Meet The Entrepreneur Helping Diverse Leaders Find Their Voice

Izadeli ‘Iza’ Montalvo is a cross-cultural communications executive on a mission to amplify diverse voices. Her passion for bridging cultural divides led her to start Olán Media in 2017 and later create the Cross-Culture Connect framework.

Leveraging her expertise in media and communications along with proven cross-cultural training strategies, Montalvo helps thought leaders from underrepresented backgrounds build their personal brands and become influential voices in their industries.

She also empowers companies to elevate their multicultural engagement strategies, fostering deeper connections with diverse communities, particularly the Latino market.

In this interview, Montalvo shares insights on succeeding as a culturally-minded entrepreneur and actionable tips for diverse professionals seeking to establish themselves as thought leaders in their fields.

Montalvo believes that cultural awareness and authentic messaging are key for leaders looking to expand their reach and authority.

“It takes more than basic translation to connect with diverse audiences in an impactful way,” she explained. “We combine robust cultural insights with strategic communication to help our clients become recognized experts and thought leaders.”

Here are some of her top recommendations for diverse professionals aiming to position themselves as go-to industry sources:

1. Invest time in identifying your unique perspective and experiences to share. Your cultural background likely informs your worldview in powerful ways.
2. Find opportunities to contribute high-value commentary and insights online and in print publications. This builds your visibility and credibility.
3. Proactively build relationships with key figures, influencers and media contacts who can help amplify your voice.
4. Don’t shy away from speaking engagements and podcast interviews. Get comfortable as a public speaker.
5. Focus on serving others mentorship and community building. Thought leaders work to lift up diverse voices around them.

What sparked your entrepreneurial journey and how did you transform your passion into a successful business?

I’ve seen how cultural misunderstandings create barriers, while insights provide a bridge. This passion led me to become an entrepreneur. I wanted to combine my expertise with strategies for cultural training, messaging adaptation, visibility building, and thought leadership.

What three essential qualities set apart a successful entrepreneur?

Having a cultural mindset and being open-minded about differences. We live in a global market, and the pandemic taught us just how interconnected we are.

Not fearing failures or mistakes.

Avoiding paralysis by analysis. Overthinking and perfectionism will limit your potential. Start before you’re ready. 

What valuable lessons did you gain from the challenges you faced during the early stages of your entrepreneurial journey?

The key lessons were defining my client avatar and embracing online platforms to share my message. It’s a whole different scenario when you leave corporate life and starting a business with no business background. Being open to feedback and course-correcting allowed me to evolve. I’m grateful for those early missteps, since overcoming them made me a stronger entrepreneur.

What marketing strategies have you found most effective in reaching your target audience and generating business growth?

Nothing has been more powerful than results and word-of-mouth. Delivering exceptional value and transforming clients’ businesses is the ultimate marketing.

How have you navigated the challenges you’ve encountered as an entrepreneur, and what resilience-building strategies have you adopted?

Implementing efficient systems and processes was key. The main lesson has been finding solutions, community, and confidence to tackle every obstacle.

What areas of personal and professional development are you currently focusing on, and how does continuous learning contribute to your entrepreneurial success?

Embracing a growth mindset changed everything. Abilities can be developed through practice. At my age and even with my experience, I still actively seek out mentorship and courses to expand my skills. This focus on personal growth is key. To take my business to the next level, I must level up as a leader, doesn’t matter your experience.

What insights have you gained from your entrepreneurial journey that you would apply differently if you were starting your business anew?

First, I’d invest more heavily in building a strong team earlier on. I tried tackling too much solo when I was starting out. Having the right people and mentors around you makes all the difference.

What sources of inspiration and motivation fuel your entrepreneurial drive and keep you moving forward?

Learning new things on how to grow my business from some of the best coaches and entrepreneurs. Investing in personal development so I am more prepared to help my clients. 

What essential advice would you impart to aspiring entrepreneurs embarking on their own ventures?

I encourage you to start now. Don’t wait until you have everything perfect. Just start and learn as you go.

How do you define personal and professional success, and how does your entrepreneurial journey contribute to achieving your goals?

Having the financial freedom to live your life on your own terms, while helping others become successful as well it is the best boss move you’ll ever make.

How can readers get in touch with you? You can follow me on X at @izamontalvonews, @izamontalvo on LinkedIn, Instagram and Facebook.