Elisa Molina: Empowering First-Gen Leaders
Elisa Molina is turning her own journey from Peace Corps volunteer to first-generation founder into a blueprint for others. As Founder and CEO of COVEDOZA and Director of Operations for Junior Achievement of Georgia, Molina not only champions first-generation professionals and entrepreneurs, but holds space for Latinas and women-of-color through mentorship, advocacy and intentional leadership. Her approach blends strategy with heart, proving success is about more than titles or revenue—it’s about impact, alignment and inner peace.
What’s your best advice for first-generation professionals navigating spaces not built for them?
Learn self-advocacy. Navigating spaces you don’t feel you fit in is hard to do alone. You must strategically advocate for your needs and the needs of those around you. One way you can do this is choosing a decision-maker in the organization that you identify with and share personal values, like educational background, alma mater or life goals. Build a professional connection where they can help advocate for you when opportunities open up, and you can show up for them when they need support.
What’s one mindset shift that can help people move from feeling like outsiders to confident leaders?
Shift your vocabulary from “I have to” to “I can,” “I love to,” “I choose to.” This will change the way you talk to yourself and develop positive self-worth. Being mindful of your self-talk is imperative as a leader, and positive self-talk can help you act with confidence and increase your performance at work and in business.
You’ve turned your own success into a framework for others. What’s one lesson you learned the hard way that you now teach upfront?
One lesson I’ve learned the hard way is learning how to ask for help. I used to struggle delegating and asking others for help. I was so impatient that I decided to do things myself, and I rarely asked for help because I was afraid of what others thought of me, which resulted in burnout. Do not be afraid to ask for help. You’ll be surprised to find out how many people are willing to help you and step in for you when you need it the most.
