Public speaking
Every Christmas season reminds me of how important it is to give, to uplift, and to show children that they are seen and valued. Although this is not the orphanage in Mexico where I grew up with 68 siblings, it is one of close to 20 orphanages we support through the Magdalena Cook Foundation. Each […]
Public speaking
I’ve always believed that leadership isn’t just about goals or KPIs—it’s about people. And people thrive when they feel connected, supported, and seen. That’s why I decided to surprise my team with a new wellness program. I wanted to give them something that supports their health, energy, and confidence—not just their work performance. A few […]
Public speaking
When I look back on my life, growing up in an orphanage in Mexico, becoming homeless in the U.S., and starting a Fresh salsa company with $800, I realize something profound: adversity didn’t just prepare me for success. It revealed who I was meant to become. Every challenge was a teacher.>Every setback, a rehearsal for […]
Public speaking
Great Leaders Don’t Just Build Businesses—They Build Leaders When I first became a CEO, I thought leadership meant having all the answers. After all, wasn’t that what leaders were supposed to do, solve problems, make decisions, and steer the ship? But everything changed when I stopped trying to be the one with every solution… and […]
Public speaking
It’s Never About the Marshmallow The other day, I came across an old photo from my orphanage in Mexico. My sister Maria, the kids, and I were gathered around a bonfire, laughing and sharing marshmallows. A simple, joyful moment. That memory reminded me of the famous Marshmallow Experiment at Stanford. Children were offered one marshmallow […]
Public speaking
Listening Isn’t Soft Leadership—It’s Strong Leadership The other day, I was sitting with my little nephew. What started as a simple moment turned into a surprisingly deep conversation. He shared how heavy life feels for him right now. And in that moment, I didn’t try to fix it. I didn’t rush to give advice. I […]
Public speaking
After 11 years of speaking, from corporate boardrooms to middle school gymnasiums, I’ve learned that every audience is different. Every stage feels unique. But one truth never changes: The way you deliver your message matters just as much as the message itself. The Salsa Story That Stuck I remember speaking to a group of middle […]
Public speaking
Yesterday my to‑do list looked like the L.A. freeway at rush hour—deadlines merging into calls, merging into slide decks. That familiar weight of too much started to press on my shoulders. Then my husband, Owen, walked over and placed the tiniest blooms from our garden in my hand. They weren’t big. They weren’t flashy. But […]
Public speaking
Embracing Adversity & Owning Your Superpower Most people don’t know this about me, but the truth is—I’m an introvert. After I delivered back‑to‑back talks at the WFF Women’s Leadership Conference in Dallas and signed books with two amazing groups of leaders who keep our food‑chain humming. If you’ve ever felt stage‑fright, networking nausea, or social‑media […]
Public speaking
Most people wait for resilience to crash through the window like a superhero. I did too—until life tested me: growing up in a Mexican orphanage with twelve siblings, sleeping in hallway corners while launching a salsa company on $800, and scrapping for grocery‑store shelf space until we sold with Garden Fresh to Campbell’s for $231 million. […]
Public speaking
We don’t become who we are in the easy moments. We become who we are in the fire—when life tests us, stretches us, and dares us to rise. I was born in an orphanage in Mexico. Later, I found myself homeless in the U.S., with no food and nowhere to sleep. It was during those […]
Public speaking
Do you ever have days where you don’t feel “enough”? Maybe it’s the way our culture is built, but this idea that if we are not perfect, productive, and ready to perform our best at the drop of a hat can quickly spiral into a harmful cycle of negative self talk, where persistent self criticism […]
