We had the good fortune of connecting with Alita Haytayan Guillen and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Alita, how did you come up with the idea for your business?
As I transitioned from being a television news anchor and reporter to a media consultant to Fortune 100 executives, professional athletes and top Hollywood talent, I saw that top performers, like many of us, were in need of learning effective communication skills in order to connect with the public. My work became more focused on teaching and coaching clients how to master and merge their personal story with their passion. When we communicate, especially with a large audience, we find ourselves at our most vulnerable. It can be terrifying for many of us, even the most seasoned professionals. The key is to learn the how to align, trust, persuade, listen, and share our vulnerabilities in such a way that we make the right connections to truly communicate in any setting. When we become effective communicators, we find incredible success at work and harmony in our personal lives, and it makes us happier.

In an effort to inspire all of us to be better communicators, I launched the podcast 10 Seconds To Air. The podcast is an interview show with world class communicators from a variety of fields who share what goes through their mind 10 seconds before an impactful moment. This is something we all can relate to. Whether it’s speaking in front of an audience, giving a presentation at work, sending an email, or socializing, we all experience that moment of having to collect ourselves and perform, with the ultimate goal being alignment and connection. It’s inspiring to hear what goes through the minds of guests like, Tony Hale, Suze Orman, Sharon Salzberg, HotelTonight Founder Sam Shank, and CNBC Anchor Michelle Caruso-Cabrera, as well as professional athletes and best-selling authors.

What should our readers know about your business?
My job has two facets, one where I teach and one where I learn, and I love both equally.

As an executive and talent communications coach, I help professional athletes, award winning artists, high-profile television personalities, and C-suite executives become super-communicators in any setting.

As the host of the podcast 10 Seconds To Air, I interview world class communicators from a variety of fields, who share their mindset and work in an intimate and inspiring conversation.

I’d say the biggest lesson I’ve learned along the way is to trust myself. When times get hard, and they will, we tend to look for external sources to find a solution. I have learned that ultimately we are our best guide. It is important to consult with others and collect information and advice, but the real answers will come from within us, from our vulnerabilities, drives and passions. There’s no expert better expert on you than you, as long as you are honest, curious and humble.
When my son was little he asked me, “who is the smartest person on earth?”, I replied: “The smartest person on earth is the person who knows they don’t know everything.” This is how I approach my work and my life. As a journalist, coach or podcast host, I take every interaction as an opportunity to learn something new.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
#1) Hauser & Wirth – The downtown art gallery has built a reputation for its dedication to artists and support of visionary artistic projects worldwide. Located in the Arts district, it has many cool spaces featuring new artists, and a great restaurant, Manuela, where you can unwind after visiting the gallery.

#2) Sushi – Sushi is a must while visiting LA. Yume in Studio City is hand-down the best sushi restaurant around. Last time I was there Javier Bardem was dining in the window seat. The word is out on this place, so you need to make a reservation.

#3)Tujunga Village – There are so few pedestrian-friendly neighborhoods in LA. In Tujunga Village you get to pop into some eclectic boutiques and have coffee at a sidewalk café. An all time favorite is Aroma Café with its expansive menu, delicious display of pastries, and garden seating. If you just want coffee, head a few doors down to Giorla Cafe, the city’s best kept secret.

#5) Los Lions to Paseo Miramar Trail – Begin at Los Lines and then connect to Paseo Miramar for a challenging out and back climb with spectacular ocean views.

#6) The Beach – I love Laguna Beach for the water and the village. My favorite beaches are Shaws Cove Beach and Crystal Cove State Park. Pick up lunch and bring it with you. You won’t want to leave!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My mother is absolutely the first person in my life who impacted my success. She was the original super communicator. Her emotional intelligence and ability to connect with others was off the charts. She listened well, found common ground and shared laughs with all kinds of people. Her optimism in even the most challenging situations as well as her belief that you can do anything you want in life has guided me through many challenging moments.

The next person who impacted my success was the longtime newsman, Listo Fisher. I had the opportunity to work for him at WRKO Radio in Boston, just out of college. He encouraged my curiosity and pushed me to organically explore journalism. Among other tasks, he had me read the same news story from several sources and then discuss the differences with him. It made me question the credibility of sources and the responsibility of a news organization that I continue to do today.

Website: www.alitaguillen.com

Instagram: @10secondstoair (&) @AlitaKGuillen

Linkedin: Alita Haytayan Guillen

Twitter: @alitakguillen

Yelp: Alita H.

Youtube: @10secondstoair

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutLA is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.