FINALE: Full circle. A journey of transformation and gratitude
Based on an episode with Thaisa Fernandes 🇧🇷🏳️🌈
Welcome to Latinx in Power, a podcast aiming to help to demystify tech, the way we do that is by interviewing Latinx and Caribbean leaders all over the world to hear their perspective and insights.
We talked with Thaisa Fernandes, a Senior Program Manager and design enthusiast who blends strategy, creativity, and user-centered approach to build impactful products. She is also a social entrepreneur dedicated to building communities and elevating Latinx and Caribbean voices through projects like Latinx in Power and PM101.
In this episode, we explore the journey behind this podcast, what sparked its creation, the challenges faced, and how hosting has transformed Thaisa personally. Plus, hear advice for minorities in tech and fun behind-the-scenes stories!
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Can you share a little more about yourself?
Here we go. Firth thing, I decided to create this podcast because I wanted to consume something like it myself. I was deeply inspired by a quote from Toni Morrison: “If you’re free, you need to free somebody else. If you have some power, then your job is to empower somebody else.”
When I moved to the U.S. and met other incredible Latinas, I felt so inspired that I wanted to interview the amazing people I knew. I’ve learned so much from them, and honestly, I selfishly wanted to hear and share more of their stories.
This podcast was also born from my belief in the importance of representation and diversity, especially now, when these conversations sometimes feel like they’re being sidelined. My focus is on people who work in tech, but I believe the insights and lessons shared here can inspire anyone, regardless of their industry.
By day, I’m a Senior Program Manager at a commerce platform, supporting product and cross-functional teams as they launch and build new products. I love building things, and I have a lot of energy that I need to express creativity in different ways. That’s why I take on personal projects, this podcast being one of them. I also run a blog about program management, tech, and product management, which has grown into a community with multiple contributors writing for PM101.
Beyond tech, I recently launched a book, which is something I’m really passionate about. I love books, I love cooking, and I love baking. My book is called Vegan Anniversary in the Bay Area, is a mix of memoir and cookbook, featuring Brazilian desserts reimagined in a vegan way, along with stories from my life. It also includes some American recipes influenced by my decade of living in the U.S. I created this book in partnership with my friend Izabelle Alvares, who I also interviewed on this podcast. She handled the creative direction, photography, and design, bringing the entire vision to life. I’m incredibly proud of this project, it turned out beautifully!
And that’s a bit about me!
What does it mean to be a Latina for you today?
I’ve learned so much from the people I’ve interviewed, and I love how we all have different answers to this question. What it means to be Latina, or Latinx varies from person to person, and I love that the answer can evolve over time. It has certainly changed for me. I’ve been reflecting on this question for the past decade, since I moved to the U.S. because it was only after moving here that I even realized I was considered Latina.
Coming from Brazil, or growing up in our own countries, we don’t always think about labels like Latina or Latino. It’s not something we necessarily question. But in the U.S., identity is often placed into categories, and for many Latin Americans from non-Spanish-speaking countries, our self-perception may differ from that of Spanish speakers. However, we still share similar stories. Many of us don’t fully feel our Latinidad until we move abroad.
For me, being Latina means belonging to a vast and deeply connected community, one that is incredibly smart, talented, kind, and humble. I feel an instant connection when I meet someone from Latin America, because our shared experiences bring us closer.
When I first moved here, I felt lonely. It took time to meet people who looked like me, spoke like me, and shared similar backgrounds. Once I found my community, I truly felt like I belonged. That sense of belonging is so important, especially now.
The Latinx community has been under attack for years, and in these times, staying united and uplifting each other is more important than ever. If I had to summarize what being Latina means to me, I’d say it means being part of something bigger, something I am immensely proud of.
What was the most difficult part of launching your podcast?
This might sound cliché, but the hardest part was simply starting. I spent years thinking about it, researching, and dreaming, but I wasn’t taking action. I reached a point where I felt frustrated because I knew I was ready, yet I wasn’t doing anything to make it happen. Eventually, I gave myself a deadline and committed to making it real. Once I made that decision, everything moved quickly because I had already done so much preparation.
One of the key things that helped me stay focused was taking an online podcast course. That’s just how I operate, I love learning, researching, and taking structured courses. The course helped me narrow down the right equipment, software, and creative approach. In the end, I kept things simple: I invested in a good microphone and hired an editor. From the beginning, I made a conscious decision to outsource the parts I don’t enjoy, like editing so I could focus on what I do love: interviewing, storytelling, and building a community. My editor, Tamires Pistoresi, has been with me since day one, and she’s incredible.
My experience in product and program management also played a big role. It helped me stay organized, prioritize what my audience needed, and approach the podcast with a clear structure. At its core, I started this podcast selfishly, I wanted to consume something like this. At the time, I couldn’t find a space that celebrated Latinx and Caribbean leaders in the way I envisioned. I also wanted to connect with inspiring people, learn from them, and give them more visibility.
Over time, my biggest challenge shifted. The real difficulty became prioritization. As the podcast grew, I started receiving more and more inquiries from incredible, inspiring people who wanted to be featured. I had to be strategic about who to interview while maintaining my capacity, since day one, I set a limit of one episode per month to keep things sustainable (+ some bonus episodes).
I also had a specific goal: to feature at least one guest from every Latin American country. Being from Brazil, I naturally knew a lot of Brazilians, but I had to be disciplined and say, we’ve covered Brazil, let’s focus on other countries now. The same went for Mexico with so many amazing guests, but I had to balance representation. And as I progressed, I realized the Caribbean needed to be included too. Eventually, we achieved that goal featuring voices from every Latin American country and the Caribbean, which was incredibly important to me.
Throughout this journey, both soft and hard skills played a huge role. From a soft skills perspective, making my guests feel comfortable and proud of their episode was a priority. Many of them had never been on a podcast before, and I wanted the experience to be positive and empowering for them.
Hard skills like staying organized, managing deadlines, using technology, editing, and promotion were also crucial. There’s so much that goes into launching each episode, and my background in building and launching products definitely helped me navigate it all.
How was the experience of creating a podcast before AI?
That’s a really good question, I don’t think I ever really stopped to compare. Looking at how I used to run my podcast versus now, AI has definitely made it easier to scale. We have so many more tools at our disposal, and AI is a big part of that.
For example, I used to hire a company for transcriptions because we also have a blog, and manually transcribing episodes was extremely time-consuming. At the time, the available tools weren’t great, so outsourcing was my best option. Now, I use AI for transcriptions, and it’s a game-changer, it saves me both time and money, which is critical for an independent podcast like mine.
Another example is voiceovers. I used to work with a real person, a Latina voice artist, and it was an amazing experience. If I were starting today, I don’t know if I would make the same choice, simply because AI-generated voices have improved so much.
That said, something that’s always been important to me is hiring and working with people from underrepresented backgrounds, almost everyone I’ve collaborated with for the podcast is Latin or from a minority group, and most are women.
AI has also been a great brainstorming tool. In the past, I spent a lot of time researching guests, their backgrounds, and their work. AI now helps speed up that process, though I still take the time to personalize my approach.
One thing I’m mindful of is avoiding AI’s tendency to make everything sound the same, generic questions, and a certain sameness across content. For me, it’s crucial that the podcast stays authentic, with real conversations and real stories.
While I absolutely use AI to help me scale and streamline tasks, I also make sure it doesn’t take away the human element. That’s what makes the podcast special, and that’s something AI can’t replace.
How has hosting a podcast changed you personally and professionally?
In the first season, I only interviewed friends. They were all incredible and inspiring people, and I trusted them to embark on this journey with me. More importantly, they trusted me, and I’m deeply grateful for that.
But from the very beginning, I started receiving requests from people, sometimes very well-known figures, who wanted to be on the podcast. Their agents would reach out, and I remember thinking, Wow, this is actually happening! I never expected that. Then, seeing the podcast recognized as one of the Top 10 Latin Podcasts to Listen To was another incredible milestone.
One of the most surprising and inspiring aspects of this journey has been realizing that, no matter how famous or accomplished my guests are, they all share a deep willingness to help others. They didn’t join the podcast to promote themselves; they genuinely wanted to share their stories to uplift others. That was both humbling and reassuring.
At first, I was really nervous about interviewing high-profile guests, especially those with extensive experience in public speaking and media, something I didn’t have in the beginning. But they were all so kind and supportive. It made me realize that, at the end of the day, we’re all just people, and that sense of connection has been truly special.
Professionally, the podcast has opened doors I never could have imagined. It led to amazing opportunities, like being invited by Microsoft to do a live podcast recording at one of their biggest events in Seattle. HubSpot invited my podcast to join their creator community, which was another unexpected and exciting milestone. And many different speaking engagements, podcasts, courses and opportunities to share more about my experience working in tech (and beyond).
The most rewarding part? None of these opportunities were part of the initial plan. I started the podcast purely to uplift my community through storytelling, no expectations, no strategic networking, no agenda. And because I stayed true to that mission, these opportunities naturally came my way. Looking back, I’m incredibly proud of that. It reinforced something important: when you create something authentic, something you truly believe in, people will notice.
What do you recommend to someone aiming to start a career in Product?
The podcast initially focused heavily on product management because that was my career at the time, and it was also a hot topic in the industry. But as time went on, I expanded the conversation beyond just product management to include design, engineering, AI, and even broader themes like imposter syndrome and burnout. My approach was always about balancing what my audience was interested in with what I personally found meaningful.
For someone starting a career in Product, here’s what I’d recommend:
Embrace continuous learning: Product management is an ever-evolving field. Follow industry trends, read books, listen to podcasts (yes, including mine!), and take courses. Understanding different frameworks and methodologies will set you apart.
Understand that you are not your user: One of the most important lessons in product is realizing that you are not the end-user. You need to talk to customers, gather feedback, and be genuinely curious about solving real problems.
Develop strong communication skills: A big part of being a product manager is articulating ideas, aligning stakeholders, and making decisions with limited information. Clear communication (both written and verbal) is a superpower in this role.
Build a diverse skill set: Product management sits at the intersection of technology, business, and user experience. You don’t need to be an expert in all three, but having a foundational understanding of each will make you a stronger PM.
Be comfortable with ambiguity: Unlike engineering, where there’s often a “right” answer, product management thrives in uncertainty. You need to be able to make decisions based on imperfect information and iterate as you go.
Network & learn from others: The best way to grow is by learning from experienced PMs. Engage with product communities, attend meetups, or even reach out to people for informational interviews.
Showcase your product thinking: If you’re new to the field, you might not have formal PM experience, but you can demonstrate your product thinking in other ways. Write case studies, build a small project, or analyze existing products and suggest improvements.
Prioritize accessibility & inclusion: One thing I learned from the podcast is that making content (or products) accessible to different audiences is incredibly powerful. Whether it’s through multiple formats or inclusive design, keeping accessibility in mind will make you a better product leader.
Most importantly, remember that product management is not just about launching features, it’s about solving problems for people. If you approach it with empathy, curiosity, and a willingness to learn, you’ll go far.
This podcast has been the beginning of a journey for you. It has transformed you, opened new opportunities, and at times, left you feeling exhausted. However, I can clearly see that there’s more to come after this episode. So, what’s next for Thaisa?
What’s next? I don’t know and I love that I’m saying this because I’m a planner, and I love thinking about the future. But right now, I genuinely don’t know what’s next. Lately, I’ve been embracing uncertainty, and I love that I started this podcast, how much I’ve learned through the process, and how deeply connected I feel to my guests. I truly believe we’ve built meaningful connections, and I’ve made so many new friends along the way, which is incredible.
This experience has also expanded my world. I remember days when I wasn’t feeling great, but I had an interview scheduled. And after recording, I felt amazing. My guests’ energy was uplifting, their stories inspiring, and those conversations lifted my mood every time.
I also recognize the importance of making space for new things and for rest. Right now, that’s really important to me. I’ve been reflecting on how I’ve been working nonstop since the pandemic, feeling like my time had expanded without realizing that I’ve been constantly working for the past five years. So, I want to take a step back and recharge.
The podcast will always live on. It’s on streaming platforms, YouTube, and our blog on Medium it’s out there, and that’s something I’m proud of. And perhaps, Latinx in Power will return in another form. I’m not sure yet. But when the timing feels right, it will definitely come back.
This isn’t goodbye, it’s see you soon. I don’t know when, but I know it will happen.
Can you share some behind-the-scenes stories or curiosities about the podcast with us?
Podcasting was my worst nightmare, I’ve always felt more comfortable with writing than with recording something in my second language and putting it out there in the world.
- You, Gretchen, were my first guest, and I feel immensely happy about that. You’ve always been someone I’ve felt so inspired by and wanted to spend more time with. And we’ve achieved that we’ve become closer, and I love how much we’ve supported each other over the past few years.
- I used to record the episodes with my two cats and my pug. One of my cats was very talkative, and you can hear him in some episodes. Sadly, the cats passed away at 18 years old. Now, I’ve adopted another dog, but they’re both too noisy to keep around while I record.
- I created the podcast intro music on my iPad. I had a lot of fun doing it, even though I’m not a musician. Still, I’m very proud of the result.
- My editor, Tamires, has been working with me for the past four years, editing and making all the episodes sound beautiful.
- I hired a professional voice actor to record the podcast intro. She had a hard time pronouncing my last name, “Fernandes.” Every time I listen to the podcast, I remember that moment it was funny! It was tough, but when I hear the intro now, I laugh and think, “It’s not perfect, but it’s close enough.” This brings me to an important point: it’s so valuable to try and pronounce people’s names, even if it’s difficult. While we may not always be able to pronounce names perfectly, the effort means a lot. So, always try, and don’t hesitate to ask people how to pronounce their name. Some people have really good tips to help you remember. And please, never ask, “Do you have a short name?” don’t be that person!
I hope you enjoyed the podcast. We will have more interviews with amazing Latinx and Caribbean leaders the first Tuesday of every month. Check out our website Latinx In Power to hear more. Don’t forget to share comments and feedback, always with kindness. See you soon.
✨Exciting news! Latinx In Power is now part of the HubSpot Podcast Network, the go-to audio hub for business professionals. Headsup: We receive a commission when you purchase. To learn more, click here: https://lnkd.in/grRP-WNP
Additional Reading Mentioned in the Interview
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