In this episode of Founders Future, host Jae Encarnacion sits down with Hady Mendez, founder of Boldly Speaking LLC, a Latina-owned business that empowers women and people of color through DEI-focused coaching, workshops, and speaking engagements. With over 20 years of corporate experience at companies like JPMorgan Chase, BNY Mellon, and Slack, Hady shares her journey from being "the first or the few or the only" in corporate rooms to building a mission-driven venture after her layoff from Salesforce. She discusses how her business has evolved from trying to solve every problem to finding her niche in empowering Latinas and women of color, and how she's built authentic relationships on LinkedIn with nearly 14,000 followers.

Hady opens up about the challenges of entrepreneurship, revealing that consistency in her business only began in the last six months after years of adaptation and resilience. She shares her revenue model that serves both corporations seeking to elevate their ERG leaders and individual coaching clients, while maintaining authenticity and transparency in all her interactions. The conversation covers her upcoming book launch in September, her approach to scaling through higher-value services rather than working harder, and her philosophy of building a diverse team of fellow Latinas. Hady emphasizes the importance of remaining steadfast, asking for help, and staying true to your mission while adapting to market needs.