Summer Break: Nuestra Voz - Breaking Barriers, Building Legacy

During our summer break, we're revisiting a moving episode that celebrates Latino and Spanish-speaking leaders who are redefining identity, power, and belonging. Host Leah Solivan, a Puerto Rican founder and investor, shares the invisible tension of being “not Latina enough” and “not American enough”—a feeling echoed by many first-generation voices in this episode. You'll hear from Bianca Gates, co-founder of Birdies, on confidence and being underestimated; Alejandra Campoverdi, author of First Gen, on the emotional weight of being the “first and only”; and Bismarck Lepe, who went from the migrant fields to building global tech companies. These stories explore the complexity of cultural identity, the quiet strength in navigating multiple worlds, and the pride that comes from breaking cycles and setting new precedents. From Silicon Valley to the stage, this episode honors the resilience and vision of Latino leaders shaping the future.

Listen to the full episodes here:

• Split Sole: How Bianca Gates built Birdies and broke the mold in footwear
    Listen here: Apple | Spotify 
• Rompiendo Precedente: Bismarck Lepe on Breaking Barriers from the Fields to Google to Founding Mi Salud Health
    Listen here: Apple | Spotify 
• Breaking Pointe: San Francisco Ballet’s Tamara Rojo with Her Bold Vision for a Vibrant Future
    Listen here: Apple | Spotify
• Breaking the Narrative: Award winning author of First Gen, Alejandra Campoverdi, on breaking generational cycles
    Listen here: Apple | Spotify  
  
  

Bianca Gates

Bianca Gates is the CEO and co-founder of Birdies, a leading footwear brand that introduced the concept of the "social slipper." Before Birdies, Bianca built a successful career in sales at Univision, MTV, and Facebook, where she worked closely with Sheryl Sandberg. Born to Latin American immigrants, Bianca is a pioneer in combining entrepreneurial drive with a commitment to empowering women.

Learn more about Bianca Gates on her website, on IG @biancagates

Bismarck Lepe

Bismarck Lepe, founder and Executive Chairman of Wizeline, is a seasoned Silicon Valley entrepreneur and investor. As an early Google employee, he left to start Ooyala, an online video platform that sold for $400 million to Telstra in 2014. Passionate about economic growth and education, he has helped transform Guadalajara into a thriving tech hub through Wizeline Academy and StartupGDL, generating over 1,500 jobs and attracting significant investment. Under his leadership, Wizeline expanded to seven countries, with talent spanning 15 nations. For over a decade, he has been a key force in fostering Mexico-Silicon Valley collaboration in technology and entrepreneurship.

Learn more about Bismarck Lepe on LinkedIn @BismarckLepe

Tamara Rojo

Tamara Rojo is a renowned ballerina and artistic director celebrated for her passion, discipline, and vision in the world of dance. Known for breaking traditional molds, Tamara believes that true achievement in the art form isn’t reserved for the most gifted—but for those who are most honest and disciplined with themselves. In this episode, she reflects on the sacrifices required to be “first” and the inspiration she draws from other art forms, powerful friendships, and exhibitions that remind her of the woman she aspires to be. Her story is a masterclass in resilience, artistry, and leading with heart.

Learn more about Tamara Rojo and explore her work at San Francisco Ballet.

Alejandra Campoverdi

Alejandra Campoverdi is a nationally recognized women’s health advocate, an award-winning author of First Gen: A Memoir, a groundbreaking account of her journey as a first-generation college graduate and professional. Alejandra served as the White House Deputy Director of Hispanic Media during the Obama administration and is the founder of the First Gen Fund, a nonprofit dedicated to providing financial support to first-generation students.

Listeners can learn more about Alejandra at her website, and on IG @acampoverdi   

Resources:

Carmen (Re-staging by Tamara Rojo)

Orbital Reflector

Marcel Duchamp’s “Fountain” (Urinal)

Show Notes: 

(00:00) Introduction to Breaking Precedent

(00:30) Secret Strengths and Hidden Identities

(02:30) Assimilation, Belonging, and Cultural Tension

(04:00) Underestimated but Relentless

(05:00) Alejandra Campoverdi: First Gen and the Weight of Being First

(05:45) "Your life is not to sacrifice yourself at the altar of other people's dreams for you. To make everyone's sacrifices worth it is not the purpose of your life." - Alejandra Campoveri

(09:00) Bismarck Lepe: Breaking Tech and Cultural Barriers

(13:00) Tamara Rojo: Outsider to Ballet Trailblazer

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Leah Solivan is the host of Breaking Precedent, a podcast that explores the stories of innovators who are pushing societal boundaries and setting new precedents in their fields. Leah is General Partner at Fuel Capital, where she invests in early-stage companies across consumer technology, hardware, education, marketplaces, and retail. Leah has 15 years of experience building and creating technology products that have reached millions of people around the globe. She started her career at IBM as an engineer in the software group, working on Lotus Notes and Domino. In 2008, Leah founded TaskRabbit, the leading on-demand service marketplace in the world.

Connect with Leah:

Website: breakingprecedent.com/ 

Instagram: @labunleashed

X: @labunleashed