What does success look like when the version you were taught no longer feels aligned?

In this episode, Sara sits down with Melissa Gallardo, founder and CEO of Valorosa Candles, a culturally inspired home fragrance brand rooted in Latin traditions, identity, and belonging.

Together, they explore what it means to grow up first generation while navigating assimilation, identity, and the pressure to fit into definitions of success that were never fully our own. Melissa shares how growing up as a Salvadorian-American in a predominantly white community shaped her relationship with culture, language, and home and how building her business became an unexpected journey back to herself.

From climbing the corporate ladder and landing the “dream job” to realizing fulfillment couldn’t be found in titles alone, Melissa opens up about taking the leap into entrepreneurship, redefining success on her own terms, and building something deeply aligned with purpose, impact, and community.

This conversation is a reminder that success is not always linear and sometimes the bravest thing we can do is give ourselves permission to choose differently.

In this episode, we talk about:
• Growing up first generation and navigating identity across cultures
• Assimilation, belonging, and reclaiming cultural roots
• Building a business inspired by nostalgia, home, and Latinidad
• Letting go of traditional definitions of success

Because success isn’t always about reaching the top. It’s about creating a life that feels like home.