Coach Yudy helps women, Latinas, and BIPOC professionals find their voice and lead with bold impact

Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business

I’m Coach Yudy, a transformational coach with 30+ years of experience in corporate,  entrepreneurial, and non-profit sectors. I help women, especially Latinas and BIPOC professionals, find their voice and lead with heart. Through my business, Yveras Coaching and Consulting, I empower women with one-on-one coaching, workshops like "Find Your Voice & Lead with Bold Impact," and healing circles that foster a sense of belonging. I am the co-founder of Inspírame Latina, a nonprofit dedicated to building a community where Latinas can thrive. My mission is to help women shine by embracing their true selves, like my client Nurys, a brilliant CPA who went from feeling unseen to teaching and leading with confidence.

Who are your customers?

My customers are women leaders—entrepreneurs, founders, and professionals—who want to feel confident, set boundaries, and make an impact without losing themselves.

What was your background prior to starting your own business?

I have over four years of international experience, primarily in customer service for global companies in the Dominican Republic. After that, I spent 16 years working in corporate environments in the USA, specializing as a pharmaceutical quality assurance professional. My responsibilities included training staff, conducting investigations, performing root cause analyses, and solving problems.

What made you take the leap to start your own business?

I saw too many brilliant women feeling unseen in their workplaces, just like I did at times. I wanted to create a space where women could feel they belong and lead without shrinking. Coaching became my way to make that real, and I jumped in to make a bigger impact.

Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?

Not always! I enjoyed the corporate work, but as I coached, I felt increasingly drawn to build something of my own—a business focused on amplifying women’s voices. It grew naturally from my passion for helping others shine.

Take us back to when you first launched your business; what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?

I launched by connecting with women’s networks and sharing my story through talks and workshops, like my Transformational Healing Circle. Word of mouth and community referrals were my primary strategies. It wasn’t perfect—some events flopped—but showing up authentically built trust and got the word out.

What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way so far and what have you learned from it?

One of my greatest challenges was conquering the fear of being "too much" for certain audiences. But through that journey, I discovered the power of embracing my unique voice—just as I encourage my clients to do. By staying true to my heart-centered approach, even when it felt daunting, I was able to forge genuine connections with the women who needed my work the most. It’s amazing how letting go of fear can open doors to meaningful connections!

What accomplishment are the most proud of to date in your business?

I’m most proud of helping individuals like Nurys, a CPA who gained her confidence through my "Find Your Voice" program. She is now teaching at a college and leading workshops. Then there’s Angelita, who lost her business during the pandemic and was afraid to start over. Now, she has not just one, but two salon suites. Witnessing  women step into their power and lead with impact is everything to me.

Do you have any recent wins from the last year that you'd like to celebrate with our community?

I am taking bold steps to relaunch my coaching practice by expanding from one-on-one sessions to include group coaching and online classes. And of course, co-founding Inspírame Latina, a nonprofit organization dedicated to creating a community where Latinas can thrive. We have already hosted two summits and launched our podcast.

What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?

We are currently scaling up our coaching practice, training, and consulting services to tackle the belonging crisis, particularly for Latinas(os), and BIPOC professionals. Our coaching services will expand to address this issue directly. We’re working around the clock to launch immersive programs—such as workshops, leadership tracks, and data-driven frameworks—that go beyond surface-level training to promote real inclusion.

As a business pursuing MBE, WBE, and WOSB certifications, we are uniquely positioned to lead this change. This is urgent: in 2023, women launched nearly half of all new businesses in the U.S., up from 29% in 2019 (SBA). However, losing a woman in the workplace costs companies between 20–50% of her salary, plus an additional $10,000 in training (Gallup, 2023). Moreover, a one-point drop in women’s workforce participation can reduce GDP by $146 billion (Brookings, 2025). We will partner with organizations to reduce turnover, fuel innovation, and create workplaces where every individual feels empowered to lead.

What is your top productivity tip? 

Connecting with yourself and understanding your needs is vital. Learn to say "NO" without feeling guilty and position yourself to win by setting boundaries. This is part of my workshop: "Say No Without Guilt: Put Yourself First and Win!"

On the flip side, how do you avoid burnout?

I love gardening, and having a practice is very important, just like my meditation practice. During my healing circles, I teach women meditation and breathing techniques to release stress and ground themselves to avoid burnout.

What is your approach to work-life balance / integration?

It’s essential to know when to stop and take a breath. This is easy to say, but challenging for thriving women who struggle to find that balance.

What is one thing you wish you had known when you started your Entreprenista journey?

Just a heads up to get my scheduler ready for appointments. I ran into some tech issues while trying to set it up, and it took way longer than I thought it would. The Entreprenista community is super active, so having the scheduler in place would definitely make me feel more at ease.

When hiring, what is your go-to interview question?

It is very important for me to understand a person's story and their motivations for pursuing their career or business. Questions such as, what are your values and why do they matter to you, are important to me.

If you've raised capital for your business already, what are some of your best tips or lessons learned?

I raised over $40k in funding for Inspirame. Be clear about your vision, mission, programs, and budget, even if the budget is aspirational. You must have a big vision that is compelling.

Are you a Mamaprenista? If so, please share your best advice for simultaneously managing a business and a family

Absolutely! I am a Manaprenista. It's important to set your kids up for success. Teach them values such as respect and resilience, as well as essential skills like cooking and doing laundry. This way, they can become as independent as possible. They will truly appreciate your efforts when they go away to college.

Do you have a co-founder? If so, how did you find the right one for you and what are your best partnership tips?

My husband, Jonas, is my business partner, managing the bookkeeping and collaborating with our CPA. He was the right choice because he is deeply invested in our family business. At Inspirame Latina, I also have two amazing co-founders, Julissa and Jacquie. These women are solid in their values. We keep it real. I made some significant mistakes before I learned the importance of choosing the right business partner. I mention this because having a family member as a partner does not guarantee success. It’s essential to treat business as a business and to establish clear boundaries and expectations.

What's the one app on your phone you absolutely cannot live without and why?

Currently, I rely on ChatGPT and Grammarly. As a second language speaker, these two applications are essential for creating marketing campaigns and editing my content to deliver a clear message without losing my voice.

What is your favorite business tool or solution and why?

QuickBooks and Canva are essential tools for my business.

What advice do you have for aspiring Entreprenistas?

Be open to connecting and networking—Entreprenistas is a group ready to connect and rock.

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