Alexandra Zatarain
Co-founder and vice president of brand and marketing, Eight Sleep Growing up in Tijuana, Mexico, Zatarain, 30, looked up to Diane Sawyer and Oprah Winfrey. She also wanted to someday be an educated, accomplished businesswoman. “My parents were entrepreneurs, so that side was always in front of me,” she says. After graduating from college with a degree in communication sciences, Zatarain worked in public relations for a financial technology startup in New York City. When her husband, Matteo Franceschetti, started struggling with restless leg syndrome, he began researching sleep. The more he learned, the more convinced he became that technology is crucial to logging better sleep. In 2014, the couple partnered with two others and co-founded Eight Sleep, a mattress company that uses advanced technology to help people sleep better. Franceschetti is CEO. In starting Eight Sleep, Zatarain experienced the business challenges related to her being a Latina. “When we started raising money for the company, I saw the disparity between whites and minorities,” she says. “My friends and family weren’t in a position to give up large amounts of money (to invest in the business).” She is now mentoring future female entrepreneurs in New York City through WE NYC, which helps women start and grow businesses. One tip she shares: “Start with being authentic to who you are and understanding how that shaped you, as that diversity is invaluable.”
Bettina Inclán
Associate administrator for communications, NASA Inclán, 40, has been obsessed with space since she was a kid. She grew up in Miami, and one of her fondest childhood memories is of seeing a live space shuttle launch while she was in middle school. “I remember lying on the ground and feeling (it) rumble,” she says. “It left a massive impression.” As a kid, she yearned to go to space camp, but it wasn’t an option. “I’m from a traditional Hispanic household, a working-class family, and no way would I have been allowed to sleep away at camp without my parents.” After graduating from Florida International University, she moved to Washington, D.C., where she had an internship. While there were challenges — at one meeting, somebody told her they were proud that she pulled herself “out of the ghetto” — being Hispanic has afforded her numerous opportunities. For instance, she became director of Hispanic outreach for the Republican National Committee, enabling her to get a broader perspective of the community nationwide. Now at NASA, she’s part of a team reaching out to the Hispanic community. She’s also learned a valuable lesson about being successful in business. “Every time you fail, it’s an opportunity to learn,” she says. And any time she gets discouraged, wishing she could do better, she’s reminded of the sacrifices her family made to come to America.
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