MARISSA GONZALEZ; 2023 Top Lideres Awards; SW Florida

What is your Hispanic Heritage: Puerto Rican  

What area of Florida do you live in:

Lehigh Acres 

What is your profession: Seriel Entrepreneur (Financial Literacy Educator, Residential Solar Representative and Advocate for HIV/AIDS)

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about what you do for a living and how you got into it

Marissa: As an entrepreneur I have my hands in many things and they each have their own unique story of how I got started but it essentially boils down to not allowing life experiences to keep me down. I’ll start with where it began

Back in 2020 I wanted to purchase a home and was told I needed to fix my credit but there was no guidance. I was left to figure it out on my own. I knew that I couldn't be the only one having this struggle, so I sought out resources and that is how my career as a Financial Literacy Educator began. In May of 2020 the primary company I partnered with was shut down and I was left to figure out what to do until their systems were back up and running. This is when I was introduced to the world of renewable energy and residential solar. I was never a fan but like most, I made a judgment based on something I actually knew nothing about. As I learned about how this was actually tied into my work as a Financial Literacy Educator I was hooked. Being able to offer individuals of my community information to make informed decisions on things that could enhance their life and well-being is part of my mission. I've always made it a point to use life experiences to guide me in supporting and educating others. In 2019 I decided to become a public figure in the world of HIV/AIDS. I would attend events, be a speaker and volunteer at events to educate and test. I never pictured myself doing any of the things I currently do but I can't picture my life without it. You see back in 2016, I was diagnosed as HIV positive, and it took deep depression, an attempt to end my own life to realize I had a lot of work within myself to do. That's when I made the decision to create the life I wanted, not the life society said i deserved. 

Latin Times Magazine: In your industry, what would you say separates you from your competition. 

I would say what separates me is that I am authentic and transparent. I am not afraid to share my own failures so that others can see success is possible. I often hear “ Youre so brave” or “Youre so confident” but  i wasn’t always this way.

Latin Times Magazine: Why do you feel you were nominated. 

I am truly shocked by this nomination especially because I grew up made to feel like i was never “Spanish Enough”. Growing up I faced many challenges; I was bullied for many things and one of those things was that I was “Americanized.” English is my primary language, its clear to people that my spanish was learned over the years and some words I still say incorrectly but people recognize my efforts, and i think that is one of the reasons I was nominated. Regardless of if my Spanish speaking is perfect, people know that I care and I truly want to help people, even if i “gain nothing.” 

Latin Times Magazine: During Covid-19, tell us about your Biggest Challenge/obstacle and how you overcame it/or are overcoming it 

Covid 19 and I have a special relationship. While everyone was home quarantined, I was in the field everyday working with the public. It wasn’t until 2021 when I myself got Covid and thankfully am still here, because  it was a rough road to survival and recovery. Now today, at the time of this writing, I feel like I am living my own version of quarantine as I help care for a sick family member. I would say one of my biggest challenges during the peak of Covid is that so many people got to “rest or take it easy” and i was still out in the field daily and it was certainly at a time where i was doing more than i had to give but i knew that it just wasn't my time to sit down. Since 2014 I have always worked in a public facing role and I have always been the girl who was always on the go. I had such a passion to serve my community but at the time of Covid it was certainly catching up with me and my now compromised immune system.

Latin Times Magazine: Tell us about your biggest achievement, and how you achieved it  

There are many things in my life I can be proud of. I sometimes look at my life and am in awe. While i don't have many riches and the glory of fancy cars etc, my biggest accomplishment is that I live life on my terms. After attempting suicide in 2016 I really had to look at my life and all the insecurities that lived inside me that limited the heights I could reach. Every day I work to be kind to myself, to speak positively into myself and to be inspired to make the most of life because it has so much to offer. I believe I have experienced so much turmoil in my life that was connected to things that made me who I am that to be able to just live as my authentic self is truly a beautiful thing and something I would have to say is my greatest achievement. 

Latin Times Magazine: What is next for you? What can people expect to see from you?  

What's next is currently in motion and I have been working on it silently, but I’ll let you guys in on the secret. I am currently working to obtain my Florida Real Estate License. So much of my daily work is connected to the Real Estate Industry that to give clients top quality service I feel it makes sense for me to be a realtor. Not even top-quality service but the comfort of knowing they can work with me from beginning to end. From understanding how credit is impacted, what they can do to fix and build their credit, budget and properly save to qualify for a home, to then house hunt and find what fits their needs and the needs of their family. Then once they find that home I can guide them through obtaining solar panels and understand what options are available as well as what makes the most sense for their financial situation and economical needs, to be fully energy independent or not, to finance or lease etc. 

I was also recently recognized as a Powerful Women in SWFL so I’m excited to announce that I am co-authoring a book with other ladies in SWFL! We will each share how we overcame obstacles in our life and how we got to be the Powerful Women that we are today! Currently the book is expected to be titled “Slaying SWFL - Powerful Women with Purpose” and is expected to be published in the fall of 2023. 

Latin Times Magazine: What does being a U.S. Citizen mean to you? 

Being a U.S. Citizen to me means being able to create my own opportunities. While our country is not perfect and I do not agree with much of what is happening in our country, I am blessed to be able to have opportunities that many others do not have. I have the ability to wake up and create my dream life in the chosen industries I am in which with work, consistency and commitment allow me to change the lives in my family for generations to come.

Latin Times Magazine: What is your opinion of the state of affairs in our nation? And what role do you see Hispanics/Latinos playing in the future of our nation?

I have never been a political person but I stand firm on right and wrong. As a new Christian I believe our mission as people is to Love people as they are. Controlling a woman's body, or refusing  a service to someone because they identify as part of the LGBTQIA+ community in my opinion is disgusting. I think we have so much more that we could be focusing on besides who someone chooses to love and how someone came into this country. If you are in this country and are aiding in building our economy, aren't bringing things to hurt people, then what does it matter how you got here? A Nation that is supposed to be united yet there is so much division. While I am proud of the opportunities I have here, there are so many things in our country that sadden me. 

Latin Times Magazine: What is the best lesson that you have learned in leadership and how has it helped your career?

In leadership, my biggest lesson is that you cant lead people who do not want to be led, and it all starts with leading yourself. If you can lead yourself, and show what your discipline has awarded often times people will be attracted to that, but as a leader it is then up to us to show them how their current reality, struggle and all, does not have to be their future. 

◦Latin Times Magazine: Is there anything I didn’t ask that you would like to share? 

I would love to share about my very first trip to Puerto Rico! It was for my 30th birthday. For years I wanted to visit with my mother but she didnt want to go, finally i said i am going for my 30th and you can come celebrate or stay. Thank God she came along with 15 family members and close friends. It was peace like i have never felt before, and until this day i have yet to feel that anywhere beside Puerto Rico. My heart knows that La Isla is home. This is the trip where I saw my Tio who was also my Padrino for the last time, before he lost his battle to Covid. I had dreamed about what visiting would be like and it was beyond my wildest imagination. If you want to know who Spanish people are at their core, visit them in their environment, their element. The most humble, sweet, caring people you could ever meet come from the Hispanic Community. For so long I struggled in my identity as a Latina Women and I learned that its not about how you speak spanish, or what you can cook, its about the love in your heart and how you share that with others. I am a Latin through and through and I am honored and blessed to wave my Boricua Bandera for all Latinos.  

Latin Times Magazine: What is YOUR comida Latina favorita? 

Oh gosh this is not a fair question! I am such a foodie, I love food and trying new things, but I do love frituras ! If its an Alcapurria YES, a Colombian Empanada YES, a Papusa YES, tostones con ajo YES, mangu con los golpes YES and if it has a side of materva, horchata, coquito or morir sonando YES YES YES! Oh and can we add a side of ceviche?! Or some chips y guacamole! What about a plate of Lomo Saltado?! Oh and theres nothing like a hot sancocho or afe con leche to soothe all my stress away…. Ok i think im done lol