How I Got Here
Hola! I’m María Eugenia, a Latina social entrepreneur with an innate drive and a sí se puede attitude — fully committed to helping Latinos reach their true potential. I truly believe that Yes, You Can thrive!
After nearly two decades of working with different programs and organizations to help Latinos improve their lives, I realized there was a need for a solution that could create sustainable impact.
Personal development is the key to continued success.
So, nearly eight years ago, I took a leap of faith and founded VisiónYes to provide personal development coaching to Latinos who feel stuck. It’s been a long journey, but through education, work, and persistence, I am fulfilling my dream of helping others discover their worth and true potential to create the life they deserve.
Better yet, the impact that I can have on people’s lives through my program has made all of the hard work absolutely worth it.
How It All Began
Our story began as VisiónYes, a social enterprise (L3C) dedicated to helping Latinos discover their potential and believe in themselves again.
As our signature program, Sí Puedes, grew and touched lives across different communities, something beautiful happened — the name Sí Puedes became the heart of who we are. People began identifying not with the organization behind it, but with the message itself: You can do it.
So today, we are embracing that name officially.
Sí Puedes, Inc. continues the same mission with a renewed identity — now as a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, creating greater opportunities to expand our reach and impact.
Having grown up in poverty, I know all too well the negative messaging we often hear — “college is not for the poor” or “the answer is no because you are poor.” Thankfully, I was surrounded by people like my grandparents, who constantly reminded me of my worth and dignity as a human being. They taught me that I could accomplish anything if I was willing to work for it — with purpose and faith — and they were right!
This experience led me to decide at an early age that I would work hard to obtain the education I needed to lift myself out of poverty and to achieve my dreams. I also knew that someday I wanted to give back to my community — and that’s what I have been doing for the last two decades.
Do you know why?
Because we all have the talents to achieve our dreams, we just need to learn how to unlock what is holding us back so we can move forward!
Sí Puedes represents the key that unlocks the “Yes, it is possible” for Latinos. I created it to help others discover their true potential so that they may thrive. After decades of academic accomplishments and dedicated work with various organizations, it was the right time to launch this effort to make a sustainable difference in people’s lives.
The Sí Puedes program has its roots in my graduate studies in Psychology, Nonprofit Management, and Business Administration.
The lessons I use to coach my clients toward success are drawn from this education. Using actionable tools and techniques, I aim to empower Latinos who are struggling personally and professionally — helping them recognize their potential and worth. With that self-knowledge, they can create a better life for themselves and their families.
As an immigrant arriving in the U.S. as an adult, I know what it’s like to start over — learning a new language, adapting to a new culture, searching for work, continuing my education. It hasn’t been easy, but I’ve turned those challenges into the fuel for a purpose much bigger than any obstacle. Sí Puedes’ mission is worth the effort!
Before founding Sí Puedes, I worked for five years at UnidosUS and more than a decade as Vice President at the National Hispanic Council on Aging (NHCOA). My work promoting the well-being of Hispanic older adults and their families strengthened my commitment to helping our community. During my graduate studies in psychology, I took a sabbatical from NHCOA to develop the research project that would eventually become Sí Puedes.
As I explored personal development as a tool for success, I became convinced that this was the most sustainable way to help others.
My work is not about reaching a numbers goal; it’s about helping Latinos discover their fullest potential. I work with my clients to uncover what is holding them back and how to overcome it so that they gain the confidence they need to pursue their dreams.
I truly believe that change starts with the individual.
I hope that through the Sí Puedes personal-development program, I can be an instrument of change for Latinos who feel stuck — helping them unleash their talents and build the stability that they and their families deserve.
I’m still inspired by my grandparents, who instilled in me determination and a love of God, neighbor, and self. Their example of generosity — giving even when they had so little — guides me every day. I’m blessed to have a husband who reinforces this message with his selfless support and tireless work behind the scenes to ensure that Sí Puedes’ personal-development efforts continue to help others grow.
Come and be a part of this enriching and exciting journey — it is worth it…I promise.
