From nonprofit burnout to thriving entrepreneur – discover how I, a gay Latino coach built an authentic business and community for LGBTQ+ leaders in Los Angeles.
This past weekend marked my three-year anniversary of moving to Los Angeles — which is wild, considering I was only supposed to be here for two weeks. And so of course… I had to write about it, and some lessons learned!
From San Francisco Burnout to LA Breakthrough
In 2022, I packed up my two-door Mini Cooper, threw Kai (my recently deceased dog and life co-pilot) in the passenger seat, and left San Francisco. I was burned out from nonprofit work — not just tired, but spiritually exhausted from working in spaces that demanded performance over authenticity.
Los Angeles was supposed to be a pit stop on my way back to New York. The plan was to attend WeHo Pride, to watch my girl Lil’ Kim perform. But three years later, I’m still here — because something unexpected happened: I started to find myself again.
The Hidden Cost of Workplace Toxicity for LGBTQ+ Professionals
Let me be honest: I left San Francisco because I needed to heal. Working during the pandemic in a toxic organizational culture triggered severe anxiety for this neurodivergent professional. I didn’t know how depleted I was until I left.
That’s when I sought mental health services and received a life-changing ADHD diagnosis. This moment cracked open a journey of healing and self-awareness that led me to question everything — my relationship with work, identity, and self-worth.
But during a coaching session, my coach asked me a question that changed everything:
“Why don’t you do this for yourself?”
The Entrepreneurial Leap: From Employee to CEO
If you’ve ever thought about quitting your job to start a business but stopped because of financial fears… If you’ve hesitated to follow your calling because the economy feels uncertain… If you’re the only gay, queer, Latino, person of color – or neurodivergent in your workplace — I know exactly how that feels.
Building Community Through Vulnerability
My healing didn’t begin with a business plan — it began with community connection. During my cross-country road trip, I stopped in cities where my LGBTQ+ community lived: Chicago, Denver, Philadelphia, New York. I slept on couches, cried, and slowly remembered who I was before the burnout.
That’s where authentic leadership development begins — not in corporate training rooms, but in spaces where you can be fully yourself.
Creating Spaces for Gay Men of Color to Thrive
Now, three years later, I’m the CEO of Noris Knows and the Queer Compass Institute. These ventures led me to create The BLOOM Collective — an ecosystem where gay, bi, and queer men of color can gather, grow, and be real with each other.
The BLOOM Collective: More Than Networking
The BLOOM Collective addresses something we all know: LGBTQ+ professionals need spaces built by and for us. No masks. No code-switching. Just honest connection, shared growth, and support that doesn’t ask you to shrink in order to belong.
I coach folks who are often in that same liminal space I once lived in:
- ✨ About to quit their corporate job
- ✨ Newly unemployed and seeking direction
- ✨ Starting over in their 30s or 40s
- ✨ Launching something aligned and powerful — but doing it alone
You don’t have to build your dreams in isolation.
Connect & Cultivate: In-Person Community for Gay and Queer Men of Color
June 28 | Los Angeles Event 🌴
If you’re in a moment of transition… starting over, building your own thing, or quietly wondering what’s next — we’ve created a space just for you.
Connect & Cultivate is an in-person gathering for gay, bi, and queer men of color who want more than just networking. This is about presence, not performance.
📅 Friday, June 28th
📍 Los Angeles
🎟 $25 Regular | $15 Early Bird
Connection. Reflection. Real talk. No code-switching required.
The Business Case for Authentic Leadership
Here’s what I’ve learned building my six-figure coaching business as a gay Latino entrepreneur:
You don’t have to trade your joy for your job.
You don’t have to burn out to belong.
Three years ago, I left 20 years of nonprofit fundraising experience to build something that reflects ALL of me. Now I get to be myself 24/7 while helping other LGBTQ+ leaders do the same.
What’s Possible When You Stop Surviving and Start Thriving?
If you’re standing at your own crossroads — scared to jump, unsure who’s got your back, afraid to make waves in this economy — let me say this:
You are not alone. As an entrepreneur, every day brings uncertainty. But the reality is – you don’t have to choose between authenticity and success.
What could be possible if you stopped surviving and started coming home to yourself?
Let’s find out — together.
Ready to transform your leadership journey? Connect with me!
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