Today we’d like to introduce you to Vanessa Rivera.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
I was born and raised in Austin, Texas, in a close-knit Hispanic family. My parents had me at a young age my mom was 17 and my dad was 19 but they worked tirelessly to give my siblings and me the best life they could. Looking back, I realize we didn’t have much financially, but I never felt like we were lacking because our home was filled with love, support, and unforgettable memories.
Spanish was my first language, and learning English in school came with challenges, including being diagnosed with dyslexia. Despite those obstacles, I was determined to succeed academically and eventually graduate. Growing up, I often helped care for my younger siblings while my parents worked long hours, which taught me responsibility and resilience at an early age.
My parents also made sure we stayed connected to our roots, regularly taking us to Mexico to spend time with family. Those experiences shaped my values and appreciation for where I come from.
Throughout school, I attended predominantly lower-income campuses and became involved in numerous extracurricular activities, including drill team a major part of Texas high school culture. Even as a young girl, I always felt I was meant for something bigger. I didn’t know exactly what that would be, but I carried that belief with me from the age of eight, and it continues to drive me today. For most of my life, I never felt like I truly fit in whatever that even means. I often felt like I couldn’t fully be myself until I turned 18 and started college. That chapter changed everything for me.
While I was always focused on succeeding academically, I began asking myself a different question: What could I do for myself that I had never done before? The answer was simple put myself out there.
I made a promise to myself that I would stop being afraid of discomfort and start saying yes to opportunities that challenged me. That mindset transformed my life. It led me to build confidence, take risks, and create a path that felt authentically mine.
Today, at 26 years old, I am a coach, content creator, and the founder and host of The Coffee Slut Podcast a platform built on connection, community, and encouraging others to show up as their most authentic selves.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has actually been quite the opposite. I have struggled with comparison for most of my life, constantly wondering why my journey didn’t look like someone else’s or why I couldn’t reach my goals as quickly as others seemed to. In my early 20s, that began to change when I started reading personal development books such as Atomic Habits, The 48 Laws of Power, and Stop Believing Everything You Think.
Those books helped me realize that I needed to show up authentically as myself and trust that the right people and opportunities would naturally align with me. I learned that opportunities I didn’t get weren’t failures they were redirections. Through it all, I never gave up on what I believed in: myself. My family and my partner have also been a huge part of that support system, encouraging me to keep moving forward even when the path wasn’t clear.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
I am a coach, content creator, community builder, and the founder and host of The Coffee Slut Podcast. At the core of everything I do is creating spaces where people feel seen, inspired, and empowered to show up as their authentic selves.
What I specialize in is connection. Whether it’s through coaching, storytelling, events, social media, or podcasting, my goal is to bring people together and remind them that they don’t have to have everything figured out to pursue the life they want. I share my experiences openly the wins, the setbacks, and the lessons because I believe authenticity creates the deepest impact.
What I’m most proud of isn’t a specific title or accomplishment. It’s the fact that I’ve built a life and career by staying true to who I am. Coming from a young Hispanic family that worked incredibly hard to create opportunities for me, I’ve always carried a deep sense of purpose and gratitude. Every community I’ve built, every conversation I’ve had, and every person I’ve helped connect with themselves or others feels like a reflection of that journey.
What sets me apart is that I lead with vulnerability. I don’t pretend to have all the answers, and I don’t believe success is about perfection. I believe success comes from having the courage to put yourself out there, embrace discomfort, and continue showing up even when the path isn’t clear. My mission has always been to help people realize that the life they want is possible when they stop comparing themselves to others and start trusting their own story.
If you had to, what characteristic of yours would you give the most credit to?
Being driven, open-minded, being okay not always being right but getting it right, and being bold even if not everyone agrees with you also being a little crazy and delusional in your goals and creativity
Contact Info:
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/vanessaariverra/
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@thecoffeeslutpod?si=VOJmPguPciu4BRl5
