The Role of Thought Leaders in Uncertain Times—And How to Start Using Your Voice
Your perspective matters—here’s how to start showing up now.
The moment I started thinking about this was just two weeks ago, right before I went on Seattle’s morning show New Day Northwest (watch the segment here). It was just days after Inauguration Day, and I was hearing about executive orders that would affect so many in my community—orders that would directly impact my clients’ work and my own.
I didn’t have all the answers. I still don’t. And quite honestly, I don’t know what will come next for us. But what I did know in that moment, as I prepared to go on air, was that I had to show up anyway. I had to use my voice.
My call to action to all underrepresented leaders that day was simple but urgent: Start your projects. Share your expertise. Use your voice—especially right now.
I won’t sugarcoat it—being a thought leader and changemaker in times like these is uncomfortable. It’s difficult. And when budgets are cut, opportunities shrink, and the systems that support our work feel unstable, it can feel discouraging.
But our work doesn’t stop just because funding disappears. Our voices don’t lose value just because the structures around us shift. Now, more than ever, we have to think differently.
Being a thought leader isn’t about having everything figured out—it’s about seeing opportunities where others see obstacles. It’s about finding new ways to write our stories, amplify our voices, and educate and inspire our communities, even when the path forward isn’t clear.
We cannot afford to be silent.
That’s why I’m excited to share two new spaces designed to help you use your voice with confidence and impact. Because in moments of uncertainty, the power of our words can shape what comes next.
Introducing Two New Spaces for Thought Leaders
As many of you may know, for the last year, The Jefa in Training Circle has been a space for Latina entrepreneurs and changemakers to grow their businesses and build their thought leadership. It has been incredible to see this community come together to support one another, share knowledge, and take bold steps toward success.
I’m very excited to introduce new programming to help further our mission and honored to be working with powerful Jefas to do so. These new offerings are designed to help you sharpen your voice, strengthen your message, and step confidently into spaces where your presence is needed the most.
These new monthly clubs inside The Jefa in Training Circle ($49 a month) will provide hands-on guidance and community support for Jefas looking to grow their voice through writing and public speaking.
Introducing:
Speak Like a Jefa Club – Led by Yvonne Armenta
Starting February 19th at 3:30PM PST.
We’re bringing the stage to you.
Over the next few months, public speaking consultant Yvonne Armenta will lead curated workshops designed to help you step into your power as a speaker.
You’ll learn:
How to identify and leverage your unique voice on stage
How to develop and refine your next signature speech
Practical strategies for getting paid to speak
Through hands-on training and direct support from Yvonne, this space is designed for Jefas who want to gain confidence, nurture their skills, and get the opportunities they deserve.
About Yvonne: With over 10 years of experience as a speaker and public speaking consultant, Yvonne Armenta is the founder of Latina, Presente! and host of Chats with Yvonne: Public Speaking con Cultura. She specializes in helping Latinas and introverts embrace their lived experiences as the foundation of their public speaking growth.
Introducing:
The Jefa Writing Club – Led by Mirtle Peña-Calderón
Starting February 11th at 4PM PST.
A space to write, grow, and build your thought leadership.
The Jefa Writing Club is a supportive space designed for Latina entrepreneurs looking to refine their writing and develop a content strategy that feels natural and sustainable. Whether you’re new to writing or want to sharpen your storytelling, this space will help you build a practice that amplifies your message.
Inside, you’ll find:
Monthly writing themes tailored for your business
Mini-lessons that help you make writing a natural part of your routine
Guided exercises that turn everyday moments into content inspiration
Peer feedback and a collaborative space to strengthen your work
Culturally relevant insights that help you write from your authentic voice
Some of the topics we’ll explore:
Building a writing foundation you’ll love
Turning everyday moments into business inspiration
Becoming a thought leader through op-eds
About Mirtle: A Dominican-born journalist, author, and writing consultant, Mirtle Peña-Calderón has been featured in People en Español, PEOPLE Magazine, and mitú. She is also the founder of Latinidad Collective and co-author of The Book of Awesome Latinas (coming 2025).
Why This Matters Now
We can’t always control the circumstances around us. We can’t always control budgets, policies, or the shifting landscape of opportunities. But we can control how we show up.
When things feel uncertain, we have a choice: stay quiet or find new ways to be heard.
So don’t hold back in your work. Let yourself be angry. Feel frustrated. Get vulnerable. Because that’s where real change begins. That’s how we start conversations that matter, inspire movements, and challenge the status quo.
Writing our own stories. Sharing our expertise. Speaking up in rooms where decisions are being made. These are the things that create long-term change, not just for ourselves but for our communities.
That’s why I believe in these spaces—not just as a resource, but as a commitment to making sure our voices don’t disappear.
For those of you who are ready to grow as writers and speakers, I invite you to step into these spaces inside The Jefa in Training Circle.
But whether you join or not, my challenge for you is this: What is one way you will use your voice this month?
Write something. Speak somewhere. Start a conversation. Be loud when they expect you to be quiet.
You have something to say, and the world needs to hear it.
Con amor y fuerza,
xx
