Today we’d like to introduce you to Ayleen Garcia Hernandez.
Hi Ayleen, so excited to have you on the platform. So, before we get into questions about your work life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today.
I decided to start my own business due to the lack of bilingual providers in our field since I represent only the 8% of minority Speech Language Pathologists in the field. Out of that 8%, about 6% of members in our national association, ASHA, speak a second language. If we think about these percentages and the growth that minority communities have had in the last 10 years, we are very behind in having sufficient bilingual providers to serve them. Consequently, I began to research everything about small businesses and read books. After I had a basic understanding, I knew I had to put myself out there and seek the mentorship of other private practice owners who also provided bilingual services. I began networking and eventually met with a few private practice owners in the area who were kind, humble, and willing to answer all of my questions. With the goal in mind to serve minority families, learning about small businesses, and seeking mentorship from other private practice owners, Farfalla Therapy was born.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way? Looking back, would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
I believe that anyone who starts a business would tell you, “No, it has not been an easy road, but it is worth it.” My first challenge was with myself because I would tell myself I don’t have a business degree, and that degree has nothing to do with business. That was the biggest challenge to tell myself; it’s okay; you can do it! Then, the next challenge was to understand how a business like the one I want works and what do I have to do to have one. As I started the process, I began to learn and ask questions to the right people. I used my outgoing personality to my advantage and began to reach out to colleagues to ask them how did you do it? After all, the rest is history. I am still working trough my challenges because now I understand that I will always have them; they are not going to stop; the only difference is how I will approach each challenge that life throws at me. There have been great days in which I am jumping like a crazy woman, and there have been days that I am crying in bed. I have learned to be okay with that, and it is part of the process of becoming an entrepreneur.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
I own a pediatric bilingual therapy practice. I conduct bilingual evaluations and therapy in the areas of language, speech, and feeding development. Additionally, I conduct professional consultations with parents and other professionals. I believe my business sets me apart from other private practices because I am able to conduct services in two languages: Spanish & English. I am able to connect with many families because I have seen that some of my minority families feel more comfortable in sharing their struggles in their native language. It is already hard enough to navigate a situation in which families are being told their children are not meeting developmental milestones and on top of that be unable to fully express their concerns, worries, and fears to medical providers due to a language barrier. I am so happy to be the one able to breach that barrier and listen, help, advocate, and educate as many families as possible.
What has been the most important lesson you’ve learned along your journey?
That I am stronger than I think and to never give up. Regardless of what life throws at me, I am strong. That I can figure things out even if it seems like an impossible challenge.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.farfallatherapy.com
- Other: https://www.instagram.com/farfalla.therapy/
