Have You Found Your Tribe?
By: Adriana Flores-Ragade
Thanksgiving is a time when we reflect and take time to be thankful for the people in our lives. Today, I am grateful for all the people that have and continue to believe in the work that Richard Nuñez and I are doing through LatinxAmerica. I am extremely indebted to the guests who have shared their personal and professional journeys into tech and their respective tribes who have helped amplify these stories filled with hope and practical advice.
I recently read an academic article that talked about the importance of social networking sites, especially LinkedIn, to the success of entrepreneurial businesses with a sample population from Jordan. The article got me thinking about Latinx entrepreneurs, like myself, and how often we rely on social networks to create a working Familia or Tribe. Through LinkedIn, I have met professionals from all walks of life. Some have become my mentors, guests, collaborators, friends and part of my Tribe. Finding people who have similar goals or who can be your mentors or champions is extremely important for our community now more than ever. We will need each other to continue to build the necessary social capital that can lead to financial prosperity.
Growing up, I often heard people say that ambition, especially for a girl, was not appropriate. However, when I moved to California from Mexico, I began to navigate my Latinx and new American cultures and embrace the things that have made me who I am today. As an entrepreneur, I have to be driven, determined, creative, and confident which are qualities valued in an individualistic culture. However, my Latinx roots are from a collectivist culture that values family and community. Through LatinxAmerica, I am able to blend both cultures and advocate so others can do the same and become successful entrepreneurs or become the next innovators or leaders in the tech space.
Here are some tips for building your tribe:
Listen to Hector Mujica’s episode on innovating, giving back & taking risks where he also talks about how he built his tribe
Don’t be afraid to approach someone and ask them to be part of your tribe
Keep in mind that your tribe is different from a networking group, the members of your tribe will be people who can be real with you and not just your cheerleaders
Relationships take time and effort, so invest your time wisely and develop professional relationships that will be mutually beneficial in some way – starting today!
Now, would you be part of my LatinxAmerica tribe? Email us at Latinxamerica@gmail.com