Make Space for Growth Podcast

Sara Vicente Barreto
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The Make Space for Growth Podcast is a space to talk about growth - in business, at home and with the family, or in your community. The show is hosted by Sara Vicente Barreto, a corporate strategist, problem solver, social entrepreneur, writer and mum of 2. Sara is passionate about growth and has created the Make Space for Growth community, bringing her authentic experience across areas of life.

  1. JAN 30

    Building Wellness with Grit with Alicia Vivanco

    In this episode of Make Space for Growth, Sara Vicente Barreto sits down with Alicia Vivanco, founder and CEO of Holos, a wellness company helping people feel better—so they can live and work better. From national dance competitions in Peru to a career in engineering at IBM, Alicia's path to entrepreneurship was far from linear. She shares how grit, clarity, and consistency helped her pivot through personal and professional challenges—including nearly going bankrupt and becoming a mom of twins—while scaling a wellness platform now active across Peru and Mexico. Tune in to hear her reflections on leadership, wellness as fuel, and why building something meaningful requires showing up, even when life gets messy.

    43 min

  2. 07/11/2025

    Becoming a Business Woman with Anais Cisneros

    In this episode of the Make Space for Growth podcast, Sara Vicente Barreto sits down with Anais Cisneros, co-founder of Amela, a private network designed to uplift entrepreneurs—especially women—by helping them build, fund, and scale their ventures. From growing up in Peru with her nose buried in books to moving to Europe at 17 and building a global career across consulting, tech, and venture capital, Anais's story is a testament to preparation, resilience, and purpose. Together, Sara and Anais explore why no amount of preparation is ever truly enough, the power of building networks early, and how decisiveness and empathy shape Anais's leadership style. This conversation goes beyond strategy—into joy, flow, and the small rituals that keep Anais grounded as she builds a platform to help founders leapfrog the hardest parts of entrepreneurship. Tune in for wisdom on preparing for the journey, choosing your hard, and staying clear on your why.

    46 min

  3. 06/06/2025

    Transforming Tech Education with Dora Palfi

    What does it take to reimagine how we teach tech to the next generation? Dora Palfi, co-founder of Imagi, joins me on the Make Space for Growth podcast to share her powerful journey—from neuroscience student to edtech founder breaking boundaries in inclusive computer science education. In this episode, we explore: ✅ How Imagi began as a coding app and charm for girls and evolved into a global edtech platform ✅ Why AI literacy and ethical tech education are central to the classroom of the future ✅ Lessons Dora has learned as a first-time founder—from time blocking to "clarity is kindness" ✅ What it means to lead from purpose, not perfection ✅ How breaking self-imposed limits is shaping Dora's entrepreneurial path   You can also listen wherever you get your podcasts or read the full blog on makespaceforgrowth.com   Explore Imagi: https://imagi.com Follow Dora on LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/dorapalfi

    38 min

  4. 05/17/2025

    Chief Everything Officer with Joana Trigueiros

    In this episode of Make Space for Growth, I speak with Joana Trigueiros, CEO of Maray—a Portuguese shoe brand rooted in heritage, purpose, and bold design. Joana is not only a remarkable entrepreneur but also my business partner and lifelong friend, which made this conversation even more meaningful. We cover: ✅ How Joana balanced a full-time executive role at Danone while launching Maray ✅ What it really means to be a "Chief Everything Officer" ✅ Her people-first approach to business and leadership ✅ The brand's origin in her family's shoe shop ✅ Her word of the year: Brave Whether you're launching a business or redefining what success looks like, this is a must-listen. 🔗 Full episode notes: [Insert blog link] Quote to remember: "What would you do if you were not afraid?"   #MakeSpaceForGrowth #ChiefEverythingOfficer #JoanaTrigueiros #MarayShoes #WomenInBusiness #FemaleFounders #FootwearDesign #Entrepreneurship #ResilientLeadership

    48 min

  5. 03/20/2025

    Turning Ideas into Action with Katia Yakovleva

    How do you turn a real-life pain point into a thriving business? Can you keep the human element in an AI-driven business? In this episode of Make Space for Growth, I sit down with Katia Yakovleva, co-founder of ContentRadar.ai, to talk about: ✅ Her journey from marketing at Coca-Cola to being one of the first 150 employees at Spotify ✅ The challenges and lessons of building an AI-powered marketing tool ✅ Balancing automation and human creativity in content marketing ✅ Why finding the right co-founder and early clients makes all the difference Katya's story is a masterclass in execution, resilience, and innovation. Tune in to hear how she's redefining content marketing and what AI means for the future of work!

    27 min

  6. 02/19/2025

    Surrender to Flow with Marta Palmeiro

    🚀 In this episode of Make Space for Growth, I sit down with Marta Palmeiro, co-founder of Student Finance, to explore her journey from investment banking to entrepreneurship, the challenges of funding a high-impact fintech startup, and the role of AI in the future of work.   🎧 Marta's story is one of resilience, adaptability, and a deep commitment to bridging the skills gap in today's fast-changing job market. Through Student Finance, she is helping individuals upskill in high-demand fields like AI, engineering, and the green economy—all while ensuring financial accessibility through innovative funding models.   In this episode, we cover: ✅ How Marta transitioned from banking to fintech and impact-driven entrepreneurship ✅ The challenges of building a business with an entirely new business model ✅ How AI is transforming both Student Finance and the broader job market ✅ The importance of flexibility and self-reflection in leadership ✅ Marta's vision for the future of upskilling and workforce transformation   📖 Marta's book recommendation: Surrender to Flow by Phyllis Lane 💡 Favorite quote: "If you're offered a seat on a rocket ship, don't ask what seat. Just get on." – Sheryl Sandberg 🔑 Word of the year: Freedom   🔗 Listen now and join the conversation! 💬 What did you find most inspiring about Marta's journey? Drop your thoughts in the comments! 📢 Subscribe to Make Space for Growth for more inspiring conversations with female entrepreneurs and leaders!

    54 min

  7. SEASON 4 TRAILER

    Strength - Launching Season 4

    Season 4 of Make Space for Growth is here, and this time we're exploring the theme of Strength. Hosted by Sara Vicente Barreto, this podcast celebrates the resilience, bold decisions, and leadership that drive women entrepreneurs and leaders to thrive in both business and life. In this kickoff episode, Sara reflects on the personal and professional dimensions of strength, offering insights into what it means to navigate challenges and create impact. She also previews the incredible lineup of guests joining this season, including Marta Palmeiro of Student Finance, Katia Yakovleva of ContentRadar, and Carmen Alfonso Rico of Cocoa Ventures. Together, they'll share stories of determination, transformation, and growth. Whether you're seeking inspiration, actionable advice, or just a moment to reflect, Season 4 is packed with empowering conversations to help you embrace your own strength and make space for growth. Tune in and join the journey! 🎙️

    4 min

  8. 01/19/2024 · BONUS

    The importance of having fun with Carmen Alfonso Rico

    You can feel the energy in the voice or the video. It is contagious. A breath of fresh air in a world that is almost afraid of joy. That is how I felt coming out of recording the new season of the podcast with Carmen Alfonso Rico. It is not every day that you meet someone who is unapologetic about having fun and enjoying what she is doing.   Kicking off with politics Carmen wanted to be the US Secretary of State when she was a little girl. Note she was not a US national or living in the US, but that did not seem to stop her. Serendipity determined she would start her career in politics, in the middle of the PIGS crisis. What she most learnt that stayed with her was the human aspect of the industry. The work was very human-driven, which aligned with Carmen's goals.   London and Finance Carmen is quick to affirm her life is not a straight line. As she wanted to grow and learn more, she realized a lot of her peers had moved to London to work in Finance, so she decided to follow along and "served" her time in Investment Banking. Despite the clear change in seniority level, she did learn the value of attention to detail, translating it into a responsibility when you are entrusted with someone's business. We share a few stories on our focus on the colour of charts or the spacing between words. I am not always proud of it, but Carmen's interpretation certainly makes me feel better.   Finding out what you do not like Carmen wanted to keep moving and go into what she thought would be her future - being an entrepreneur. First, she got herself into VC and then decided to go on to become a tech entrepreneur. Against her expectations, she did not like it and she also missed investing. She preferred to cover many things rather than a single thing very deeply. For a moment, I thought it was me talking I must admit. She came to the conclusion she preferred the variety of content and took that as she moved her career forward.   Serendipity and opportunity As Carmen found her way back into the VC world, she stumbled across the Hopin opportunity. That is when she first started being an angel investor. But not just any angel investor. Carmen built a unique relationship of trust with the founder, working alongside him in a very collaborative manner. She truly enjoyed becoming the trusted advisor and went on to do more angel investments.   Seeding Killers with a Heart Carmen saw the opportunity to scale up the angel investments she was doing into a business model. Counter-intuitively, she went back on the cap table by moving to the seed stage of the companies to focus intensely on the "power of small", as she calls it. Why Killers with a Heart? Carmen has a strong preference for companies that are solving a very painful pain and have a high amount of customer love, almost like a cult. As to the Killers part, she did learn in banking that you can be delivering but still be kind, so that is part of her due diligence process. Over time, the importance she placed on IQ and EQ was a journey of acceptance of what truly mattered in making a business successful.   Energy from fun For Carmen, a good day will start early and have exercise, reading a book, meeting great founders and hosting people. This will give a good perspective of what matters to her. As I tried to understand what drives her energy, her response no doubt surprised me: "I'm obsessed" It is the fun and energy she puts into things that drive the enjoyment that you hear in her voice. And she reminds herself of the importance of having fun before every meeting, no matter how big or small. She does it with immense conviction that she has found her superpower and is joyful about living it.    When I came out of the podcast, a smile of energy lightened me up on a day that had started very gloomy. And more importantly, I felt connected, and just a bit more normal. Passion and obsession are more common than we think sometimes.   Carmen's List Advice: Find your superpower Book: The Power Law (Non-Fiction), Pushing Past the Night (Fiction) Quote: Function in disaster, finish in style Word of the Year: Growth   Stay connected Meet Carmen on Linkedin Join the Make Space for Growth newsletter and newly launched Linkedin Group Follow me on Linkedin, Instagram or Twitter

    1h 1m
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About

The Make Space for Growth Podcast is a space to talk about growth - in business, at home and with the family, or in your community. The show is hosted by Sara Vicente Barreto, a corporate strategist, problem solver, social entrepreneur, writer and mum of 2. Sara is passionate about growth and has created the Make Space for Growth community, bringing her authentic experience across areas of life.

Information

  • Creator
    Sara Vicente Barreto
  • Years Active
    2020 - 2026
  • Episodes
    37
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Sara Vicente Barreto
  • Show Website
    Make Space for Growth Podcast