Evolve with Flaka

ItsFlakaG
  • 5.0 (2)
  • CAREERS
  • UPDATED WEEKLY

Welcome to Evolve with Flaka - the go-to show for career growth, confidence, and comunidad. I’m Flaka, your HR Mami and host of this incredible podcast. I am an HR pro by day, an immigrant advocate always, and after my 9-5, I am a coach to professionals chasing más in work and in life. If you’ve ever questioned your worth, felt stuck at your job, or wondered how to juggle motherhood, ambition, and cultura - you’re in the right place.

Episodes

  1. 11/22/2025

    EP. 5: Not Broken, Brilliant, A Latina Moms Autism Journey

    I’ve worn many hats in my life — HR leader, career coach, nonprofit founder — but the hat that has shaped me the most is the one I never expected: autism mom. And in this week’s episode, I take off the HR hat and speak from the most vulnerable, powerful part of me — motherhood. Autism isn’t something you prepare for. There’s no manual, no perfect parenting script, and no “right” way to do it. You learn through tears, confusion, joy, fear, and more patience than you ever imagined you had. And if you’re a Latina mom, you already know that this journey comes with extra layers — cultural stigma, delayed diagnoses, language barriers, and systems that weren’t built with our families in mind. In this episode, I walk you through the very start of my son’s journey — the early signs, the missed milestones, the evaluations, the pushback from pediatricians, the ECI process, the missteps in the school system, and finally… the autism diagnosis. I share the moment my vision of motherhood shattered and rebuilt itself into something more resilient and more sacred. I also talk about how becoming an autism mom transformed my career. My HR work became more human-centered. My leadership became more inclusive. My advocacy at work became stronger — because everything I do now is rooted in the future I want for my son. If you are an autism mom, a Latina mom, or a mamá who feels overwhelmed and guilty for wanting both a thriving family and a thriving career… this episode is for you. You are not alone. You are your child’s best advocate. And your baby is not broken — they are brilliant, wired for something powerful, and deserving of a world that understands them. Let’s walk this journey together, mamá. Autism statistics & diagnosis realities for Latino families Early Childhood Intervention (ECI) ARD/IEP school meetings and parent advocacy tips Understanding autism strengths, hyperfocus, and developmental differences Resources Mentioned:The Estresada to Employed Workbook Follow Flaka on: Instagram @‌hr.mami   Instagram: @itsflakag TikTok: @itsflakag YouTube: Flaka Martinez  LinkedIn: Janet Martinez  Website:https://www.hrmami.com/  How to work with Flaka: Sign up for Flaka’s Career Coaching Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s HR Consulting Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s Personal Development Services here! Resources Mentioned

    28 min

  2. 11/13/2025

    EP. 4: How I Aligned My Soul’s Purpose with My Career

    I didn’t always know what I wanted to do. As a college student studying technology, I wasn’t all that studious, I had no end goal, and I finished my first semester with a 1.9 GPA. I knew I needed to figure it out, but I also knew I couldn’t do it on my own.  At the time, I was able to go to my college's guidance counselor and figure it out from there. But now we’re in the real, adult world, and it feels like there are no guidance counselors anywhere! As we grow, we evolve, and sometimes the careers we thought we wanted aren’t what we want for our future. So as a career coach, I’m going to help you align your career with your purpose today.  In this week’s episode, we’re talking about how I aligned my soul’s purpose with my career. I could never just take a job to have a job. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a hard worker, and I can outwork anybody. But if I was going to do this forever, I needed my job to fire me up every single day. And my career in HR and coaching does exactly that. Let’s get you some of that fire by starting from the beginning.  Resources Mentioned: The Estresada to Employed Workbook Follow Flaka on: Instagram @‌hr.mami   Instagram: @itsflakag TikTok: @itsflakag YouTube: Flaka Martinez  LinkedIn: Janet Martinez  Website:https://www.hrmami.com/  How to work with Flaka: Sign up for Flaka’s Career Coaching Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s HR Consulting Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s Personal Development Services here! Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST, an Afro-Latina-owned boutique podcast production and copywriting studio.

    27 min

  3. 11/05/2025

    EP. 3: How Motherhood Changed My Life

    If you know me, you know that motherhood is a very big deal to me. And if you’ve been listening to the first few episodes I’ve posted (available on Apple Podcasts if you want to catch up), then you know that I wasn’t trying when I had my first kid, I had a miscarriage, and my baby girl is an IVF baby. I have come to know motherhood in so many different ways, and it really changed who I am as a person for the better.  I’m not saying I was terrible before my kids, but I have learned how to be more forgiving and more compassionate to others. I’ve also learned how to give myself more grace, even in the midst of the craziest moments of my life. I love my kids, and today, I want to talk about what motherhood has been like for me.   In this week’s episode, we’re talking about how motherhood changed my life. It has not always been fun, and it has not always been easy. Reminder, this is not a “perfect 2-hour morning routine” episode; this is the real stuff. So if you’re ready, grab a cafesito and get ready to hear all about my experience with motherhood and all the ups and downs that come with it. Trigger warning for mentions of miscarriage in this episode.  Resources Mentioned:The Estresada to Employed Workbook Follow Flaka on:Instagram @‌hr.mami   Instagram: @itsflakag TikTok: @itsflakag YouTube: Flaka Martinez  LinkedIn: Janet Martinez  Website:https://www.hrmami.com/  How to work with Janet: Sign up for Flaka’s Career Coaching Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s HR Consulting Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s Personal Development Services here! Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST, an Afro-Latina-owned boutique podcast production and copywriting studio.

    32 min

  4. 10/29/2025

    EP. 2: Going From the Border to the Boardroom

    The journey to the US was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. We couldn’t stay in Mexico at the time because of the economic turmoil that was happening around the year 2000. So while living in America has given me so many amazing opportunities, getting here was as rough as you think it is. Actually, probably worse.  I’m sharing my story because we need to stick together in these disturbing times. We need to have solidarity for each other and reach our hands back and support those who are coming behind us. We have to take care of each other because that is how we will survive this.  In this week’s episode, I’ll be sharing my experience coming to America with my mom and my older brother. We were actually separated for a few days, and it was one of the scariest experiences in my entire life. But we made it, and now I’m a grown woman, with my own family that I help support through my career. No matter where we come from, there is a future for us. If you need any help, reach out. I’m here for you 🫶🏼 Resources Mentioned:The Estresada to Employed Workbook Follow Flaka on:Instagram @‌hr.mami   Instagram: @itsflakag TikTok: @itsflakag YouTube: Flaka Martinez  LinkedIn: Janet Martinez  Website:https://www.hrmami.com/  How to work with Flaka: Sign up for Flaka’s Career Coaching Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s HR Consulting Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s Personal Development Services here! Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST, an Afro-Latina-owned boutique podcast production and copywriting studio.

    48 min

  5. 10/22/2025

    EP. 1: Welcome to the Evolve with Flaka Podcast!

    Welcome to the Evolve with Flaka podcast! This podcast is your go-to show for career growth, confidence, and community. My entire career has been devoted to uplifting women and getting them what they deserve - at work and in life. With this podcast, you’ll be able to take a peek into my life as a career coach and an HR Professional and use my experiences to reach your goals. It’s time to level up your life, and on this podcast, we’re going to do it together.  So, allow me to reintroduce myself. My name is Janet Guadalupe Martinez Aguilar, also known as Flaka G. My life has been an incredible tapestry of triumphs and challenges, woven together with threads of determination, love, and faith. I was born in the vibrant heart of Mexico City, before my family and I arrived in the United States when I was just five years old. Since then, I’ve worked hard to be a beacon of hope for my family, community, and anyone who crosses my path. I have been married for 8 years, I have two beautiful children, one of them being autistic, and an angel baby. I’ve worked as an HR professional for a decade, a non-profit co-founder, a progressive church catechist, and an active mentor in my sorority as our Central Alumnae regional director. Now, I am focusing on changing the world one person at a time as a Career Coach. In this week’s episode, we’re talking about why I started this podcast, why I started my businesses, and why I have the faith to keep going no matter how hard it gets. I’m not going to lie to you, my life hasn’t always been easy. It is what it is. But what has always mattered the most to me was the fact that I kept getting up and kept pushing past whatever obstacles were placed in front of me. And a lot of obstacles have been placed in front of me. I’ve had to evolve over and over again, and now, I want to share what I’ve learned so that you can evolve, too.  Resources Mentioned: The Estresada to Employed Workbook Follow Flaka on: Instagram @‌hr.mami   Instagram: @itsflakag TikTok: @itsflakag YouTube: Flaka Martinez  LinkedIn: Janet Martinez  Website:https://www.hrmami.com/  How to work with Janet: Sign up for Flaka’s Career Coaching Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s HR Consulting Services here!  Sign up for Flaka’s Personal Development Services here! Podcast production for this episode was provided by CCST, an Afro-Latina-owned boutique podcast production and copywriting studio.

    16 min

  6. TRAILER

    Trailer - Evolve with Flaka the Podcast

    Welcome to Evolve with Flaka - the go-to show for career growth, confidence, and comunidad. I’m Flaka, your HR Mami and host of this incredible podcast.  I am an HR pro by day, an immigrant advocate always, and after my 9-5, I am a coach to professionals chasing más in work and in life. If you’ve ever questioned your worth, felt stuck at your job, or wondered how to juggle motherhood, ambition, and cultura - you’re in the right place.  Tune in every Wednesday to hear how I tackled my real-life experiences, my clients' career experiences, and strategize how to help you evolve into your next era. And we’ll do it all with love, power, and purpose. Follow Flaka on:  Instagram: @itsflakag TikTok: @itsflakag YouTube: Flaka Martinez

    2 min

Trailer

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
2 Ratings

About

Welcome to Evolve with Flaka - the go-to show for career growth, confidence, and comunidad. I’m Flaka, your HR Mami and host of this incredible podcast. I am an HR pro by day, an immigrant advocate always, and after my 9-5, I am a coach to professionals chasing más in work and in life. If you’ve ever questioned your worth, felt stuck at your job, or wondered how to juggle motherhood, ambition, and cultura - you’re in the right place.

Information

  • Creator
    ItsFlakaG
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    6
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © ItsFlakaG
  • Show Website
    Evolve with Flaka