Hispanic Heritage Month: Founder Spotlight

As a Latina-owned business, we’re kicking things off by spotlighting our founder, Jessica Alba.

As a Latina founder, what is the most valuable lesson you’ve learned?

Throughout my career, both in entertainment and as an entrepreneur, a lack of Latino/Latina/LatinX representation has played a major role in my journey. I’m a Latina from a working-class family. I don’t have any connections in entertainment, nor do I have a typical business background or degree. Because of this, I felt I had to work harder than others to get my foot in the door in entertainment and I had to overcome self-doubt to be taken seriously as an entrepreneur.
Additionally, as there is such minimal Latino/Latina/LatinX representation in leadership roles across multiple sectors of society in the US, I have often found myself struggling with imposter syndrome. As such, it is crucial for us to show up for our community and be a light, it’s the only way to shift the stereotypes and stigmas we face. I believe if we (Latino/Latina/LatinX) unite in this strategy, we will see a major shift in our culture and how society perceives us.

On my journey, I gained a few big learnings that I continue to lean into:

1. Believing in myself

I try not to let my insecurities or doubt get in the way (don’t believe every thought that runs through my head). Trust my heart, my feelings, my gut. There is nothing like that innate feeling, and inner knowing.

2. Knowing my strengths and weaknesses

But most importantly, I surround myself with people who truly compliment me and are compatible with me. You don’t have to know everything and be perfect, but know the essentials, be open to pivot and stay curious.

3. Value Alignment

Surrounding myself with folks whose values align with mine - this was a MAJOR learning!

4. Self-care, Creative outlets + Spending Time in Nature

For me, cultivates a truly happy, resilient spirit that can take on the most challenging days with more ease.

What is a family tradition you wish to pass down, that your parents have passed down to you?

My entire family is very close, and like many in the Latino/LatinX community, I grew up in a multi-generational household. Throughout my childhood, my parents and grandparents really hit home with us the importance of treating others how you want to be treated: looking out for people, lending a hand, being the solution, a friend and a confidante. For me, these values go beyond family and friends to also include strangers. I have instilled these values in my own family and have also worked hard to incorporate them at Honest. When it comes to my Honest family, taking care of people and looking out for everyone’s health and wellness is embedded – this is also a critical piece of LatinX culture.

What do you appreciate about your LatinX community?

There’s so much to appreciate about our community. What I always go back to most is our inventive, entrepreneurial spirit and mentality, which has translated into some of the most culture-shifting inventions, delicious food experiences, incredible art and architecture. We have a lot to thank the Latino/LatinX community for many things that most people don’t even realize. Thanks to a few notable Latin inventors, we have:

• Color TV. While you sit down to watch your next series, you can think of Guillermo Gonzalez Camarena, a Mexican engineer that invented color TV. He developed the system in the ‘30s and applied for the patent in 1940.
• Wireless Phones. You wouldn’t be holding your cell phone right now if it hadn’t been for Roberto Landell de Moura, a catholic priest from Brazil, who discovered a wireless telephone system. And it wasn’t an easy thing to do. In 1895 a bishop witnessed a demonstration by Moura and declared it to be “the work of the devil.” Shortly after, Moura’s lab was destroyed, and it took over 5 years to rebuild.
• Mathematics, chocolate and astronomy! We can thank the Mayans for Some of the most important (and tasty) inventions that have paved the way for science and architecture as we know it today.
• The color Red. Prior to the Spanish conquest of the Aztecs in the early 16th century, the European world had never experienced fabric dyed a deep scarlet color. The best cloth that could be produced was dyed with a plant extract known as madder red, which produced a paler color than the Aztecs were making. The Aztecs used cochineal beetle to produce the deep shade of red we wear today.

I always appreciate the hardworking spirit of the Latino/LatinX community, and I look forward to seeing what’s ahead from our bright culture.

Sources: 

https://www.nic.lat/top-10-latino-inventions-in-history/

https://www.ancienthistorylists.com/maya-history/top-10-inventions-of-mayan-civilization/

https://science.howstuffworks.com/innovation/inventions/5-ancient-aztec-inventions.htm