Ep 1: Evolve with Flaka: A Latina Career Coach’s Real Talk on Purpose, Healing & Power

In the first episode of Evolve with Flaka, Janet “Flaka” Martinez—your HR Mami and hype woman—sets the tone for a bilingual, no-fluff career podcast for first-gen leaders, moms, and mujeres ready to trade survival for purpose. She shares pieces of her immigrant journey, grief, faith, and community—and what you can expect each week: real talk, practical tools, and powerful stories to help you evolve into your next boss era.

LISTEN TO THIS EPISODE NOW:

Evolve with Flaka: Episode 1

What’s up, gente! I’m Janet “Flaka” Martinez—your HR Mami and hype woman for all things careers. If you hit play while walking, cleaning, driving to work, or hiding in your car for two minutes of peace, that already tells me one thing: you’re ready to evolve.

This show is for the first-gen kids who became powerhouse adults, for the mamas with degrees collecting dust, for my undocumented community who’s been underestimated, and for anyone who’s had to fight 2, 3, 4, 5 times harder just to be seen. Aquí, we grow con amor, we lead with purpose, and we move sin miedo.

Who I Am

I’m an immigrant, moved from Mexico City to Dallas at age five, who learned English fast and learned even faster that many systems weren’t built for me. I was labeled “at risk.” I’ve juggled full-time work and multiple degrees, built a nonprofit, and now a business. I’m also a mamá to a brilliant autistic child. I’ve navigated DACA , conditional residency, permanent residency, U.S. citizen. I’ve weathered pregnancy loss and the kind of grief that empties a room.

I’m also a progressive Catholic who believes in action + faith + comunidad. Nothing I’ve done has been alone; community is the keyword.

From Surviving to Thriving: Why now?

Grief cracked me open. The question became: How do I turn pain into purpose? I left a misaligned job and built a space where women—especially first-gen and Latina moms—can design careers that honor peace, faith, family, and prosperity. Evolve with Flaka is that space. Raw. Real. Useful.

A free tool to get you moving

Because I’m about tools that work, I created a digital workbook to help you shift from estresada to employed with clarity. If your job search feels overwhelming or you’re stuck on “what now,” this workbook walks you step-by-step through the next move.

Grab the workbook: Here

What to do next

Subscribe to Evolve with Flaka so you don’t miss new episodes.

Share this with an amiga who needs a hype woman and a plan.

Work with me: Ready for coaching? Start Here