Empowerment Series: Triple Emmy Award-Winning Journalist, Bestselling Author, TED Talk, Founder of AGanar Media, Top Latina Keynote Speaker, Gaby Natale Shares her Pioneer Spirit with AW

Gaby Natale has a long list of accomplishments under her belt. Her journey began when she decided to leave broadcast journalism and transition into creating her content. In 2018, her studio was a carpet warehouse but that didn’t mean she was thinking small. She took her show “Super Latina” from local to national television then became the only Latina to win triple back-to-back Daytime Emmys. She was named one of People magazine’s “25 Most Powerful Latinas of 2018” and since then the entrepreneur’s dreams have continued to multiply.

Gaby was the first Latina to be published by HarperCollins’ Leadership and became a bestselling author with titles like Vicious Circle, Restore Your Confidence, and Emerging Stronger. She has been featured in Forbes, CNN, Buzzfeed, NBC News, Univision, and Latino Leaders magazine. The community is consuming her content at warp speed with over 52 million views on YouTube and 250K+ followers on social media. She is also the founder of AGANARmedia, a marketing company with a focus on Hispanic audiences that serve Fortune 500 companies such as Hilton Worldwide, Sprint, AT&T, eBay, and Amazon. As a well-respected Keynote Speaker, she has been invited to top corporations such as Walmart, Estee Lauder, JP Morgan Chase, LinkedIn, Microsoft, Meta, Microsoft, Pepsico, the United Nations, and many others.

The accomplished scholar earned a Bachelor’s in International Relations and a Master’s in Journalism from the University of San Andres and Columbia University. Before her start in television, Gaby taught Communication and Journalism courses at the University of Texas.

I met Gaby in person at 2023’s Hispanic Leadership Summit at the United Nations in New York City. When she walks into a room, you can’t help to be touched by her infectious energy. Her passion for the mission shines through in her talks and the powerhouse exudes confidence while being approachable and engaging. AW sat down with her for an incredibly inspiring interview over Zoom. We discussed her journey to where she is today, her mission, Accentism, and the pioneer mindset.

You dared yourself to be the first, a pioneer. How has your work moved the world forward? I went from Argentina to the United States then Mexico where I covered border issues. My work was seen by Univision, and they brought me back to the U.S., as a News Anchor/Reporter for one of their stations. Once my green card was approved, I thought about what I wanted to do with my creative freedom. This was my driver to becoming an Entrepreneur. During that time,  there wasn’t this culture of becoming an entrepreneur or creating your own content. YouTube was barely beginning. I started uploading my content for my mom to see in Argentina. I filmed out of the carpet warehouse that the TV station allowed me to borrow since their studios were busy. I know how to recognize opportunities, they can present themselves in unsexy packaging but it doesn’t mean there isn’t a chance for growth. In 2008, we had the global financial crisis which pushed me again, to think bigger. We went from local, regional, and national to a 3-time Daytime Emmy award-winning company, and many more opportunities followed. I became a published Author with HarperCollins Leadership and am now, a Keynote Speaker. As a Latina, a woman who happens to be an immigrant, it can be very lonely in those conferences, especially for someone like me with a foreign accent.

In a 2020 TedTalk, you talked about “Accentism.” The perception that certain accents are inferior to others. Discussions around this topic are not common. People tend to assimilate to fit in or avoid being judged. You speak on this type of discrimination, candidly. You own your accent and encourage us to embrace everything that makes us unique. It’s difficult to do that when the world tells us the opposite, that the qualities that make us different are weaknesses. Change starts with one step. What should be the first to begin our shift to a pioneer mindset? Accents can happen to native speakers too, if, for example, they have an accent from the South,  the same applies. If you are someone who has English as a second language it is common to come across people who mistakenly assume that you are uneducated because English may be your second language. We have to start thinking of differentiating between not having enough language skills or command of the language versus having a foreign accent because these are two completely different things.

Regarding pioneers, I want to instill the pioneer spirit in you. The idea is that what makes you unique is different for each of us. You have your flavor of uniqueness, a gift that brings value wherever you go. Whether, it’s in meetings you attend, the workplace, or in places you are interacting with others, you bring a fresh perspective. If you mold yourself into being someone that you are not, you’re doing yourself a disservice. Your point of view with a set of experiences can bring a new outlook, and identify stories, opportunities, and wide spaces in the industry that other people cannot see. Combining the various points of view and the richness of all the experiences can help make stronger and better teams.

Plenty of people struggle with feelings of inferiority and may operate from a place of lack. It makes it hard to be what you cannot see. What steps did you take to recalibrate your belief system and become open to new possibilities? Do you believe we can do this at any age? Definitely! First, we need to reprogram how we feel and think about age. We are living longer, healthier, and more fulfilling lives. The idea that after 40, we can’t aspire to more and that life gets worse, afterward we die is very outdated. Each stage of our lives has its special place. Maybe, I’m not as toned, as I was 20 years ago but I am a little wiser and more confident. So, we need to rethink how we approach age.

It’s normal when we break barriers, and are the first or only ones in certain spaces to make the mistake of thinking that our individuality makes us inadequate. For example, we hear a lot of messaging about women in the workplace and how much we should smile. You don’t smile enough, you’re not likable. If you smile too much, then you are not going to have credibility. “No one, says that crap to a man.” So, smile or don’t smile. Cultural change takes place from the inside out and will not happen unless we own it.

The feeling of being comfortable in your skin, speaking with the accent that you have, and walking in your style is such a relief versus all the energy we use to contort ourselves to fit in boxes that are not serving us. These are energy vampires and as long as we continue to conform to them, they will not go away. We have to take steps to be the ones who change the culture.

You wanted to see Latinas represented in the media. You took a big risk by going out on your own. You felt it was the best path to creative freedom. Looking back, now that you know what you know, what is one thing you may have done differently? I think because the industry was it was, I had to do things step-by-step. Go local, regional, and national then expand to digital but while working this path, the industry changed. Of course, it’s easy in hindsight to say, I should have done this or that. I could have done something different to save time or headaches but I did things the way I was taught. The lesson is “Don’t be too rigid. Keep an open mind.” Sometimes, change happens fast. If you are paying attention, maybe you can leapfrog. I am thankful and happy for the work that has been done. Now, I can script, edit, post, and capture video because I learned to do all of it. I am never going to regret learning. We can do things differently and every journey is valid.

We like to end interviews with an inspiring quote, mantra, or piece of advice for our community. What words can you share with anyone who seeks to draw out their pioneer spirit and dare to be first?  First, do not be afraid to be visible. I have spoken to people across many organizations. The commonality found is people saying, “I went to college, I’m working hard, am consistent, and do an excellent job but do not have visibility.” Many times, people hide themselves or their skills. Don’t be afraid to be visible or share your contributions.

Making sure you are seen does not mean you are a horrible person. Sometimes, we are conditioned, as women or in the Hispanic community to be humble. As if being visible, makes you a bad person. This is not about vanity, but rather raising awareness of your contributions so that possibilities keep expanding for you. Secondly, when you are feeling uncomfortable, remember this is bigger than you. It is about breaking barriers for your community.

Gaby says, “Being a pioneer is about breaking through for all your community.” The mission is bigger than yourself. Once you shift the perspective, the hope is that you will gain the courage, energy, and determination to bring it all to fruition. The happiness won’t just be yours but for everyone else that comes after you, too!

It isn’t easy to walk into a room as yourself. The world is filled with judgment, labels, and people’s perceptions of who they think, you should be. Although it can be tempting to adapt to a persona instead of owning your uniqueness, it isn’t worth the price. Bargaining who you are to fit a mold can end up suffocating you in the end. So, whether it is an accent, hairstyle, personality, culture, or experiences, don’t be afraid to celebrate the things that set you apart. Showcase your gifts and let yourself be seen by showing pride in the greatness only you can bring to the table.

AW is grateful to Gaby for taking the time to share her story with us. We hope her story inspires you to bring the real you everywhere you go!

To learn more about Gaby, visit her LinkedIn, Instagram and Twitter@gabynatale.

Listen to the AW Confidential Podcast on all streaming services. You can also watch this episode AW Confidential YouTube to enjoy all the side chats during the interview.

*This interview has been edited and condensed for clarity.

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