On Empowering a World of Jefa's
with Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda author of 'Jefa in Training: The Business Startup Toolkit for Entrepreneurial and Creative Women'
#NuevasPaginasconLupita is a space that is both an archive and resource aimed to "spotlight" Hispanic/Latinx/e authors with newly published books. The goal is to connect readers to new and/or old favorite Hispanic/Latinx/e authors and their books! So give this & every post a share to help us reach more readers!
How does it work?!
Here’s the deal, I came up with a set of casual/random/funny questions to ask each Hispanic/Latinx/e author, I interview. For now, the questions will all be the same but maybe in the future I’ll launch this into more specific questions to the author or maybe I’ll turn this series into a mini-podcast, or maybe……well, you get it! The possibilities are endless.
If you are new here don’t forget to check out all the other amazing interviews! We also have a great line-up of guest authors coming up so make sure you don’t miss an issue by subscribing now!
A friendly reminder that I am an affiliate with Bookshop.org and I may earn a commission if you click through any book links and make a purchase.
Hey Heyyy Book Franz!
Happy New Week. I wasn’t kidding when I said we had a phenomenal line-up prepared for the next few weeks! There are so many great Latino/e/x authored books hitting the shelves this year and I am moving quickly to try and reach out to as many as possible so that I can bring them here to you. If you are able to, please make sure to share that this newsletter exists with any reader in your life! The more people that know about this newsletter - the more potential readers we will connect to these Latino/e/x authored books.
I won’t keep you any longer from today’s interview because it’s creating a resource for our community that is much needed.
Without further ado, our special guest author today is…Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda.
Could you tell me a bit about where this photo was taken? Is it special to your book in some way?
This photo is taken in my apartment in Portland,OR - while the book was primarily written in my apartment in South Florida, I sent in my final edits from this very spot and envisioned what launching the book would feel like. I spent a lot of time wondering what the responses would be, and it’s been so amazing to see how many others felt like there was a need for this kind of resource for our community. It’s an incredible feeling to have held my book for the first time from this very spot!
Tell me about your book without telling me about your book - share any literary inspirations behind your book! If there are none, the gap you wanted to fill in the literary canon with your book.
Latinas are starting businesses faster than any other demographic right now, yet we’ve had barely any business books published by Latinas. I wanted to create a resource for our community that can not only teach them skills through the workbook pages but can also inspire them to see what’s possible by reading stories from others.
What are two central themes in your book that you connect with the most and why?
In chapter 6, I focus on developing your unique selling proposition by using what makes you different to stand out in your industry. I feel very passionate about this because for some of us, we may have grown up thinking that being different was a bad thing, when in reality, by looking at how differently we’ve experienced life, is where we can find our true strengths. Especially when it comes to pursuing entrepreneurship, I don’t believe that there is any one correct path to your success and I think it’s important for people to know that.
In chapter 11, there’s a section that addresses burnout. As someone who is currently healing from massive burnout, I want to help others identify the signs before it hits them. Finding a healthy work-life balance especially when you are juggling a full-time job, an almost full-time business and also being an adult with other responsibilities can get difficult. But if we don’t take time to process our emotions and ideas, we’ll just get caught in a continuous bad routine of back to back meetings, emails, bad meals and sleep. You will not be able to grow if you consistently drive yourself into overwhelm.
If a book was home, where would your home be?
Morelia, Michoacán. Specifically my abuelita’s house.
If your book was a famous musician who would it be?
Selena - she broke barriers in the industry and wanted to empower her community.
What comfort food could a reader pair with your book?
A champurrado-filled mug and an euchepo.
In what ways has access (or little to no access) to Hispanic/Latinx/e literature defined you as a writer?
I think it’s just made it more important to me to put my work out there and encourage others to do so as well. In my ideal world, I’d have an imprint to publish more diverse voices (putting it out into the universe haha).
Where can readers keep up with your work?
Keep up with me here:
A huge thank you to Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda for taking the time to chat with me about her work! Please please make sure you purchase a copy (or request your local library carry a copy) of her book #SupportLatinxLit!
Bio for Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda:
Ashley K. Stoyanov Ojeda is a community-builder, business development strategist, coach, and socialpreneur. Originally from Queens, NYC and born to a Mexican mom and French-American father, Ashley's career started in the music industry in 2012, working at major record labels, publishers,and venues. After relocating to Portland, OR post-college, she created her own network for local womxn songwriters, now a national organization that has been featured in The Recording Academy, called #WomxnCrush Music.
Since the rapid growth of her organization, she has dedicated her career to creating opportunities and developing businesses and communities of the new majority through her coaching and consulting, and has become known as the Business Hada Madrina (Business Fairygodmother).
Ashley joined The Mujerista team in 2020 to help create and grow The Mujerista Network, a digital network dedicated to empowering and celebrating the next generation of Latinas making an impact en la cultura and has since taken on the role of Director of Business Development. Ashley currently resides in Portland, Oregon.
Synopsis for Jefa in Training: The Business Startup Toolkit for Entrepreneurial and Creative Women from the Bookshop website:
A solopreneur and small business guide. A business startup planner and toolkit for women in leadership, business, and beyond, Jefa in Training offers women entrepreneurs the female empowerment needed to take a side hustle to the next level. Whether it's learning to define your brand, set up a beta test group, or draft an LLC operating agreement, this compendium of lessons, anecdotes, worksheets, templates, and quotes teaches the next generation of women in business how to work for yourself and turn your ideas into something much bigger.
A Latina book by Latinas, for Latinas. Solopreneurs and creatives, you are invited to let go of your fears and finally launch your blog, project, or platform. Jefa in Training isn't your typical small business book. Part Latinx book, it is a conversation with a special tribe of Latina immigrants, Hispanic American generations, and women of color in financial, media, entrepreneurial, and creative spaces. Explore a more complex view of Latinidad, covering everything from imposter syndrome to micro-aggressions and bilingualism.
Inside find:
Author's first-hand experiences
Guest stories from successful business-women in Latinx companies
Worksheets and more!
If you're looking for Hispanic books, women entrepreneur books, women leadership books, or women of color gifts―like Mind Your Business, The Memo, In the Company of Women, or De Colores Means All of Us―then you'll love Jefa in Training.
The best way you can support Latinx/e authors and Latinx/e literature is by doing the following:
REQUEST that your local library carry a copy
PURCHASE a copy of a friend, family member, or your nemesis (hey! I’m sure they read too).
SHOUT about the book on any social media platform or to your friends and family!
SHARE this interview widely! Word of mouth does wonders for connecting readers to books.
REVIEW their books on any website that sells books!
The other day one of my cousins asked in our family group chat….” Hey! What kind of music does Lupita listen to?” and without even missing a beat my brother replied “AUDIOBOOKS”!
The moment audiobooks stepped into my life, they became my music. I listen to them on walks, while doing laundry and chores — basically any moment I have to myself. So if that is you too (or if you simply want to fit in more reading during your daily life) check out Libro.FM! If you use the code LupitaReads you’ll receive two audiobook credits for 14.99 USD with your first month of membership. These credits can be used on your choice of more than 250,00 audiobooks on Libro. FM.
And if you need some audiobook recommendations - I made a list just for you!
Thank you so much for the support!!! ❤️ this was so fun!
I never get tired of these types of books, I don't know why. Putting this one on hold right now!