Inspiring Conversations with Melba Tellez of Mujeres on the Rise

Today we’d like to introduce you to Melba Tellez.

Hi Melba, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
When I was 16 years old I dropped out of high school to get a job and help out my family financially. I was disappointed, lost, and more confused than ever. But in retrospect, quitting school and getting a sh*tty job was one of the best gifts I could have received because it allowed me to identify my non-negotiables.

My rock bottom acted as the catalyst to learn what I really wanted out of work, it put things into perspective, and it gave me the push I needed to chase my dreams. For the next 8 years, I worked 40 hours a week while getting my GED, and continued working full-time while pursuing my undergraduate degree. And guess what? I didn’t stop there…

After finishing my Bachelor’s Degree, I did what I never thought I would do… I decided to pursue a Master’s Degree. I was excited, overwhelmed, and if I’m honest, I was absolutely terrified.

Grad school presented a new set of curve balls because I soon realized all the courses I missed in high school were starting to catch up to me. I spent days (if not weeks) familiarizing myself with concepts that most of my classmates already knew.

There were many times I doubted myself, and times when I contemplated giving up, but no matter how many times it crossed my mind, I continued to fight, often feeling like I was swimming against the tide.

Fast forward to today—I am a Product Marketing Manager in big tech and the proud Founder of Mujeres on the Rise, a women empowerment platform that was born out of my deep desire to help women like me.

If my trajectory has taught me one thing it’s that it does not matter where you start, all that matters is that you do.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
It has definitely not been a smooth road. Some of the struggles I faced along the way were:

– Having to drop out of high school at the age of 16 to get a job.
– Having to work a full-time job throughout college.
– Finding myself in places that weren’t built with people like me in mind – places that lacked diversity and Latinx representation.
– Facing multiple job rejections after grad school.

As you know, we’re big fans of Mujeres on the Rise. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Mujeres on the Rise is an online platform dedicated to the empowerment and support of Latina women. Since sharing our first topic of the week via Instagram on June 17, 2019, our goal has been to help women by giving them the encouragement, support, and resources they need to conquer their dreams.

At Mujeres on the Rise, we strongly believe that you can accomplish absolutely anything you set your mind to. It does not matter where you come from, where you start, or how impossible your dreams may seem – if you want it (and are willing to work for it), you can achieve it. All it takes is some hard work, perseverance, and of course – a community of inspiring Mujeres doesn’t hurt.

Our services include: custom resumes, LinkedIn profile revamps, and 1:1 career coaching with an emphasis on navigating the job search and interviewing for success.

What’s next?
In 2023, I look forward to hosting panels, events, and group coaching sessions for the Mujeres on the Rise community. I want to create more avenues for women to connect with one another and navigate these unprecedented times.

Pricing:

• $247 Custom Resume
• $107 Rising Resume (Self-Paced Resume Course)
• $799+ 1:1 Career Coaching
• $207 Custom LinkedIn Revamp

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.mujeresontherise.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mujeresontherise/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/577827739463763/?ref=group_browse
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/MelbaTellez/featured
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@mujeresontherise?lang=en