Navigating corporate America as a Latina, can be intimidating, especially if you’re first-gen. You are going in blind and figuring it all out on the fly. That’s why Miriam Simon, author and Coach, is sharing tips for career growth for Latinas, including tuition reimbursement from your job! She shares her journey from surviving to thriving in these corporate streets!
Meet Miriam Simon: From Entry-Level to Executive
Miriam started clocking in at 14. Over 25 years, she climbed her way from minimum-wage gigs to executive roles, all while raising a child, pausing her education, and navigating relationships that didn’t always serve her. But instead of letting life’s curveballs knock her out of the game, she turned every challenge into a stepping stone to a better future.
Now, Miriam is as a leadership coach, executive mentor, and corporate business manager with over 25 years of experience in leadership, human resources, and workforce optimization. As a Certified Hudson Coach, Forbes Coaches Council Member, and Co-Lead of Lean In Latinas Nueva York, she helps professionals navigate their careers with confidence and strategy.
Miriam is the author of the book Tattoos & Pearls: Combining Street Wisdom with Corporate Strategy and host of the Latina Mic Drop podcast, where she amplifies bold conversations on leadership, resilience, and breaking barriers. She helps people turn their setbacks into successes and silence into community.
Strategies for Career Growth for Latinas
For anyone who wasn’t handed a roadmap to corporate success, Miriam’s story is a masterclass in self-made growth. She shares not just the how, but the why behind every move she made, which makies her story especially relevant for Latinas, immigrants, and first-gen professionals blazing their own trail. Below are some of her tips.
What It Means to Say “Yes” to Yourself
The name of Miriam’s business, Mi Si, is shorthand for “my yes.” It’s about choosing what you need over what others expect. That mindset shift is game-changing. Miriam credits this approach for every big leap she made in her career and personal life. It is easy to lose yourself in the corporate game. Therefore, she wants you to remember your “why.”
Customize Your Resume Every Time
Miriam tailored her resume for each new opportunity, making sure it reflected the specific skills and keywords in the job description. This boosted her chances of landing interviews and getting noticed.
Apply Every 12–18 Months
She made it a rule to apply for a new position every year to year-and-a-half—either within her company or externally. Why? Because she knew staying stagnant wasn’t an option.
Know the Market Rates
Don’t just hope you’re being paid fairly, research salary trends. Know what the market will pay for your skills and expertise. Miriam regularly reviewed market data to know what someone with her skills should be earning, and used that info to negotiate better.
Unlocking Hidden Benefits at Work
Think your salary is your only asset at work? Think again. Miriam leveraged her employer’s tuition reimbursement program, getting up to 85% of her tuition covered! She earned her degree without student debt, unlocking better job opportunities. Therefore, know what opportunities and benefits your employer may have. Don’t forget to check if they have employer match for your 401(k)!
Reaching Wider, Not Just Higher
Here’s a twist: climbing the corporate ladder isn’t always about going up. Sometimes, it’s about expanding sideways.
Conquering Imposter Syndrome
As a Latina, you may find yourself dealing with imposter syndrome. What is imposter syndrome? This when you feel you are not good enough and have feelings of self-doubt , eve though you ARE more than qualified! So many of us, especially mujeres and people of color, get caught in that “Who do I think I am?” mindset. Miriam shares her tips on how to overcome it.
Understand Why Your Story Matters
Miriam reminds us that your lived experience is your expertise. People need your voice, your lens, your leadership. Period.
You’re Already Qualified to Lead
She encourages professionals to own their worth, recognize their strengths, and understand that being a few steps ahead of someone else is all it takes to mentor or lead.
Take the Lead & Create New Ones
Miriam pitched and built entirely new roles within her company, filling gaps the organization didn’t even realize it had. This not only amplified her impact but allowed her to work on projects she was passionate about.
Expand Influence Without Burnout
Sometimes, in the effort to prove our worth, we burn ourselves out. Miriam shares, how instead of sacrificing her time and mental health, she created horizontal leadership lanes where she maintained balance and boundaries while still growing professionally.
Final Thoughts: Lessons in Resilience
This episode is a must-listen for anyone feeling stuck, unseen, or unsure in their career. Miriam doesn’t just tell you what’s possible, she gives you the blueprint to make it happen. She shares her wisdom in her upcoming book, “Tattoos and Pearls,” where her philosophy is: the “tattoos” are life’s scars, and the “pearls” are the wisdom those scars leave behind.
Tune into the full Money Chisme episode to hear more gems, grit, and real-talk wisdom.
Connect with Miriam Simon
Facebook: Miriam Simon
TikTok: @authormiriamsimon
LinkedIn: Miriam Simon
Website: www.miriamsimon.online
Instagram: @LatinaMicDropPodcast
