The Recovering Perfectionist Behind the Movement
How a first-gen professional learned to redefine success, set boundaries, and choose authenticity over everyone else’s expectations.
I’m Viridiana –
eldest daughter, first-gen college grad, HR leader, and the first woman in my family to buy a house (and travel internationally, and work corporate, and… you get it).
For years, I did what I thought I was supposed to do: keep my head down, work hard, don’t make waves, be grateful you’re even here. I spent 9 years at Google climbing the ladder, checking boxes, and secretly wondering if success was supposed to feel this exhausting.
Then 2025 happened.
Serious health issues that forced me to confront my own mortality. A layoff that shook my sense of security (though I eventually landed a new role within Google). And a reckoning with how much of my life I’d spent prioritizing everyone else’s expectations over my own needs.
That year forced me to ask uncomfortable questions: What do I actually want? What does success look like on my terms? How do I honor my roots while creating my own path? Why do I feel guilty every time I put myself first?
The answers didn’t come all at once (they still haven’t, if I’m honest). But somewhere in the messy middle of doctor’s appointments, navigating unexpected career transitions, and learning to say “no” to my parents without the crushing guilt, I discovered something powerful:
Progress over perfection isn’t just a cute phrase—it’s a survival strategy.
Now, as a coach, speaker, and creator, I help other ambitious women—especially first-gen professionals and women of color—navigate the same journey.
Because you shouldn’t have to choose between success and authenticity. Between honoring your culture and prioritizing yourself. Between being the “good daughter” and building the life you actually want.
3.8K
LinkedIn
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50+
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500+
Instagram
Followers
10+
Speaking
Engagements
My Approach
I don’t do toxic positivity or one-size-fits-all frameworks.
Every coaching session, every talk, every newsletter is rooted in:
- Vulnerability first – I share the messy middles, not just the highlight reels. You’ll hear about the times I ugly-cried in bathroom stalls, the career pivots that scared me, and the boundaries I’m still learning to set.
- Cultural sensitivity – Your background isn’t baggage—it’s power. I understand the unique pressures of being “the first,” of navigating spaces where you don’t see yourself reflected, of balancing cultural expectations with personal dreams.
- Practical tools – Feelings are valid AND you need actionable strategies. I give you frameworks you can actually use in real life, not just theories that sound good on paper.
- Permission over prescription – This is about finding YOUR path, not following mine. I’m here to ask the right questions, hold up a mirror, and remind you that you already have the answers inside you.
The Credentials
(Because They Matter, Even Though They’re Not Everything)
- 9+ years in HR & People Operations at Google
- Background in talent management, program management, and diversity & inclusion work
- First-gen Mexican American navigating all the things
- Professional overthinker and recovering people-pleaser
- Proud dog mom to two adorable rescues who keep me grounded
When I’m Not Coaching or Writing
You’ll find me…
- Curling up with my two dogs (they’re my unofficial therapists)
- Dancing to cumbias from my childhood in my living room
- Experimenting with new crafts (currently: crochet, next: who knows!)
- Having deep conversations with my actual therapist about why I still feel guilty taking a day off
- Trying not to doom-scroll while drinking my third iced coffee of the day
Let’s work together
Whether you’re looking for 1:1 coaching support, want me to speak at your next event, or just want to stay connected through the newsletter—I’d love to have you in this community.