Sabrina Gonzalez - Entrepreneur | Made in America
The following is the transcript of an interview between Sergio Muñoz and Sabrina Gonzalez
Sergio: How do you self-identify?
Sabrina Gonzalez: Cuban American.
Sergio: Tell me about the house where you lived when you were 16YO…
Sabrina Gonzalez: My parents are just moving out of that house as we speak so I have a lot of emotions about it. It is grey, palm tree in the corner, the palm got knocked over in a hurricane. The driveway is sizable but dingy, four cars can fit in there. It feels like home. Two story. Miami. I lived there with my mom and dad, my second to oldest brother and my grandfather.
Sergio: Where did you see yourself socio-economically at the time?
Sabrina Gonzalez: It really depended on the economy. Being the daughter of a business owner, there were years that were tight and other years where I didn’t have to think about our socio-economic status. My parents had challenges with their business but I just didn’t think anything was lacking. Like many small businesses, they had seasons where they had to get creative and others where we were living in abundance. My parents made childhood special and protected our bubble. At the age of 16, I did begin to realize in high school because I went to a pretty good public magnet program, a lot of kids came from private schools because the programs were that great. I was in homeroom, I met a girl and she said: It was either this school and a Mercedes Benz or a super expensive private school. I remember I thought, wow! we are living different lives me and that girl. I looked at my 2002 Honda Accord, I felt cool but it was clearly a different echelon.
Sergio: What was expected of you at 16YO?
Sabrina Gonzalez: To do what was right, to try hard, to apply myself. At 16, I came to know the Lord and I dedicated my life to Jesus and I became a Christian. It was a pivotal moment for me and with my parents being an encouraging presence, me holding myself to a higher standard, and my faith being at the center of it all. I just always found a way to do right for the people around me and to be of service. At 16, I fell in love with politics too. It became a career path for me.
Sergio: Was college expected of you?
Sabrina Gonzalez: Yes, I decided to stay local and only applied at Florida International University (FIU). I knew that was where I wanted to be. I studied political science and I worked, worked and worked in the same space. I had a mentor reach out to me and advised me to slow down a bit. I was in such a hurry to graduate. After that talk, I did slow down, but I also became student body president. It was a big deal because the student government sits on the Board of Trustees for the university and appropriate budgets in the millions and you are responsible for 50,000 students. I did two terms as president and I learned so much. I had the time of my life. I earned a scholarship program. I was exposed to so much and it shaped me to be who I am.
Sergio: Let’s jump to present-day, tell me about where you live today?
Sabrina Gonzalez: We just purchased this home in Miami. It is a light washed grey two story with a dark blue door with a nice long driveway. Five bedrooms, a husband, two children and although we arent in a rush to fill all the bedrooms, we want to fill all the bedrooms with children. She (the house) is beautiful and she is the result of all the many ways that we have sacrificed to get to this point. Purchasing her has been a dream and purchasing in Miami is not easy. She is home.
Sergio: Who is doing better; Sabrina at 16 or Sabrina today?
Sabrina Gonzalez: Present-day, baby! All the way. Two beautiful children, an amazing husband, a wonderful family and a really cool job.
Sergio: In California, we are focused on Becerra being the next governor of California, you have your pulse on the national scope of Latinos in the November elections, what do you think is the number one issue?
Sabrina Gonzalez: Affordability. For Latinos and for Latino owned businesses. It’s a topic that will not and has not gone away. It’s a total political football just as much as immigration but it hits really close to home. It’s an issue that needs to be tackled by both parties and we need them both to step up and solve for this issue. Tariffs are an impact, rising energy costs, home ownership, everything is more expensive so we need to focus on helping young people to be able to afford the tools to long term wealth.
Sergio: As we lobby in support of US Hispanic business owners, as we understand the pulse of Latina entrepreneurs hitting their moment of economic safety and security, what are your thoughts on that moment?
Sabrina Gonzalez: I wear multiple hats. My role at the USHBC in advocacy. And I am a small business owner myself. I come from small business owners. My father came to this country with nothing on a boat that sank on its way to the USA. He was helicoptered over and his shoe fell off and he kicked off the other one because he didn’t want to step onto the USA with only one shoe. I know the story. He was entrepreneurial and launched businesses. I feel that spirit. There is no shortage of Hispanic owned businesses. We struggle with scaling upwards but we don’t struggle with the spirit. Speaking for myself, I didn’t wait for safety and security to launch. I launched when my husband and I got married, we put our savings together, we got credit cards, we got co-investors, we are in the rental income business, we had a mortgage on the line, we lacked safety and security completely but we were well thought-out.
Sergio: How old were you when you saw the calendar fully booked?
Sabrina: 24!
Sergio: Where are you now?
Sabrina: We have grown considerably. I was pregnant when I got our first property, by the time we got to the third property, I was pregnant again. Our family is growing, our business growing, everything is going in the right direction. Our plan for scaling in 2027 is ambitious, but I’m excited to see that growth come to fruition. We’ve been thoughtful about how we want to grow and have taken our time since our last property launched. 2027 is going to be explosive! It’s truly fulfilling to bridge the work that I am doing with the U.S. Hispanic Business Council from an advocacy standpoint and the work im doing as an entrepreneur.
#Intelatin #Media #USHBC #Entrepreneurs #WomanOwnedEnterprise #SabrinaGonzalez
Sergio C. Muñoz is a Mexican banker writing on Latina/o Prosperity. His work has been featured in the US Hispanic Business Council; Caló, the Los Angeles Times, the OC Register, PBS, NPR, WNYC, Revista - Harvard Review of Latin America, Studio 360, Latino Leaders Magazine, Poder Hispanic, Sopitas, Animal Político & ¿México Cómo Vamos?
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