00;00;00;22 - 00;00;37;04
Coach Dora
Welcome back, Amazing Leaders to another powerful episode of Building Leadership Community podcast. I'm your host, coach Dora Mendez, and today's conversation is one that speaks directly to the future of leadership, equity and purpose driven impact. This episode is especially meaningful because we are joined by a leader who represents what it looks like to build boldly, lead with intention, and create opportunities where none previously existed.
00;00;37;06 - 00;01;10;01
Coach Dora
Our guest today is Yulkendy Valdez, a Forbes 30 under 30 social entrepreneur, consultant and global public speaker whose work sits at the intersection of innovation, equity and community power. Yulkendy Valdez has advised some of the world's most influential organizations built ventures that uplift underrepresented creators, and continues to challenge how we think about leadership in the future of work.
00;01;10;04 - 00;01;39;14
Coach Dora
By the end of this conversation, you will walk away with a deeper understanding of what it means to lead inclusively, to build ecosystems, not just companies, and to stay rooted in purpose while navigating growth and global impact. This episode is your reminder that leadership is not about titles. It's about who you bring with you and how you create space for others to rise.
00;01;39;17 - 00;01;44;06
Coach Dora
So settle in. Take a breath and get ready.
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Intro - Outro
Hello and welcome to Building Leadership Community Podcast. I'm your host, Dora Mendez. I am the founder and CEO of Coach Dora LLC. Our guests will be entrepreneurs, small business owners, and community leaders that drive social impact. It can be lonely at the top, but it doesn't have to be.
00;02;09;19 - 00;02;14;05
Coach Dora
Thank you so much for being part of the building leadership community.
00;02;14;08 - 00;02;41;00
Coach Dora
Whether this is your very first episode or you've been rocking with this for a while now. As we always say here, it can be lonely at the top, but it doesn't have to be. That belief is the heartbeat of this podcast. If you're new here, welcome. We're so glad you found us. And if you are a returning listener, thank you for continuing to show up for these conversation week after week.
00;02;41;03 - 00;03;07;21
Coach Dora
Please don't forget to like, share, and subscribe if you're watching us on YouTube so you never miss an episode and say hello in the comments! We love hearing from you! If you've been thinking about starting your own podcast, be sure to check out our mini course, The Entrepreneurs Podcast Blueprint. I created it alongside my husband and co-producer Dylan Rogers.
00;03;07;24 - 00;03;39;13
Coach Dora
It includes five easy to follow video modules, a downloadable workbook, and an AI prompt sheet to help you get your ideas out into the world with clarity and confidence. The link is in the description. So now let me introduce today's incredible guest. Yulkendy Valdez is a Forbes 30 under 30 honoree, social entrepreneur, consultant, and internationally recognized public speaker.
00;03;39;15 - 00;04;17;22
Coach Dora
While studying business at Babson College, the number one school for entrepreneurship, she co-founded Forefront, a diversity, equity and inclusion consultancy that partnered with leading organizations including Boston University and the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission. Over five years, Forefront received investment from top accelerators like Techstars and Yulkendy’s work has been personally recognized by former president Bill Clinton and featured in outlets such as Fast Company and the Boston Globe.
00;04;17;24 - 00;04;58;03
Coach Dora
She is also the founder of Phenomenal Talent, and that she is a venture that connects businesses with Bipoc creators from public speakers and poets to deejays and wellness practitioners, creating economic empowerment while supporting social impact work. Yulkendy Valdez speaks on global stages from Lyon to St. Gallen. Oh, I probably pronounced that wrong on the topics including the future of work, women of color and technology, mentorship and sponsorship, and engaging millennials.
00;04;58;03 - 00;05;35;20
Coach Dora
Gen Z leaders of color. She is One Young World Ambassador, a fellow of organizations such as Future Founders, Young People For and the Resolution Project. With roots in Saint Louis, Missouri and having traveled to over 40 countries. She currently calls Brooklyn, New York home, where she continues to consult and cultural organizations like Google and La Familia Foundation. Today, Yulkendy is here to share her leadership journey.
00;05;35;22 - 00;05;49;20
Coach Dora
Her insights on community centered leadership and her vision for what's next. Let's welcome the phenomenal Yulkendy Valdez Valdes.
00;05;49;22 - 00;06;02;17
Yulkendy Valdez
Hi. Hello. Thank you, Coach Dora, for inviting me to this beautiful space. Leadership is a role I take seriously. So excited to have this conversation.
00;06;02;20 - 00;06;25;28
Coach Dora
And I'm excited to talk to you. I think our, listeners and viewers are going to get so much out of this conversation. You're such an interesting person. It's been such a long time since we since we've spoken. I think when we first talked, it was in the summer of 2025 and you had just, come from Greece taking a vacation in Greece, I think.
00;06;25;29 - 00;06;28;04
Coach Dora
Was that the case?
00;06;28;07 - 00;06;53;13
Yulkendy Valdez
Oh, yes. And I don't I don't regret that. Especially, I think, for everyone listening, if you don't, get anything from this conversation. The one thing I want you to get is like rest is the most powerful, leadership recipe. And travel to me has been one of, my most frequent methods that I use and where I get rejuvenated.
00;06;53;16 - 00;07;14;08
Coach Dora
So I love that there's something that we share in common. So, as you know, here at the Building Leadership Community, a podcast, we asked all our guests to share, their leaders, their leadership story. So we'd love to, hear from you. So to pass the mic and let you share it with me, that's what leadership means to you.
00;07;14;08 - 00;07;16;23
Coach Dora
What's your story?
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Yulkendy Valdez
Yeah. You know, and I want to preface that, you know, when I still hear the word leader, I want to run away from it. But then I remember, I, I remind myself that what people like us are the ones that should be claiming, the role of leadership. What is driven by true purpose, not ego. And that's the way I really have taken on that role, is truly personal to me.
00;07;45;02 - 00;08;08;21
Yulkendy Valdez
And it also started at a very young age. My leadership journey really, if I look back, you know, hindsight is always 2020, but really started in the age of six. I started a school in my backyard in the Dominican Republic. I was born in a very small town. Grew up with my my grandparents, like many children of immigrants.
00;08;08;24 - 00;08;34;17
Yulkendy Valdez
My, mom had already left the United States, and I stayed back in the island, and because of my family, was able to benefit from immigration to the United States. I grew up with more resources in my neighborhood. So when I noticed my friends could read and I could, I said, come on to my backyard. I charge you 5 pesos because I guess I am...
00;08;34;20 - 00;08;35;13
Yulkendy Valdez
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Coach Dora
Entrepreneurship!
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Yulkendy Valdez
I am a bit of a capitalist. I do believe you could be some good. And, I would we I would teach my friends in the neighborhood how to read. And now I look back and and realize that was one of the first signals that I was meant to use my my voice, for good. That I was meant to be a convener.
00;08;59;22 - 00;09;25;18
Yulkendy Valdez
And I just had to let things happen. Clearly. And that ultimately led me to building a company at a at a very young age. And I had to make that tough call early on, you know, being a first generation college student, I didn't have no. No emergency fund, no parents I could call. In fact, it was the opposite.
00;09;25;18 - 00;09;50;18
Yulkendy Valdez
I was faced with with a lot of guilt, having to decide between a stable career in my early 20s or choosing to build a venture to solve a problem in my community that I. That I care about. And I ultimately made that call because I realized I rather see a future where my younger siblings can feel seen, heard and, and valued.
00;09;50;21 - 00;10;15;14
Yulkendy Valdez
Then, a temporary, financially stable present where it doesn't really feed anyone outside of myself. And so I always look back to, to gain some, some strength to what I did at age six and that allow me to do so more in my 20s. And now that I'm in my 30s, I'm allowing that to multiply even more.
00;10;15;16 - 00;10;41;26
Coach Dora
It takes a lot of courage to go out on your own and to be independent. And you and I admire that so much about you. And, you know, we talk a lot about leadership. It can be isolating. You kind of touch upon that a little bit about. So, why is community so essential, to sustainable leadership?
00;10;41;26 - 00;10;48;19
Coach Dora
And how do you stay grounded while doing such expansive work?
00;10;48;21 - 00;11;11;28
Yulkendy Valdez
Yes, it was it was, very, very isolating. When I moved to the Dominican Republic, it was to the state of Missouri, the good old Midwest. I thought I was going to get the Dominican York experience, which is. Well, now I can walk down the street and get some and, some stories. And I feel at home in Missouri.
00;11;11;28 - 00;11;35;12
Yulkendy Valdez
It was a complete opposite story. You know, I live in a neighborhood. Neighbors weren't talking to each other. And that was so foreign to me because I really, was supported by a village as a kid to then go to Missouri. That was a very much a culture shock. I also didn't know English as much as I try to take, take classes.
00;11;35;18 - 00;11;59;26
Yulkendy Valdez
So it was really, really lonely, at the beginning, especially as someone that, was born, you know, had that story teenage parents, all that. I had a lot to prove. It was really hard. But funny enough, I am. When I continue to share those childhood stories, because I think they were all catalysts to the point that I am today.
00;11;59;28 - 00;12;21;13
Yulkendy Valdez
When I ultimately got a confidence boost, was actually participating in spelling bees as a teen, and I started reading the dictionary, to give all my novellas, out. Like I need to start watching the Disney Channel. I need to catch up and learn English because I feel behind, I feel alone, I can make connections, so I.
00;12;21;13 - 00;12;54;20
Yulkendy Valdez
I figure it out for my own. I started reading dictionaries, competing in the spelling bees, and ultimately representing, Missouri and, ESPN. And that's not common. There's not a lot of Latinos, maybe Afro Latinos participate. The competition is dominated mainly by, white Americans and Asian Americans. And so here I come saying, hey, I want to learn the English language overnight.
00;12;54;21 - 00;13;25;13
Yulkendy Valdez
Also roots, Greek roots, Roman roots. And I'm when I compete at that level. When that happened, I said, you know, I could I could really do anything. If I could do this, I could also lead fortune 500 companies. Ultimately, like I did advise them and be at that level. And the reason I took that to heart and I very seriously was not only my own ambition is because in the media, I realized how much of an anomaly I was made to feel.
00;13;25;13 - 00;13;51;18
Yulkendy Valdez
When it's like I'm just competing in a spelling bee. And the media was in the common to read immigrant. Oh, that's immigrant taking our jobs. I'm like, it's a spelling bee. That's it's, it's just the the disconnect, the hate and the dynamics. Especially being from the Midwest really educated me about the US and the polarities that exist.
00;13;51;18 - 00;14;14;26
Yulkendy Valdez
And I had to face that head on. So I think that made me safe. The toolkit is not built for me. I'm going to build it. And for so long I try to push on my own. But ultimately, when I was going from school to career, I realized I am what I need people around to sustain me. Mentors and sponsors.
00;14;15;03 - 00;14;32;15
Yulkendy Valdez
One of the special day ones was actually your mom, as you know, that that really, believed in me and either, and empowered me to do amazing work and it led to serendipity to us having this conversation. And, today.
00;14;32;18 - 00;14;58;26
Coach Dora
Thanks for, name dropping. So I don't talk about immigrant story. I don't know if, you know, you can be moms, moms. Wrote a memoir, and she's the she was the first guest on our show. She's been the first. Season one, season two, season three. Premiere. Guests. On our show. Because she just has so much to to share.
00;14;58;28 - 00;15;18;17
Coach Dora
And I'm, I'm. It makes me so proud that we we share that connection. But but also, I have to just tug on something a little bit. You know, when you mention the spelling bee, I keep thinking that movie Akeelah and the bee comes in my head because I. I love that movie. I've seen that movie.
00;15;18;17 - 00;15;19;28
Coach Dora
Yeah. Okay. I was.
00;15;19;28 - 00;15;20;13
Yulkendy Valdez
Like.
00;15;20;15 - 00;15;33;08
Coach Dora
I that's we could have a whole nother podcast. I don't want to like, diverge from the. But we can have a whole nother podcast about immigrants. Take my jobs because you are U.S. citizen, correct?
00;15;33;10 - 00;15;35;02
Yulkendy Valdez
Yes.
00;15;35;04 - 00;16;20;04
Coach Dora
So it just it just it's we could have a whole nother show about, the contribution immigrants made, and but you are a citizen and you are an American and you are living the American dream. And it just it just is so inspiring. So I would love and what I love that word, the way you share when you talk about sustaining, you're always looking back at your younger and your younger self and you're pulling from those roots, and the, the success that you had and early childhood, can you would what would you if you could go back and speak to your younger self, what would what advice would you offer her.
00;16;20;07 - 00;16;46;15
Yulkendy Valdez
Yeah. And, and I think the reason I like to ground in those early early childhood story leading to my teenage years and ultimately through post-secondary education and early career, is that, for me, one of the number one rules of leadership is to follow the signs of luck, serendipity we're talking about. I love where it's and Dippity is one of my my favorite words.
00;16;46;15 - 00;17;29;19
Yulkendy Valdez
Also, if you like rom coms, really good, good movie, but it's really around timing and and being in and to look out and it's it's now early early early year new year. This is a good time to reflect. And I bet if a lot of us just go way back, and let ourselves see, sit and how certain things happen, how our journey has panned out professionally and personally, we can see signs are we didn't catch and that has helped me be more successful in just happier life because I keep my eyes open for for the sign, for for the signs of love, for that magic.
00;17;29;25 - 00;17;33;26
Yulkendy Valdez
And I know I don't want to get old like, like.
00;17;33;29 - 00;17;35;14
Coach Dora
But but I.
00;17;35;14 - 00;17;48;29
Yulkendy Valdez
Know it's not true. And actually I I'll tell this story and I would love to hear your thoughts on this. A coach this was actually taught to me, Scott Sherman had, leadership,
00;17;49;02 - 00;17;49;26
Coach Dora
00;17;49;29 - 00;18;12;23
Yulkendy Valdez
Boot camp. And this was a big catalyst for me because when I was choosing whether to build a company, drop out of the corporate workforce, I had to choose to show, whether I was going to show for this final round interview or go to this leadership boot camp with Scott Sherman in LA and last minute decision.
00;18;12;23 - 00;18;35;15
Yulkendy Valdez
I was I was in that airport to LAX, and I ended up doing this boot camp. And a lot of what I had talked about was the signs of luck and research that has been done, where folks that are not looking could miss out on a $100 bill in the streets. But if you're train your mind to look and watch out for this opportunity to lead and step up, you will see them.
00;18;35;15 - 00;18;45;25
Yulkendy Valdez
And I think that's something that I train myself a lot in the last decade, and it has led me to to a lot of serendipitous opportunities. But I would love your thoughts on that.
00;18;45;28 - 00;19;15;06
Coach Dora
What is it while you make your own luck because of what you've done, is you have you prepared yourselves? You know you've educated yourself, you change yourself, you, you're prepared. But you you also is it? I want to add the idea of luck has come up a lot when it comes to leadership. And I just I love this perspective because for me, I when I hear your background, I listen to your story.
00;19;15;13 - 00;19;43;04
Coach Dora
You you've taken initiative. And you you make your own stage. You make your own business. You have always, you know, I was surprised to say that you run away from the title of leadership because that I feel like that's like who you are, you know, like, I just I have that picture of you as a child teaching the kids in the backyard, like, it's just like it's you just paid such a, like, incredible picture.
00;19;43;04 - 00;20;09;15
Coach Dora
Like you're you're just a natural. It's you're just a natural. And, so, I just, I think a lot of our audience is going to get a lot of this idea of serendipity. You know? But I feel like you make your own luck. It isn't like you're floating on a breeze. I think you have. You have a, a plan, like a goal or.
00;20;09;15 - 00;20;12;14
Coach Dora
Or am I wrong on that? Yeah.
00;20;12;16 - 00;20;42;01
Yulkendy Valdez
Well, no one say. I think it is that mindset, and it's easier said than done. But we need to have that mindset based on on that science right, of the laws of attraction. So, I think to get to this point and to maintain it, even if you were born with this like positive mindset, let's do to maintain it, you have to position yourself as a as a leader, which again, it's hard.
00;20;42;01 - 00;21;09;03
Yulkendy Valdez
Like there's so many at work, I might try to run away from it because I feel at times you anyone can feel this, right? You're not enough or you don't have the capabilities that are shown as the standard, right? As the euro white standard. So how do you show up in a boardroom? Or who gets to build this massive company, or who gets to be, a political leader and etc.?
00;21;09;03 - 00;21;37;20
Yulkendy Valdez
So those are things that are going to finally. And that's what I mean, you have to work on your, on your mindset around luck, serendipity, open up and heal, whether that's through travel journaling, talking to a therapist, and doing a lot of movement exercise. I had to, to do that ultimately. Even though earlier on it seemed like I carry it so naturally.
00;21;37;27 - 00;21;57;21
Yulkendy Valdez
Actually, after closing my business right around the pandemic, where a lot of us were forced to break through it, I was like, oh my God, I really have to maintain it or I'm going to lose it. And I really started restructuring my whole life to make sure it accounts for for that healing, repairing, healing. You know what's in my calendar?
00;21;57;21 - 00;22;08;04
Yulkendy Valdez
Does it include movement? Does it include, inner work? Does it include body work? Does it include family community? As we were talking about. So.
00;22;08;06 - 00;22;40;05
Coach Dora
So overall wellness, right. Yes. Overall wellness, which is something that, you know, at, in which we which we think about here at, at, you know, what at building leadership community is sort of like our overall wellness. And I love that you mentioned mindset because when I hear what you're saying, I it's like it's that growth mindset of continuously learning and continuously improving and, celebrate your wins.
00;22;40;07 - 00;23;08;10
Coach Dora
You get you seem to be like you seem to be a leader that's hard on themselves. So I you need to give yourself some grace because you've done so many great things. And you lift people up as you rise. So I'd love for you to, you know, I want to give you the mic now to share what you like to share with our audience, share how people can get in touch with you, learn more about you, your business.
00;23;08;13 - 00;23;15;03
Coach Dora
Yeah. When, you know, pass the virtual mic to you.
00;23;15;05 - 00;23;42;28
Yulkendy Valdez
Yeah, I know, if you love having conversations about leadership, wellness, community and entrepreneurship, please follow me on LinkedIn. I'm constantly posting at, about it and opening the door to have these safe spaces about how we can lead our own way authentically and and differently. And thank you, coach, for for calling me out. It's a good reminder.
00;23;43;01 - 00;24;09;13
Yulkendy Valdez
It's so true. It's it's important to celebrate that journey and the small wins. A lot of us have really high standards, right? Because we want to see the world or in a way we know we can, be better. But especially with the way everything is happening, a lot of technological advancement, political and economic, instability.
00;24;09;13 - 00;24;24;25
Yulkendy Valdez
It's important to ultimately, going to our, our crew, our village, celebrate those small wins, feed our joy because that's our resistance. That's the way we rebuild and fight for for the long haul. So you're so right about that.
00;24;24;27 - 00;24;50;08
Coach Dora
Yes. I'm so happy that you're here. And so we're going to put the link to we'll have your LinkedIn in the description. And I'm going to ask you to hold on a second. As we close out, I want to thank all our listeners and viewers for joining us. I certainly, so I'm so proud to highlight, our leader today, Yulkendy Valdez.
00;24;50;10 - 00;24;55;03
Coach Dora
And, we'll see you next week.
00;24;55;06 - 00;25;24;16
Coach Dora
You've been listening to Building Leadership Community. Watch on YouTube @CoachDoraM. Listen, wherever you get your podcasts, follow me on LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube @CoachDoraM. Visit me on the web at CoachDoraMendez.com. Hosted by me, Dora Mendez. Produced by Dora Mendez and Dylan Rogers. Graphics, editing, and sound mixing by Dylan Rogers.
