There are moments in life when having someone to talk to, someone who has already walked part of the path you are starting, can completely change your direction. This is the true power of mentorship. And in Latin America, mentoring is not a luxury; it is a real and urgent need.
As a Venezuelan living in Mexico, I have experienced LATAM from multiple perspectives: as a professional, as an immigrant, as a founder, and as someone who has had to rebuild herself more than once. Latin Americans are known for being warm, friendly, and collaborative people. We help each other emotionally, we create community naturally, and we celebrate collective success. However, when it comes to professional growth, career guidance, and entrepreneurship, the doors are not always open—and the path is rarely clear.
I have seen many talented people abruptly change careers, pause their professional lives, or abandon great ideas altogether. Not because they lacked skills or intelligence, but because they lacked guidance. Bad advice, no advice, or decisions made in isolation can be incredibly costly. And when you are navigating uncertainty, starting a company, changing careers, or scaling a team, being alone is one of the hardest things.
I strongly believe that two brains think better than one. It may sound simple, even obvious, but it is deeply true. Important decisions should not be made in isolation. Having a mentor does not mean you are weak or incapable; it means you are intentional about your growth. A mentor helps you see blind spots, validate ideas, avoid unnecessary mistakes, and most importantly, feel supported.
Learning the Hard Way: My Own Entrepreneurial Journey
The year 2025 taught me more than any other year in my life. It was the year I truly believed in myself enough to open new paths. I launched my consulting firm, started working independently with clients, and embraced entrepreneurship fully. Along the way, I learned how to draft contracts, invoice clients, negotiate pricing, manage uncertainty, and trust my experience.
But none of it was easy—and mentorship was not easily accessible.
Like many people, I tried to find mentors to guide me through financial decisions, business structure, and growth strategies. What I found was discouraging: many mentors charged fees equivalent to a month’s rent. That reality forced me to learn many things on my own, through trial and error. And while independence can build resilience, it can also slow you down and make the journey unnecessarily difficult.
That experience made something very clear to me: we need accessible, human, and experience-driven mentorship, especially in LATAM.
Discovering MentorCruise and Facing Impostor Syndrome
When I discovered MentorCruise, I was genuinely surprised. I found a platform full of experienced professionals offering real support, not just theory. People are willing to share what worked, what failed, and what they learned along the way, and to do so more affordably.
I decided to apply as a mentor and offer my expertise in community building, recruiting, and sales strategy. But once I was approved, something very familiar appeared: impostor syndrome.
Questions started running through my mind: Who is going to pay for my services? Am I really an expert? Do I have enough experience to mentor others?
Thankfully, those doubts did not last long. Years of hands-on experience do not disappear just because you step into a new role. And once I started working with clients and communities again, the results spoke for themselves.
I have helped communities grow from 20–30 attendees to over 90 active participants, build recurring in-person events, create motivated volunteer teams, and align community strategy with business goals. Companies responded positively to my consulting work, not because I had perfect answers, but because I brought clarity, structure, and people-first thinking.
That is when I fully embraced mentoring as part of my mission.
Mentorship Is Not Competition—It Is Partnership
One of the most important lessons I learned comes from my mother: Work is not a competition; it is a partnership.
When you shift your mindset from “winning” to “building together,” everything changes. Mentorship becomes an act of collaboration, not hierarchy. You are not above your mentees; you are walking alongside them, sharing tools, experiences, and perspective.
That belief has guided my work in communities, recruiting, and consulting. Helping others succeed does not reduce your own success. On the contrary, it multiplies it.
Community, Sales, and Recruiting: Skills That Build Companies from Scratch
Many people feel uncomfortable talking about sales. In corporate environments, sales is often wrapped in complex terminology and rigid processes. But at its core, sales is about connection, trust, and communication.
I genuinely enjoy selling because I understand people.
I have sold handcrafted jewelry, international study programs for LATAM students moving to Australia, and something even harder: convincing professionals to volunteer their time for IT communities, with no monetary reward. More recently, I have built and sold my consulting services through Vonnect, focusing on community building, recruiting, and sales strategy in tech ecosystems.
These skills are essential when building a company from scratch. You need to:
- Build and engage a community around your product or mission
- Align teams and collaborators
- Recruit talent for projects or long-term growth
- Create a sales strategy that feels authentic, not forced
This is exactly where mentoring can make the difference between stagnation and momentum.
Advice for Those Navigating Change or Starting Fresh
If you are considering a career change, launching a consultancy, or building a company, here are a few lessons I have learned:
- Review your professional journey and build on what you already know. Your experience is more valuable than you think.
- Networking is not optional; it is essential. Opportunities come through people.
- Go to events, volunteer, participate, and show up. You never know who will open the next door.
- Trust your values and your abilities. Confidence grows with action.
- There is space for everyone. Focus on doing your best, not competing.
- If English is not your first language, invest in it. Language opens global doors.
- Organize your finances and personal life. Balance creates clarity and better decisions.
When you feel good internally, it shows externally, in your work, your leadership, and your relationships.
Looking Ahead to 2026
In 2026, my goal is to reach and support even more people through MentorCruise and beyond. I want to work with founders, early-stage teams, consultants, and professionals at any stage of their journey—especially those building companies from scratch or trying to grow with intention.
My vision remains the same: to connect people, build meaningful communities, and create growth through collaboration, strategy, and human connection.
If you are looking for support in community engagement, sales strategy, team alignment, or IT recruiting, whether for short-term projects or long-term growth, you do not have to do it alone.
Mentorship can change everything.
I am here to help your journey!
Happy holidays!
