Odilia Rivera-Santos on Healing, Heritage, and Redefining Success as a Latina Author & Coach
In this inspiring interview, Puerto Rican-born author and coach Odilia Rivera Santos shares how she overcame cultural expectations, fear of success, and Calladita Culture to create a life rooted in self-awareness, creativity, and service. From her daily transcendental meditation practice to launching a coaching program for women, Odilia opens up about writing, identity, self-care, and what it means to live authentically as a Latina leader today.
What's a typical day in your life look like?:
Up at 5am or 6.
TM (transcendental meditation) for twenty minutes.
Morning pages (idea from Julia Cameron's The Artist's Way)
Do research for coaching clients, write content for Substacks and review client notes.
Walk in the early morning sun in silence to allow myself to think
What is the most rewarding part of your work?:
The most rewarding part of my work is seeing clients learn and practice discernment in relationships and self-advocacy in different contexts. Self-care is a great boon to a person's self-esteem and improves a person's self-concept.
How would you say your upbringing and cultural background contributed to your career aspirations?:
My upbringing in a large family whose ideas and ideals were informed by Catholicism made me feel that I should be 'humble' and avoid making others jealous. My parents though personal growth and wanting to be an entrepreneur were self-centered - particularly for a woman. The fear of success grew from these ideas. I am delving deeply into this topic on May 20, 2025 at 7PM with the launch of our online coaching program.
What would you say is a common question or concern you get from your clients/followers?:
The common concerns among those who engage with me is workplace dynamics and relationships. Soft skills are the hard skills and many people express a need for a review of what professionalism and social capital might mean in 2025. It is a complicated time to have casual conversations at work - we want to veer away from conflictive conversations that might lead to a punitive response from supervisory personnel.
What would you say has been your biggest obstacle in launching a successful career? How have you overcome it?:
The fear of success definitely made me aim toward the adjacent goal instead of my primary one. I didn't want to offend someone by becoming the woman I was meant to be and reaching each goal in a methodical Capricornian way. I did a lot of work on issues related to the 'calladita culture' and learned that humility is not about hiding - it's about being teachable. I am an author and coach and will contain to read about both aspects of my business to remain teachable in my areas of expertise.
What is the phrase, sentence, or conversation that stopped you in your tracks and changed your outlook in life?:
"If anyone has done it, you can do it and probably better. And if no one has done it, you'll be a pioneer. " - one of my mentors at Smith College told me this.
If you had the choice to go back to your past or fast forward to your future, which one would you choose? Why?:
A deep dive into the past is the stuff of psychoanalysis, which has its merits, but I choose to move forward. Self-awareness and an acceptance of my unhealthy responses to life challenges and stress is the way toward making new choices.
What are you committed to doing no matter what happens?:
I will always be a writer. My poetry, fiction, nonfiction and artist interviews have been published and I am working on a coaching workbook now. The workbook will provide a meditative practice to increase intrapersonal skills. Coaching clients is aligned with writing because we are each working with the early template of our life stories.
Where might you be found on a Saturday afternoon with no plans?:
TM, write, exercise, read, brunch, hikes in the woods with friends, and an afternoon nap near an open window, so I can hear the birds.
If you were to meet 10 year old you, what would you say to them?:
All the hard work you do as an interpreter, translator and researcher for your parents, who don't speak English, is preparation for creating the life you want.
What is something you’re willing to start all over again?:
I would definitely be willing to start college again because I really loved all the hard work of reading, writing, and preparing for exams. I thrive in the world of challenging intellectual work.
When are you the happiest?:
I am happiest when I am immersed in a project and see people use my ideas to enhance their lives and renew efforts to fully engage in their professional and personal circles. Social capital is a spiritual, emotional and financial tool that is underused.
What is stopping you?:
Today, I met with Ming Fu, the cofounder and CEO of Uvita - the wellbeing app, to discuss the workshop launch this month. I felt very comfortable reiterating the idea that we learn by doing and the audience for the product will let us know what could be better. Nothing is stopping me anymore.
Hustle culture and burnout is so prominent in our community. How do you prioritize self care?:
I am a fan of being calmly productive and tending to my needs before engagement with the world: no early morning news, music, conversations, phone use. My morning routine is about increasing focused attention and the knowledge that inattention is the thief of brilliance... my goal is to be attuned to my genius. Everyone has areas of genius and I believe slowing down allows for these to be revealed.
Same goes for imposter syndrome. How do you combat those feelings (if any)?:
There is no such thing as 'imposter syndrome.' We live in a culture that medicalizes ordinary and normal thoughts. Fear of failure and fear of success the outcomes of what we learn in childhood. I believe, in many cases, fear of failure is also fear of humiliation and fear of success is fear of others' jealousy.
How do you stay connected to your culture, heritage, and community?:
I speak Spanish, listen to Puerto Rican and Spanish music, make the foods, and love to dance to Cumbia and Salsa. I also read Spanish-language books because my fluency in two languages is an homage to my parents and grandparents who told us being fluent in Spanish was important and valuable.
What would 18-year-old you say about where you are at in life now?:
18-year-old me would say I am very psychologically resilient and strong. She would be proud of grown-up me and how independent I am.
What accomplishment are you most proud of, both in your personal and professional life?:
In my personal life, I am very proud of being single and not dating because I am focusing fully on my current projects: coaching, writing, and creating monologue shows for women again. My work is essential to my sense of wellbeing and increases my positive emotions. In my culture, being single is not socially acceptable but it suits me for now. I am greedy for time and want to use it wisely.
Do you struggle more with committing to yourself or overcommitting to others? How has that shown up in your life?
I used to struggle to make commitments to myself because the Catholic ideals of selflessness with which I grew up make me feel selfish. As an adult, working with victims of trauma, I learned that selfcare was a selfless act because it helped me show up more patient, logical and calm. Being of service to others require that I do everything to care for all aspects of my self: spiritual, social, psychological, emotional, physical and financial.
Drink ☕
What is Odilia’s go-to drink?
I love a black eye (a coffee with two shots of espresso) with half and half - no sugar. After that black eye, my eyes are wide open for a full day of writing, thinking, and strategic planning.
Listening To 🎧
What is Odilia listening to at the moment?
I have been listening to a mix of Mala Rodriquez, Ana Tijoux and Maria Callas.
In the audiobook realm, I'm listening to One Unbounded Ocean of Consciousness by Dr. Rony Nadar and my favorite podcast is Huberman Lab.
Your Truth 🗣️
What is a Odilia’s truth?
I love helping people because it is a seed planted to provide intergenerational healing in the future. I am inspired by Ruth Simmons, the former president of Smith College, who grew up as a sharecroppers daughter and the youngest of 12 children, and became a highly accomplished scholar as well as a humble leader in education. I am find Ana Lydia Vega, the Puerto Rican scholar and professor, very inspiring for her independent spirit and writing books that cannot be translated.
Your Plug 🔌
What is Odilia plugging today?
My accomplishments: I hold a BA in comparative literature from Smith College, an MA, in applied positive psychology, from the University of Pennsylvania and taught basic education in native language to Spanish-speaking women in the South Bronx who were learning the alphabet for the first time.
More about Odilia Rivera-Santos
Odilia Rivera-Santos was born in Puerto Rico, and, at six, migrated to the mainland with her family. She began writing in Spanish and after she learned English, began writing in both languages. Ms. Rivera-Santos grew up in New York City and counts the NY Public Library as one of her best teachers. She is an author, coach, and public speaker. Her fiction, nonfiction, poetry, and artist interviews have appeared in print and online journals. She enjoys time with friends, in nature, and making magical things happen.
Fear-of-Success Coaching Month: A full month of prompts and encourage to take uncomfortable actions.