Thaisa Fernandes is a Senior Program Manager and design enthusiast who blends strategy, creativity, and user-centered approach to build impactful products. She is also a social entrepreneur dedicated to building communities and elevating Latinx and Caribbean voices through projects like Latinx in Power and PM101.

In this episode, we explore the journey behind this podcast—what sparked its creation, the challenges faced, and how hosting has transformed Thaisa personally. Plus, hear advice for minorities in tech and fun behind-the-scenes stories!

Additional Reading Mentioned in the Interview: medium.com/latinxinpower

Our website is LatinxInPower.com. Send me a message on Instagram @Latinx_in_Power or Twitter @LatinxInPower. Check out our new episodes every first Tuesday of the month.

✨Exciting news! Latinx In Power is now part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the go-to audio hub for business professionals. To learn more, click here: https://hubspot.sjv.io/y2O46y

Fran Meneses (she/they) is a queer illustrator, author, and content creator based in Brooklyn, NYC. While working on projects and comics, Fran enjoys sharing her life's ups and downs on her YouTube channel and social media.

In this episode, Fran will share how her cultural background profoundly influences her work, highlighting the impact of personal heritage on her artistic expression. Fran will explain her creative process from concept to completion and discuss the significant challenges faced as a full-time creator, along with the strategies used to overcome them.

Additional Reading Mentioned in the Interview: medium.com/latinxinpower

Our website is LatinxInPower.com. Send me a message on Instagram @Latinx_in_Power or Twitter @LatinxInPower. Check out our new episodes every first Tuesday of the month.

✨Exciting news! Latinx In Power is now part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the go-to audio hub for business professionals. To learn more, click here: https://hubspot.sjv.io/y2O46y

Izabelle Alvares (she/her) is a graphic designer and art director with 15 years of experience blending editorial design, branding, and experiential design. She views design as a catalyst for meaningful social change and thrives on projects that celebrate collective intelligence and diverse perspectives.

For Izabelle, food is more than sustenance—it’s her muse. Whether she’s cooking, creating collages, photographing, or filming recipe videos, food consistently inspires and nourishes not only her body but also her mind and soul.

Fun fact: Izabelle and I (Thaisa) launched a book called Vegan Anniversary in the Bay Area! Explore Brazilian cuisine with a vegan twist, blending recipes with stories that connect tradition and plant-based living. Check out more at www.thaisafernandes.com/cookbook

In this episode, Izabelle Alvares shares insights from her role as creative director on a new cookbook blending recipes with cultural storytelling. We will discuss her career, inspirations, and the power of design to evoke emotions and connect communities. Iza also offers advice for designers meaning to create socially impactful, story-driven projects.

Additional Reading Mentioned in the Interview: medium.com/latinxinpower

Our website is LatinxInPower.com. Send me a message on Instagram @Latinx_in_Power or Twitter @LatinxInPower. Check out our new episodes every first Tuesday of the month.

✨Exciting news! Latinx In Power is now part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the go-to audio hub for business professionals. To learn more, click here: https://hubspot.sjv.io/y2O46y