BEFORE INVESTING, I BET ON MYSELF: HOW IT ALL STARTED

When I look at a property, I usually imagine what it could become. I think about its potential, the work it requires, and the decisions that would turn that vision into something concrete. It’s a perspective I’ve developed over the years, though I now realize that my first real bet started long before any real estate project: it started with me.

To tell that story, I have to go back to Oaxaca—to my childhood and the experiences that shaped my character. That’s where my roots are, along with many of the reasons that still guide my decisions today. The loss of my father is part of that story. Talking about it means opening up an intimate part of my life, an absence that still holds a space in who I am.

We often describe our journeys through what’s most visible: the companies, the projects, the results. That narrative explains what we’ve done, but it leaves out much of what we had to live through and learn to get there. When I think back to my beginnings, I also remember the woman who was still figuring out what she was capable of.

I didn’t have the judgment or perspective I have today. That was built by working, listening, making mistakes, and having to answer for my decisions. There were things I learned on the fly, and others I could only understand with time and distance. Looking back allows me to recognize that without expecting that younger version of myself to know everything I know now.

Betting on myself meant giving my ideas a chance and taking responsibility for bringing them to life. It meant learning to value my work, speak up for what I wanted, and develop my own voice in business conversations. Confidence was built that way—step by step, through preparation, experience, and decisions that gradually taught me what I was capable of.

That confidence has evolved, too. Today, it includes knowing when I need advice, when something requires more analysis, or when an opportunity simply doesn’t align with my priorities. Understanding my limits helps me make better decisions and protect what I’ve built.

In real estate, this evolution is especially important. An investment can stay with you for years. It connects you to a location, partners, teams, and commitments that go far beyond signing a contract. The numbers are essential, but so is the quality of relationships and the ability to follow through on what was agreed upon.

My relationship with Oaxaca adds a deeply personal layer to that perspective. It’s where I come from and where a significant part of my work takes place. I know the emotional connection we can have with a home, a street, or a landscape. That’s why, when I look at a property’s potential, I’m also interested in understanding what makes it special and how it can retain that value as it transforms.

Over the years, my questions have grown deeper. Beyond asking if a project is viable, I think about the space it will occupy in my life: how much attention it will require, who I’ll be sharing the process with, and what commitments I’m truly in a position to take on. I’ve learned that my time and energy are also part of every investment.

Motherhood has brought those questions even further into focus. Building a business and raising my daughters are responsibilities that coexist every single day. That balance requires adjustments, organization, and a willingness to accept that there will be moments when I need to change my pace.

It also makes me think about what I want to pass on to them. When they look at my journey, I want them to see the effort and the capacity to keep learning. I want them to know that behind every decision, there are doubts, preparation, and conversations no one else sees. And I want them to value their own ideas without feeling like they need to have all the answers before they begin.

Sharing how my journey started has allowed me to pause and do something everyday work rarely leaves room for: acknowledging the path I’ve walked. Remembering the people who have been part of it, understanding certain decisions better, and looking at my beginnings with a bit more grace.

I still have projects, questions, and so much left to learn. The difference is that today, I have greater clarity about what I want to build—and what I need to protect along the way.

Before investing, I bet on myself. That initial decision remains present every time I take on a new challenge, review my priorities, or allow myself to start a new chapter.