From Costa Rica to Corporate America: How a Latina in Tech Built Her Career

What happens when you grow up between countries, cultures, and expectations; and still build a career, a community, and confidence on your own terms?

In this episode, we sit down with Dani Araya Molina, a Costa Rican immigrant, fintech professional, and content creator who has become a trusted voice for pay transparency, career advocacy, and navigating corporate America as a Latina in her 20s.

Dani opens up about immigrating to the U.S. at just five years old, the quiet identity struggles that come with growing up between cultures, and how those early experiences shaped her drive to succeed, even when she didn’t always feel like she belonged.

We dive deep into her journey from earning $20/hour to six figures, the mistakes she made early in her career by not advocating for herself, and the strategies she later used to negotiate salary, equity, and growth in tech and finance. Dani breaks down what she wishes first-generation professionals knew sooner and why access to information can change everything.

She also shares the behind-the-scenes story of building Amigas Latinas, a community that grew from 0 to 60,000 people in under a year, the emotional and financial reality of running a passion project, and the painful but necessary decision to pause it due to burnout.

This conversation is about ambition, identity, rest, and redefining success; especially for immigrants, Latinas, and anyone trying to build a life without a blueprint.

If you’ve ever felt like you had to earn your rest, prove your worth, or figure everything out alone, this episode is for you.

Timestamps:
00:00 – “People Came Looking for Connection”
01:13 – Meet Dani Araya Molina: Immigrant, Fintech Leader & Creator
02:48 – Where Is “Home” When You Grow Up Between Countries?
05:39 – Moving to the U.S. at 5: Language Barriers & Cultural Shock
07:11 – Being the Only Latina in the Room
08:15 – Losing Touch With Your Culture — And Finding It Again
10:19 – Why Dani Started Building Community
11:07 – How She Accidentally Became a Public Figure
11:46 – From Fashion TikToks to Corporate Career Advice
13:39 – Why Pay Transparency Is Still Controversial
14:01 – From $20/Hour to Six Figures
14:59 – The Salary Mistake She Made After College
16:13 – How to Actually Negotiate Pay, Equity & Growth
17:04 – What It’s Like Being a Latina in Finance
19:32 – Amigas Latinas: From 0 to 60K Followers
21:31 – Why “Third Spaces” Are Disappearing
23:20 – Why This Community Worked When Others Didn’t
26:38 – The Hardest Decision: Pausing Amigas Latinas
28:11 – Burnout, Unpaid Labor & Passion Projects
30:22 – Mental Health, Guilt & Always “Doing More”
31:36 – Why So Many Immigrants Feel They Must Earn Rest
32:19 – Partnering With LinkedIn & Imposter Syndrome
33:40 – Breaking Into Brand Deals as a Latina Creator
34:36 – The Moments She’s Most Proud Of
35:30 – Why Career Risks Were Worth It
36:21 – How Content Creation Changed Her Career
37:06 – Using Your Platform as Leverage

Wage Gap Source Information: https://iwpr.org/equal-pay-in-2025-ge...

Connect with Dani:
Instagram: @wfhdani   / wfhdani  
LinkedIn:   / arayadaniela  

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