Episode #177: "I Have SOMETHING To Say" with special guest, Michelle Gordon
Release Date: 10/12/2023
I have SOMETHING to say!
The American expression "Don't poke the bear" serves as a warning against provoking someone powerful or instigating a situation that could lead to negative consequences. Referring to Puerto Rico disparagingly as a "floating island of garbage", has incited a strong and enduring reaction from the Puerto Rican community and its allies. This insult compounds the historical grievances of exploitation, disenfranchisement, and mistreatment that Puerto Rico has endured under colonial rule, intensifying the response. It highlights the broader need for respectful and informed discourse about Puerto...
info_outlineI have SOMETHING to say!
Put on your seatbelts. In the latest episode of I Have SOMETHING to Say, co-hosts Chris Majocha and Samí Haiman-Marrero get real about the systemic neglect and misrepresentation faced by the Puerto Rican and Latino community in Florida. Joined by Florida State Representative Johanna López and Boricua Vota Founder Jimmy Torres, they lay bare the urgent need for engagement and education to dismantle harmful misconceptions about Latino voters and amplify their electoral participation. It’s high time to confront the truth: language barriers and a lack of cultural competency are not just...
info_outlineI have SOMETHING to say!
Recent events have led many of us to experience a whirlwind of emotions, swinging between extreme joy and deep anguish. This episode of the “I Have SOMETHING to Say” Podcast focuses on the emotional whiplash caused by the exhilarating announcement of the Harris-Walz ticket for the U.S. general election and the profound grief following the tragic execution of Sonya Massey in her home by a police officer. Our guest, Deloria Nelson-Streete, Founder & CEO of ACE Solutions, joins hosts Samí Haiman-Marrero and Chris Majocha to discuss these starkly contrasting events from her perspective as...
info_outlineI have SOMETHING to say!
It feels surreal to announce that this is the 200th episode of “I Have SOMETHING to Say”, especially as co-hosts Chris Majocha, Dr. Xaulanda Simmonds-Emmanuel and Samí Haiman-Marrero reflect on the ups and downs of this journey that started in 2018. The initial planning happened on a business road trip, with a call to Chris to figure out what we needed from a technical standpoint to launch. They agree in that, "Sometimes the best ideas come when you just unplug and take a long drive." But the growth and evolution of the show, and its impact, have been driven by the diverse range of guests...
info_outlineI have SOMETHING to say!
Promises, promises, promises…we all get spammed daily by lead generation companies that 'guarantee’ they can help you get a gazillion hot leads that will land you hot new business. In this special “Issues2Impact” episode of our “I Have SOMETHING to Say” podcast, Dr. Xaulanda Simmonds-Emmanuel, Chris Majocha, and Samí Haiman-Marrero talk with John Nadeau, Founder/CEO of SpearPoint Digital about the challenges of finding and attracting clients for his digital marketing business. We explore the importance of networking, building a sales funnel, and effectively communicating the value...
info_outlineI have SOMETHING to say!
Are you psychologically unsafe at work? Are the constant verbal jabs, innuendos, side-eye glances, and passive-aggressive comments making you sick to your stomach? In this special “Issues2Impact” episode of our “I Have SOMETHING to Say” podcast, Dr. Xaulanda Simmonds-Emmanuel, Chris Majocha, and Samí Haiman-Marrero talk with Dr. Juliette Nelson, Founder of JUNURI, about the concept of organizational trauma and its impact on individuals in the workplace. For the root problem of crappy work environments, Dr. Nelson offers up the following: "Broken people are leading other broken people...
info_outlineI have SOMETHING to say!
What is the American way? In essence, it’s a system that’s working just fine…for some…not for all. In this episode of "I Have Something to Say," co-hosts Chris Majocha and Samí Haiman-Marrero have an exceptional conversation with an exceptional guest, Toni Hunt, Founder and CEO of The American Way, about how to combat socioeconomic barriers to deliver equity. "What I'm saying is, I'm not going to disrupt our capitalist society. I'm not going to be a hypocrite, right? We all benefit from the capitalist society. What I'm saying is, is that certain groups of people shouldn't be the...
info_outlineI have SOMETHING to say!
Running for office takes courage, resiliency, and a lot of preparation, especially for Latinas. In this episode of I Have SOMETHING to Say Podcast, Samí Haiman-Marrero talks to María Revelles, a community organizer and advocate with whom she’s collaborated, about what propelled her to finally run for Florida State’s House of Representatives for District 47. María shares her journey and passion for making a positive impact on her community no matter where she lives. From her early beginnings in Puerto Rico to her work in New York and her current efforts in Central Florida, María has...
info_outlineI have SOMETHING to say!
Since the beginning of time, humans have yearned to build COMMUNITY. In this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY, Priscilla Guasso, Founder of Latinas Rising Up In HR™, and CEO of Manifesting Leadership Group, discusses with hosts Chris Majocha and Samí Haiman-Marrero the importance of building genuine connections and creating community rather than just networking. As the author of “Commünity” a fantastic little book/workbook available on Amazon, Priscilla shares her personal experiences of building community and the impact it has had on her life. She also highlights the need for...
info_outlineI have SOMETHING to say!
INCOGNITO GUEST! Sometimes you’re in a pickle and simply need a sounding board. In this special “Issues2Impact” episode of “I Have SOMETHING to Say” podcast Dr. Xaulanda Simmonds-Emmanuel, Chris Majocha, and Samí Haiman-Marrero talk with ‘Negative Nancy’ who is a business owner struggling with passion, direction, and the future of her business. It’s an emotional discussion about the practical aspects of entrepreneurship, the struggle to find joy and fulfillment in business activities, and the exploration of potential career pivots. We disguise the identity of our guest to...
info_outline“The real question is are you positioned now to be work optional later?”, was the question Michelle Gordon, Founder and CEO of Investably posed that hit me like a brick on the forehead in this episode of I HAVE SOMETHING TO SAY. When I shared my desire to continue to work only on passion projects and advocacy when I reach retirement age, she explained that I can do that as long as I fully understand what I have to work with now and learn how to protect and build upon it.
As a mom and business owner who identifies as Latina, Michelle launched Investably, a registered investment advisory firm to help women-led households with financial planning and investment management after working 18 years in the Corporate sector. “Working in Wall Street, I realized that there was a need for guidance among women who look like me on how to be purposeful, strategic, and tax-efficient with their money,” Michelle states. “The end goal is to shift from working for the money and to get the money to work for you, and that requires knowing how the system works,” she adds.
Michelle grew up under the watchful eye of her hard-working immigrant parents. She understands firsthand what it means to not have the benefits of generational wealth, of passed-down knowledge, and objective advice on financial planning and investments. So, she became 'that' teenager who created cashflow budgets, traded stocks, mapped out early retirement and real estate acquisition strategies, and opened a retirement account at 19. It’s no surprise that she pursued a career in investments and wealth planning.
Today Michelle is a Stevie Award for her fiduciary work with clients, and has developed a 4-week Financial Vitals Masterclass to help guide women who are heads of household in assessing their current financial status and create a roadmap to safeguard and grow the wealth they are creating, effectively and efficiently. See details here: https://investably.com/4-week-master-class. BTW, men are welcome, too!
Something I learned in the conversation with Michelle is that wages earned by working for others are the highest taxed form of income. Since Latinas experience the largest pay gap when compared to White men (57 cents to their $1 for doing the same jobs) it’s no surprise that before the pandemic, Latinas were creating businesses at a rate six times faster than all other groups, and some data suggests that trend has continued. This said it’s just as important to learn the ropes with regards to running a business as what to do with the revenues you make. Asi que yo me voy a apuntar para tomar el curso de Investably.