Editor’s note: Without fail, every year, I speak with women who have moved to Los Angeles to further their career in the entertainment industry and I always walk away impressed with the way they’ve set themselves apart from the rest.
One such woman is Tatiana Calderon, who is finally getting some recognition for the leadership skills she has shown. I recently caught up with the co-founder of eHOW El Trientación to hear more about why she took the leap and how her male partner made it possible.
What motivates you to stay dedicated to your chosen career?
Getting to this point in my career has been difficult, and there have been hurdles along the way. As an independent producer, I know firsthand that there are a lot of things that block women from getting the roles they desire. But my male co-founder and I decided to talk openly about the roles we’re trying to get to — to give other women a path to understand what it’s like to break through in our field.
The power of that talk comes from honesty, and it has helped us raise our voices in a very male-dominated world. I would like to think that that’s helped pave the way for women in the entertainment industry to talk and stand up for themselves, and we are constantly on the lookout for positive story lines about female entrepreneurs to share and promote.
What do you see as the barriers for women wanting to do things differently?
I see all the different constraints women face in their own lives, and I want to fight against those kinds of constraints and make things easier for them. One barrier, I believe, is that women often don’t have the success stories they need to validate their life choices. We want people to see us in those shoes, so we want to share our stories to inspire other women to go for it.
I tell my daughter every day that she should always ask to try something new, because she’ll be the first person in her family to know what she’s capable of, whether that’s baking a batch of apple pie or a business plan. I never tell her to do it — I want her to be curious and just jump in.
What are some challenges you’ve faced personally?
It’s important for me to fight through those barriers I see. Sometimes, my frustrations grow into whatever challenges I have to tackle. As a young person, I had a tendency to blow things off and pretend that they weren’t happening. That has changed.
But my family has been incredibly supportive of me, and I’m very grateful for that.
What advice do you have for young entrepreneurs like yourself?
Hard work is the most important thing you can do, but the most important advice is to follow your heart.
Be happy, be in love, be healthy, because, at the end of the day, if you can focus your energy on something that makes you happy, you’ll be able to avoid any struggle or frustration that comes from feeling unappreciated or uninspired.