What if the advice we grew up with was the very thing holding us back at work and in life? 

If you’re a Latina like me, you probably grew up with refranes or proverbs in your home, sayings that are meant to teach us a lesson or pass down wisdom from a prior generation. 

One refrán I often heard in my home was “en boca cerrada, no entran moscas.” Or said differently, “flies don’t enter closed mouths.”

Depending on the tone or situation, this refrán can feel:

After being laid off from my role as Head of Equality at a major tech company, I had a lot of time to reflect on what I would do next. I had to decide whether I wanted to continue doing DEI work at another major company or whether, after 30 years, it was time to launch my own business, choose the clients and projects I wanted to support, and take up space in an industry that often is quick to silence underestimated voices.

For me, this work has always been about alignment. Do we have the same goals here? Are we all working to move the needle in terms of building a more equitable and inclusive workplace?  Or are we just looking to check some boxes and move on to something else? You know, and I know, there are a lot of companies engaged in the latter.

So I had a choice: play it safe or bet on myself.

Continue working for “the man” and let them dictate how I deliver outcomes that matter, or build a business rooted in values and a bigger mission.

I chose the bold route.

In 2023, I launched Boldly Speaking LLC. It was a scary decision, but one that I absolutely stand by. I created a space where I could use my voice. Not just for me, and the things I wanted and hoped for, but for the good of the greater community.

I started off small. By myself and doing mostly speaking engagements. Over time, I added ERG coaching and advising to my repertoire. Later, I began writing articles and essays, and in 2024, I contributed a chapter to a multi-author book project. I was finding my voice and owning my narrative, even as I went out into the world, encouraging others like myself to self-advocate and self-promote. I knew exactly what I was talking about because I was in it. I was figuring it all out too, and sharing the lessons I was learning on my own journey.

Since then, I’ve been coaching underestimated talent, creating spaces for ERG leaders to lead with confidence, and hosting my weekly LinkedIn Live show, Latinas: Front & Center, to spotlight the brilliance of Latina leaders and trailblazers.

I also have a small team of Latina entrepreneurs who work closely with me as I build my brand, my strategy, and my presence. The progress has been real, but not without lots of hard-earned and invaluable lessons.

This leads me to my most recent project. And potentially the one I’m most proud of. I wrote a book called Calladita No More to help more Latinas and Women of Color feel seen, valued, and celebrated. I am pleased to announce that the book will be released on September 15.

The book uses refranes to share the lessons I learned along my journey because I feel they are so relatable and core to our culture. With one important caveat: I set aside the refranes that I don’t believe serve us and spotlight the ones that I think make us bigger, stronger, and more empowered. 

At a time when underestimated voices are being silenced and pushed out of critical corporate roles, my book serves as a timely reminder that speaking up is necessary, not only for ourselves but also for the collective.

For Latinas and Women of Color, Calladita No More is a rally cry for solidarity and a reminder to speak up, use your voice, and be heard.

Hady Méndez is a NY-based bestselling author, Latina speaker, and ERG coach. She is the founder and CEO of Boldly Speaking, a company transforming the experiences of underestimated professionals in the workplace.

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The Latino Newsletter welcomes opinion pieces in English and/or Spanish from community voices. Submission guidelines are here. The views expressed by outside opinion contributors do not necessarily reflect the editorial views of this outlet or its employees.