How Identity Influenced A CEO And Co-Founder's Career At Nuñez The People's Agency
Being a first-gen Latino presented challenges such as navigating unfamiliar processes like FAFSA and class registration, requiring reliance on online resources and professors. The experience of often being "the only in the room" fueled a sense of responsibility to represent and advocate, ultimately inspiring the creation of a bilingual content creation agency focused on serving Latino audiences and "always supporting community".
First-Generation College Student, Latino Identity, Community Support, Bilingual Content Creation, Entrepreneurship
Advizer Information
Name
Job Title
Company
Undergrad
Grad Programs
Majors
Industries
Job Functions
Traits
Ray Nuñez
CEO, Co-Founder
Nuñez, The People's Agency
Johnson & Wales University
Film, Media Arts, Visual Arts
Advertising, Communications & Marketing
Business Strategy
Honors Student, Scholarship Recipient, Pell Grant Recipient, Took Out Loans, Immigrant, Worked 20+ Hours in School, First Generation College Student
Video Highlights
1. Navigating the complexities of being a first-generation student, such as understanding FAFSA and course registration, was initially challenging and required leaning on online resources and professors for guidance.
2. Being a minority in many professional settings meant carrying the weight of representation and speaking on behalf of the Latino community.
3. The desire to support the Latino community led to starting a bilingual content creation business, leveraging technical skills and business acumen to give back and bridge the gap between cultures, especially after moving from the US to Mexico.
Transcript
As someone who identifies as a first-generation Latino, how has that impacted how you navigated your career?
I wasn't the first in my family to go to school; my two sisters did before me. Still, figuring things out on my own was really difficult. I didn't know what FAFSA was or how to fill out many of these forms, which was stressful. You don't want to do something wrong.
Even signing up for classes was confusing. You start seeing some of these names and wonder what they mean. I had never heard of them before or been exposed to them. So, I relied a lot on online resources and some professors I met. They helped me navigate being a first-generation student.
The Latino component of my identity has been a core part of who I am. I was formally undocumented, and I was often one of the only people like me in the room. I was a literal minority at many tables, so I always had to represent and speak on behalf of others. That's a lot of weight to carry.
This has impacted my career. We recently started a business spinoff focused on Spanish and English bilingual content creation, speaking directly to Latino audiences. This is because, like many Latino immigrants, I grew up translating for my parents and had to bear that responsibility. I wanted to use my technical and business skills for good and support the community.
Now that I've moved from the US to Mexico, it's about bridging these two worlds. I want to ensure I can still do the work I love while always supporting the community. That's always a must.