We had the good fortune of connecting with Yvonne Armenta and we’ve shared our conversation below.
Hi Yvonne, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
The most important value to me is empathy, the ability to understand and share the feelings of another.
Empathy is how I stay connected to what matters most to me, people. It centers both understanding, and what already comes naturally to us, our “human-ness”. It doesn’t shy away from my imperfections, instead empathy helps me embrace them.
As a storyteller, particularly through public speaking, it’s how I stay connected to my audience to build deeper connections and relationships centered around a collective idea. As a Public Speaking Creative that helps others love and cultivate their voice through the art of public speaking, empathy allows me to recognize that because everyone has a different story, upbringing, and perspective, their comfort levels and experience with public speaking will vary. I know exactly how they need me to show up for them because I understand their feelings.
Everytime someone interacts with me, it’s important that they know that even if we’ve lived different lives, love different foods, or listen to different music, we can connect and I will make the effort to empathize. Always.
I am a better daughter, sister, friend, companion, creative, and business woman, because I can understand and share the feelings of others.
When in doubt, I “Keep calm, and Empathy on.”
Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
When I was younger, I always thought I’d grow up to be a teacher because I loved my teachers in elementary school and I wanted to be just like them. I could see myself being a really cool English teacher. Then, when I was in high school and it was time to really explore what I wanted to study in college, I had many more ideas (too many to be honest) about what I could do. It was quite overwhelming and I decided to apply to college as an “undecided” major because I was truly undecided. Everything interested me and I also had no idea what I was getting myself into because I was the first in my family even considering college.
When I finally got there, I took psychology classes, peace & conflict studies, and I also took media studies and ethnic studies classes. I was a little all over the place, but when it was time to really decide on a major, the common theme between all of the classes I had taken was my love for people. I was interested in understanding the human experience more deeply and later also realized that the way businesses and most institutions ran, were not reflective or even safe spaces for the kinds of human experiences I was learning about and experiencing myself. How could we make businesses more empathetic and welcoming environments for everyone? Why have we decided that a specific revenue model is the best way to operate and have we considered the communities it impacts? Is someone not good at public speaking? Or have they been made to think that way because they don’t see themselves represented in what society deems “successful” speakers?
All of these questions have led me to where I am today. I studied Media Studies and Native American studies at UC Berkeley, worked in the Events marketing, Learning & Development, & Diversity, Equity, & Inclusion spaces afterwards and then landed in Internal Communications, while also pursuing and graduating with a Masters in Business Administration from San Jose State University. I still sound all over the place don’t I?!
My work today focuses on Public Speaking. It’s my passion to help others cultivate their voice through the art of public speaking because throughout my entire journey of trying to figure out what I wanted to do with my life, public speaking has both been an outlet and a motivator to keep going. Sharing our stories, knowledge, and expertise with the world is important. Feeling confident in ourselves despite not being represented accurately in the spaces we’re a part of, is important. Every single one of us, is important. Through my work with Chats with Yvonne I aim to inspire more people in my community to embrace everything that sets us apart and shine a light on it. I don’t look to help make you a perfect public speaker. I look to help create authentic, confident, and passionate human beings that love to share their voices with others because sharing stories has always been how we learn from and connect with one another.
Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I’m a coffee lover! So, we’d probably start our day off at a local coffee shop. One of my favorites in Richmond, CA is Catahoula Coffee. My favorite drink is their Cubano Latte with oat milk and I love going there because there’s always a cheesy coffee joke on the bulletin board. It’s just the best way to start the day. On most weekends, I’ll grab a coffee from there and head over to the Richmond Marina for a nice walk.
If you’re into it, we may head over to Sausalito for kayaking. Imagine being almost directly under the Bay bridge, surrounded by seals, and the sound of ocean waves. It’s so soothing! For lunch, I’m thinking Mission Street in San Francisco. No taquerias are better than the one’s here. There, I said it.
On one day we might even do a brewery hop through the cities of Berkeley & Oakland. Let’s visit Gilman Brewing, Feildwork, & Drake’s Dealership.
And of course, I can’t let you leave the Bay Area without visiting Pier 39, the Golden Gate Bridge, and Dolores Park at least once, but don’t worry we’ll do less touristy things like a hidden garden that I know about because of school field trips, one of my favorite restaurants, Yamo. Their garlic noodles are the best!
Whatever we do, just know there will be food, views, and good conversation!
Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
A huge Shout-Out to all of the teachers throughout my years in school that saw potential in me, encouraged, and cultivated it. In particular, Ms. Nancy Obregón, who helped me feel proud of my culture and encouraged I lead with it from a very young age and Abby Benedetto, who has become a life-long mentor in my journey as a public speaker and someone that constantly reminds me of my light when I even think of dimming it.
To my mom, thank you for being the example of what it’s like to be a determined woman and to my siblings, thank you for being the fuel I need to keep going. To my friends (you know who you are), thank you for listening to my rants about all the things I love and encouraging me to keep pursuing my dreams.
Your love and support doesn’t go unnoticed.
Website: https://snipfeed.co/chatswithyvonne
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chatswithyvonne_/
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yvonne-armenta
Twitter: https://twitter.com/chatswithyvonne?s=21
Youtube: https://youtube.com/channel/UC5nyRbYpRrQZcvcKkk0Ozqg
Other: Ponte Perra Affirmations Podcast: https://anchor.fm/ponteperra/episodes/Strengthen-Your-Self-Love-e17tp6j Chats with Yvonne Podcast: https://anchor.fm/chatswithyvonne/episodes/A-Chat-with-Fabio-Pea–Founder-of-Pea-Consulting-e152408/a-a1pvtc
Image Credits
Graduation Picture – Luis Cubas Photography (@_luiscubas)