Alexandra De Cespedes
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My name is Alex and I'm the CEO of Made Happy Studio. I'm a Brand Designer, Photographer, Web Designer, Social Media Content Creator & Strategist. Made Happy was created to make happy business, big and small, with one of a kind design and strategy that showcases their unique qualities and grows their fanbase. Some of my clients include HubSpot, Canva, Greystar, Douglas Elliman Real Estate and Linkedin.
Get to Know Me.
#closethegap #págame #LatinasOwnTheTable
Being a first generation Cuban American, I myself have experienced many of the hardships Hispanic women face. As a child of immigrants, I’ve always felt the need to over perform, over work, volunteer on any and all committees just to feel equal to my male counterparts .
I’m a self funded creative entrepreneur. Every penny I make off my work goes back into online education and building a better business for myself and for my family. Truth is, not coming from generational wealth has led to a lack of exposure and capital to build and grow a sustainable business. One of the biggest challenges I’m struggling with is the lack of financial education.
Just yesterday I met with a financial advisor for the first time, and I was shocked at the lack of knowledge I had in preparing for my future financially. Growing up, we’re trained to work hard and the money will eventually come… but that’s no longer enough.
Read below to see what you can do to help.
Today, we recognize the immense wage gap that Latin American Women face. According to NWLC, Latina women earn 57 cents for every dollar paid to, non-Hispanic men, meaning we have to work almost twice as hard to make the same amount of money.
Nearly 1 in 3 Americans are unaware of the pay gap between Latinas & white men. The mission is not only to close the pay gap but also to educate people on why Hispanics are underpaid, why they should care and what they can do to help.
It comes down to lack of resources, lack of funding for education (financial education too), and societal stereotypes we often have to overcome. We need to fight the ongoing bias we face in the workplace because due to stereotypes we are perceived as less competent and intelligent than men.
✅ Find people in positions of power who will advocate on behalf of the hard working Latinas.
Daniela Pierre-Bravo, a reporter at MSNBC, uses her influence to uplift and tell the stories of Latina changemakers in her community.
✅ Transparency! Having open and honest conversations about wage.
If a Latina is charging or making too little, please have the conversation with them on how they can earn their value.
True story, in the early days of my design career I was freelancing for a very large company in Boston. I was working extremely long nights and days in order to make enough money to pay myself and the business. Another POC, who worked for said company, reached out to me and let me know that I was charging 55% less than another male designer; whose work was actually weaker than my own. If that POC didn’t have a conversation with me, I’d still be undervaluing my worth till this day.
✅ Be a mentor.
It can be hard to do it all alone, trust me I know. Many Latinas don’t have many examples of successful entrepreneurs in their life, so they need guidance. Throughout my career I’ve had many mentors.. They have helped me set clear goals for my career and even helped me find a pathway to reach them.
HOW CAN YOU RAISE AWARENESS FOR LATINA EQUAL PAY DAY?
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Made Happy is a digital creative studio specializing in branding, photography, social media design & content creation.
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