Hey y’all,
How are we feeling today? Hope you're doing well and staying inspired 💫
I’ve been reflecting lately on the journey that brought me to where I am now - being able to travel the world, run my own creative businesses, and live life on my own terms. And if I trace it back, so much of it started during my time at UCLA.
In college, I was obsessed with learning and gaining experience. I interned at 8 companies - from Warner Bros, 20th Century Fox, CAA, and AwesomenessTV to 4 early-stage startups. I was young, hungry, and deeply curious. During my junior year, I was juggling four internships across fall and spring — all while serving as VP of Social Affairs for my entrepreneurship fraternity.
Looking back, I realize: my path has always been about learning + doing.
When I graduated, I had two offers on the table:
→ A dream corporate job at Disney
→ Or the chance to be employee #1 at a VC-backed mental health startup.
It was one of the hardest decisions of my life. But I knew I wanted to take risks while I was young - and optimize for learning. So I bet on the startup.
I believed in the founder - her vision, her grit, her track record. I knew she was someone I could grow with and learn from. While I was there, the company got featured in Forbes, Oprah Magazine, TODAY, TechCrunch, Refinery29, The Skimm, Well+Good, KTLA, and more.
That one decision changed everything.
After just a year, I launched my own creative businesses - and soon after, I was partnering with brands like KIND, BuzzFeed, Marriott, and others. I reinvested that income into my travel YouTube channel, which has now taken me to over 40 countries.
At the same time, I started consulting for creators, founders, and mission-driven brands — helping them clarify their content strategy, grow their presence, and land aligned partnerships. I’ve also managed creators with a combined following of 2M+, helping them build sustainable businesses around their creativity.
Just this week, a friend asked me:
“Ysabel, I’m feeling a bit lost. I don’t know what I should be focusing on right now — especially when it comes to content.”
Here’s what I told her:
1. Get clear on your values.
What kind of life do you actually want to build? What matters to you - not to your friends, mentors, or IG feed - but to you?
2. Optimize for learning.
Knowledge is power. Yes, learn by doing — but also learn from people who’ve walked the path you want to be on.
But more than anything, I could tell it wasn’t strategy she was lacking — it was mindset.
So I want to share the same mindset shifts that helped me build a life and career that feels deeply aligned — and that still guide me to this day. These lessons came from my startup experience, where I learned what it really takes to build something from the ground up.
💭 5 Mindset Shifts That Changed My Life
1. Optimize for learning, not titles.
Your biggest asset isn’t your status - it’s your knowledge. I knew I'd learn 10x more at a startup than climbing the wrong ladder too early.
2. Bet on people, not just roles.
I joined the startup because I believed in the founder and her background. Study who you’re learning from.
When it feels aligned? Go all in.
3. Get clear on your values.
Clarity doesn’t come from overthinking. It comes from action.
Misalignment isn’t failure - it’s feedback. Every step reveals more about the life that’s truly meant for you.
4. Be proactive. Build from scratch.
No one hands you the playbook.
You pitch. You build. You adapt.
That creative ownership? It still fuels everything I do today.
5. When it’s hard — keep going.
There were chaotic, stressful moments.
But with the right team and shared mission, pressure turns into momentum.
These lessons live inside every business I’ve built - including Global Dream Team.
I know my path isn't universal — not everyone has access to top universities or feels like they can take years to experiment. But these mindset shifts apply at any stage. If sharing my journey can help someone else take their next step? That's why I'm here.
If this resonated with you — and you’re someone who values growth, creativity, and living a life aligned with your purpose — here are a couple next steps:
👉 Fill out this interest form – Tell me what you’re working on and what’s been challenging for you. I read every response personally.
👉 Book a coffee chat – If you're ready to explore how I can support you through Global Dream Team, I’d love to connect 1:1.
👉 Or feel free to email me or DM me on Instagram if you have a quick question or want to talk next steps.
Either way, I hope this gave you something to think about. Let me know if you’re enjoying these — I love writing them and hearing your reflections. 💌
With love,
Ysabel, Founder Global Dream Team
