything that I do is always in gear to being the CEO of me, how can that individual best leverage running this great enterprise of themselves." - Rod Colon
• "The key is to be aware of our biases and reflect on why we think and feel a certain way." - Rod Colon
• "When you have senior leadership buy-in and sponsorship, the rest of the organization will follow suit." - Rod Colon
• "Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not just the right thing to do, they lead to better teams and better results." - Rod Colon

You can learn more about Rod Colon in the links below.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/rodcolon/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/.

In this episode of Dr. B Show, Dr. B is joined with Dr. Marisol Capellan,an author, speaker, and advocate for increasing the representation of women in the workplace. She holds a doctorate in higher education leadership and is passionate about inclusive leadership and personal power. Dr. Capellan's book, "Leadership is a Responsibility," explores the experiences of black women and Afro Latinas in the workplace and addresses the importance of equity and responsible leadership.

Dr. Marisol Capellan discusses her book, "Leadership is a Responsibility," and the importance of inclusive leadership and personal power. She shares her own experiences as a black Hispanic woman in academia and the workplace, highlighting the challenges faced by minorities. Dr. Capellan emphasizes the need for transformational and responsible leadership that promotes equity and psychological safety. She also discusses the importance of allyship with action and the impact of intersectional identities on leadership.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Education is crucial for social mobility and should be accessible to all, regardless of background.
• Transformational leadership should be combined with responsible leadership to create positive change and promote equity.
• Allyship with action is essential for creating an inclusive workplace and advocating for marginalized groups.
• Diverse representation in leadership positions should extend beyond surface-level diversity to include power and decision-making authority.

QUOTES

• "We need transformational leadership, but also responsible leadership, inclusive leadership, and leaders that promote psychological safety."
• "Allyship with action, with action that leads to change, is important."
• "You need to know yourself, know the environment, and understand the power of leadership to be a great leader."
• "If you're diverse at the bottom but lack diversity in power and decision-making, you're not being inclusive or equitable."

You can learn more about Dr. Marisol Capellan in the links below.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisolcapellan/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/.

In this episode of Dr. B Show, Dr. B interviews Jhack Sepulveda, an entrepreneur and executive director of Orange County Food Tech at SUNY Orange. They discuss Jhack's journey from being a trained dietitian to creating his own successful business, EatGood Consultants, which focuses on providing regulatory compliance consulting to small and medium-sized food service establishments and manufacturers. Jhack also talks about his passion for nutrition education and helping marginalized communities improve their access to education and job opportunities in the food industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Jhack Sepulveda, an entrepreneur and executive director of Orange County Food Tech at SUNY Orange, discusses his journey from a trained dietitian to creating EatGood Consultants, which offers regulatory compliance consulting to small and medium-sized food businesses.
• EatGood Consultants focuses on helping smaller establishments that may not afford larger compliance programs and face language barriers, providing them with education and tools to stay in compliance.
• Jhack emphasizes the importance of nutrition education and addressing lifestyle factors like diet and physical activity to combat prevalent diseases like heart disease and diabetes.
• The Latino community and Black Americans have higher rates of heart disease and diabetes, which can be attributed to factors like diet, physical activity, smoking, and alcohol consumption.
• Orange County Food Tech's mission is to empower underemployed and low-income individuals through workforce development programs, career readiness, nutrition education, and food industry-specific training.
• The initiative aims to upskill individuals, providing them with recognized certificates and on-the-job training opportunities, fostering sustainable wages and growth within the food industry.
• Jhack encourages those interested in creating curriculums, instructing courses, or contributing to the initiative to reach out and be part of the positive change in communities.

QUOTES

• "I found a need for those smaller owner-operated food service establishments that might not be able to afford larger brand compliance programs."
• "There's a need for education and support in regulatory compliance, especially for marginalized communities."
• "Increasing our diet with more fruits and vegetables and reducing refined sugars can have a significant impact on health."
• "Physical activity plays a crucial role in preventing diseases like heart disease and diabetes."

You can learn more about Jhack in the links below.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jhack-sepulveda-4591b815/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/.

In this episode of Dr. B Show, Dr. B interviews Alexandra Ramirez, a Colombian entrepreneur and financial expert. Alexandra shares her journey from working in government to becoming the CEO of Financially Fit Latina and Money Wise Business Group. She emphasizes the importance of financial education and provides tips for becoming financially fit. Alexandra also discusses the need for estate planning and life insurance within the Latino community. Throughout the conversation, she highlights the importance of breaking down financial concepts in a simple and accessible way.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Alexandra Ramirez is a Colombian entrepreneur and financial expert who is passionate about empowering the Latino community to become financially successful.
• She is the CEO of Financially Fit Latina and Money Wise Business Group, where she helps individuals and businesses organize their finances and scale their businesses.
• Alexandra emphasizes the importance of estate planning, including having a will, living will, and living trust, to protect assets and avoid family problems.
• She encourages Latinos to overcome the stigma around financial planning and seek the help of a financial advisor, regardless of their wealth.
• Alexandra is dedicated to providing financial education in a simple and accessible way, breaking down complex concepts for the Latino community.

QUOTES

• "My passion is to empower the community, especially Latinos and Latinas, to become financially successful." - Alexandra Ramirez
• "Having an estate planning is critical because you're not only protecting your family, you're protecting yourself." - Alexandra Ramirez
• "Having a life insurance is protecting yourself, giving your family something in the future if something happens to you, but also in life, you're protecting yourself because you have living benefits." - Alexandra Ramirez

You can learn more about Alexandra in the links below.

• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/alexandraramirezoficial1/
• Website: https://financiallyfitlatina.com/alexandra-ramirez/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/.

In this episode of Dr. B Show, Dr. B is joined by Nancy Robles, President of Eastern Funding, shares her journey from being a single mother on welfare to becoming a successful finance executive. She emphasizes the importance of education and how her degrees from Berkeley College and the University of Phoenix have helped her gain confidence and advance in her career. Nancy also discusses the lack of diversity in the finance industry and the need for companies to create a culture of equity and opportunity. She shares her experiences in breaking through the glass ceiling and offers advice for middle management professionals looking to advance in their careers.in the industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Education played a crucial role in Nancy's career development, helping her gain confidence and overcome the challenges she faced as a first-generation immigrant.
• Nancy believes that companies need to create a culture of equity and opportunity to increase diversity in leadership positions.
• Nancy emphasizes the importance of finding an organization with the right culture that values diversity and provides real opportunities for advancement.
• Nancy encourages middle management professionals to seek out mentors and advocates within their organizations to help shatter the glass ceiling.

QUOTES

• "I needed to find confidence in myself and my abilities, and education was the key to that." - Nancy Robles
• "Diversity usually stops at entry-level positions. We need advocates in the room to push for real opportunities for people from minority backgrounds." - Nancy Robles
• "Put more energy into finding an organization with the right culture that has real opportunities for advancement." - Nancy Robles

You can learn more about Nancy Robles in the links below.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nancy-robles-27240535/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/.

SUMMARY

In this episode of Dr. B Show, Dr. B welcomes and interviews Nic McGrue, a securities attorney and founder of Polymath Legal. They discuss the differences between accredited and non-accredited investors, as well as the exemptions and exclusions for raising capital in real estate. Nic explains the nuances of 506(b) and 506(c) offerings, highlighting the importance of understanding the rules and regulations to avoid legal issues. He emphasizes the need for a strong power team, including an attorney and CPA, to ensure compliance and protect investors. Nic also advises new real estate investors to get educated, find a mentor, and take action to get started in the industry.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Accredited investors have high income or net worth, while sophisticated investors possess the resources and knowledge to evaluate investment opportunities.
• 506(b) allows for an unlimited number of accredited investors and up to 35 sophisticated investors, while 506(c) requires all investors to be accredited.
• Exemptions exclude certain securities from registration requirements, while exclusions are securities that are not considered securities at all.
• A promissory note with a maturity date of 9 months or less is typically excluded from the definition of a security.
• Building a power team, including an attorney and CPA, is crucial for real estate investors to ensure compliance and protect investors.

QUOTES

• "I help you raise the capital for your deals, but make sure that you stay out of trouble while you're doing it." - Nic McGrue
• "Get educated and then take action. Don't be in the situation where you're going to be a perpetual student on it." - Nic McGrue

You can learn more about Nic McGrue in the links below.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nmcgrue/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/.

In this episode of Dr. B Show, Dr. B welcomes and interviews Robert Ferra, an experienced underwriter and partner at People First Investment Group, to share his journey from the world of real estate to helping small businesses and back to real estate. He emphasizes the importance of education and critical thinking in his success. Robert also discusses the unique selling proposition of People First Investment Group, which focuses on helping motivated sellers save their homes and providing financing solutions. He highlights the significance of math and understanding market trends in real estate investing. Robert predicts an increase in foreclosures due to various factors such as the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation. He advises new investors to educate themselves, build a strong team, and be prepared before entering the real estate market.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Education and critical thinking are essential for success in the real estate industry.
• People First Investment Group stands out by providing education, financing solutions, and helping motivated sellers save their homes.
• Math and understanding market trends are crucial for successful real estate investing.
• Foreclosures are expected to increase due to factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and inflation.
• New investors should focus on education, building a strong team, and being prepared before entering the real estate market.

QUOTES

• "I cannot work for anybody else. I have this healthy ambition to always develop and be my best." - Robert Ferra
• "We help people save their houses and create value in the properties we acquire." - Robert Ferra
• "Don't learn the process during the process. Put yourself in a position first and then execute." - Robert Ferra

You can learn more about Robert Ferra in the links below.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/robert-ferra-b77582b/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/

.

In this first episode of Dr. B Show Season 5, Dr. B welcomes and interviews Veena Jetti, the founder of Vive Funds, a large multifamily owner-operator company. With over a decade of experience in real estate investing, Veena has successfully bought and sold assets worth nearly a billion dollars. She is also the creator of the free Facebook community, Mastering Multifamily with Veena Jetti, where she provides mentorship and education to aspiring investors.

Veena shares her journey in real estate investing and offers valuable insights for new investors. She emphasizes the importance of education and building a strong network. Veena also highlights the significance of choosing the right partners and mentors to navigate the complexities of the industry. She stresses the need for integrity, community, and continuous learning in order to succeed in real estate.

KEY TAKEAWAYS

• Multifamily properties offer the best of both residential and commercial real estate, providing a scalable and stable investment opportunity.
• When evaluating a deal, focus on the sponsor's track record, integrity, and how they treat their investors.
• Building a power team, including a securities attorney and tax strategist, is crucial for success in real estate investing.
• Community and collaboration are essential for growth and learning in the industry.
• Raising private money requires following the rules and regulations set by securities attorneys and tax strategists.

QUOTES

• "Multifamily gives you the residential aspect but operates at the scale of commercial, making it the best investment choice." - Veena Jetti
• "You need to rely on somebody else's expertise and mentorship to fill in the knowledge gaps." - Veena Jetti
• "A rising tide lifts all boats. When there are better sponsors around me, it's better for everybody." - Veena Jetti

You can learn more about Veena Jetti in the links below.

• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/veena-jetti/
• Website: https://vivefunds.com/

If you’re listening to the Dr. B Show Podcast, please subscribe, share, and we’re listening for your feedback. You can also learn more about Dr. Jairo Borja at http://borjaconsultinggroup.com/.

.