Celebrate Hispanic Pride with the Ultimate Poderosa

Our proud Latina founder Adriana Carrig transformed a basement beading experiment into a brand beloved by millions. Her secret sauce? The ultimate poderosa—her mama. Read more in this exclusive excerpt from Adriana’s new book, The Power of Little Words.

My mother is a Mexican American who came to this country when she was eighteen years old with only a dream. She describes her upbringing as one filled with struggle; a reality made clear with each visit we made to the place she called home. When I would lose sight of my path in life, my mom would remind me of her journey, reinforcing the knowledge that if she could do that, then I could do anything—I could be anything.

Any time I’ve felt excluded—be it at the lunch
table as a teen or now while networking in an ultra-competitive environment—I am grounded by my mom. By her daily support of me but also by the lessons she has instilled in me. She knows what it’s like to be an outsider. She’s from a different country, speaking a second language. Throughout her life she has often been made to feel less than. Her resilience gives me so much strength and is proof that it is possible to overcome rejection. She has taught me how to embrace my differences and still fit in.

My mother has helped me develop a muscle of using negativity to fuel me. When someone put me down, she encouraged me to prove them wrong. When I witnessed cruelty among others, she always urged me to speak up for what was right. She urges me to consider the plight of those around me and to never exclude someone because of what I think I know about them. To never exclude someone, period. 

Want to keep reading? Snag a copy of Adriana’s book, The Power of Little Words, launching September 17th!

Pre-order here!