Von Marie Moniz: Latina powerhouse of the South Coast
As a first generation Dominican, Von Marie takes great pride in who she is and where she came from. She draws strength and inspiration from those who came before her, including her mom, and strives to be the best version of herself in all aspects of her life. If you know Von Marie, you know she always has a smile to offer and a project (or 3!) in the works. She cares deeply for her community, her culture, and her family, and is always coming up with new and exciting ways to demonstrate that. Her most recent project is a networking group for Latinas in the South Coast. As a fervent member of our community bookclub and an organizer of some of our most loved food events (along with Francesca Martin) Von Marie is a valued member of our Groundwork community, and the South Coast community as a whole. Can she be a bit of a coffee snob? Sure. But once she gets that fist sip of (good) coffee, she’s ready to take on the world!
What is your profession?
I am the program manager for Entrepreneurship for All (EforAll) South Coast, which is a nonprofit organization that helps entrepreneurs start, grow, or pivot their business by providing business classes, mentorship and tiny seed funding, all for free!
I am also the owner, wedding and event planner of Von Marie Co. and the founder of Latinas in the South Coast, a group offering networking opportunities and resources for Latina entrepreneurs and professionals.
Describe a typical work day for you.
A typical work day for me varies depending on the day but it almost always begins with a warm cup of coffee made by Talia at Groundwork, checking emails, and thinking of different ways to support our entrepreneurs.
What is the biggest challenge you face at your job?
I am very fortunate to have a job that is very flexible, supportive, and that I really truly enjoy doing. Our program is very competitive and at times choosing the cohort can be difficult. We have so many great entrepreneurs in the South Coast and I wish we could take them all in!
Do you have a morning routine?
My morning routine can be a little hectic. I have two kids and two dogs at home. My morning consists of being woken up by my six year old anywhere between 5:30a-6:30am, getting the kids ready for school, making my way to Groundwork, and having that first sip of coffee.
What are your favorite productivity tips or hacks?
I live by my calendar. If it’s not on my calendar, the likelihood of missing something is very high so in order to have an equal work/life balance, I schedule time for myself and family time. I add everything to the calendar to make sure that the time is blocked.
Another great productivity tip that I love to use is using a “To-Do List” but not to add all of my things to do on it right away. I keep my to-do list, 3-5 things long, this way I don’t end up with a million things on my list with only a few things checked off. It makes me feel a little more accomplished and focused!
What do you listen to during the day?
I loooooooooove Reggaeton. I’m always listening to my Apple playlist which includes A LOT of Bad Bunny.
How do you benefit from using a coworking space?
Using the coworking space is extremely helpful to my productivity. I am able to hunker down and focus on the tasks at hand and when I need a little break, I have so many great people within the space to have a little chat with to recharge!
What’s in your digital toolbox?
Because I do a lot of social media management and content creation, I love using Airtable to keep things organized and Canva to create the content.
What is the best part of your day?
Oooh, the best part of my day would have to be when I come home to have dinner with the kiddos. My days are so busy, but I’ve learned to leave that at the door. While the kids are awake, my attention and time is all for them.
What (or who) inspires you?
My mom. Kind of cliche I know, but I grew up as a first generation Dominican American, with a mother who was brave enough to move at 18 years old to this country with the love of her life and while not knowing the language, she still hustled to make ends meet and beyond. She worked her butt off to give us the best possible life, opportunities and experiences, and was also able to always make time for us, nurtured us and loved us the best way that she could. I aspire to be as hardworking and loving as her.
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