By Lindsey Rose
Paulette Piñero is the recipient of a Publish Her program and publishing grant. Since 2018, more than $250,000 in grants and services have been awarded to women business owners and authors.
Raised in Puerto Rico, Paulette Piñero (she/her/ella) and her husband moved their family to Massachusetts in 2012 to seek disability services for their then non-verbal son. She quickly adjusted to a completely different way of living. She began working in the nonprofit sector in various roles—business development, strategic planning, public speaking and consulting. She also found herself prioritizing perfection and the needs of others over her well-being. Then, a near-death experience led her to reframe everything.
At the onset of the pandemic, Paulette was admitted to the hospital with COVID. Before she slipped into a 20-hour coma, doctors urged her to say goodbye to her husband and two children, who she was unable to see in person due to COVID restrictions. To protect her extended family, she avoided telling them about her condition.
“I woke up and the phone was ringing—it was my grandfather in Puerto Rico and he heard hospital machines beeping in the background,” Paulette said. “He knew something was happening; he could sense it.”
Even at her lowest, her perfectionism kicked in as she questioned how to fix everything. Her grandfather reminded her that thriving requires community. She credits him for jumpstarting her recovery and for the strength to let people in to help her heal and move forward.
“If I hadn’t picked up his call, I probably would have let go, but the moment I told my family, rather than trying to protect them, transformed my health,” Paulette admitted. “They checked in on my husband and children, and I knew I was being cared for and loved.”
During her month-long ICU stay, Paulette grappled with 40 percent reduced lung capacity, the possibility of leg amputation, and the emotional toll of social isolation. She reflected on her legacy and decided to reshape her future to ensure her well-being was at the forefront.
I was ashamed that the biggest obstacle in my life was me, and that realization pushed me to embrace breaking up with perfectionism.”
Committed to doing creative work that aligned with her values—freedom, flexibility, justice, joy and rest—she launched Unstoppable Latina two days after leaving the hospital. Her closet, the only quiet space to work in her family’s two-bedroom apartment, became her office.
Unstoppable Latina helps women of color and gender-expansive entrepreneurs harness their strengths, live their purpose, amplify their voices and in Paulette’s words, “make shit happen so they become unstoppable CEOs.” She has a deep passion for guiding clients into entrepreneurship roles that fit their lives and aspirations. Her business provides an equity-focused approach to help Latina and marginalized entrepreneurs “use their superpowers to thrive and change the world.” Paulette’s lived experience as a recovering perfectionist is the not-so-secret sauce driving her business strategy.
Unstoppable Latina supports small business owners working to build their dreams while navigating perfectionism that stems from societal and self-imposed pressures. It also offers one-to-one business consulting and multicultural marketing services to entrepreneurs. Paulette regularly partners with economic organizations serving Latina and Hispanic communities and women. Many of her clients grew up watching their marginalized families work tirelessly with minimal opportunities to prioritize self-worth, build wealth or receive recognition.
I haven’t looked back, and I’m thankful I believed in myself so ferociously. I helped so many people follow their dreams, and I deserve that, too.”
Unstoppable Latina’s platform has supported clients across the U.S. and Puerto Rico in achieving entrepreneurial success while honoring their true selves. Paulette helps clients consider how they want to feel in their work versus focusing solely on business goals and reminds them they can be unstoppable without sacrificing their beliefs. “My gift is helping people create a joyful, creative life—everyone deserves that—everything else is just an add-on,” Paula said.
Her culture remains central to her work. She proudly weaves her Latina identity into her business, striving to expand diversity programming and help organizations connect more effectively with the Latina community. Paulette is a recipient of numerous awards for her advocacy work and social change efforts, and she co-authored the book “Extraordinary Latinas: Powerful Voices of Resilience, Courage, and Power,” a 2021 Amazon bestseller.
To learn more about Paulette’s business, visit unstoppablelatina.com and follow @paulettepinero on LinkedIn and I@unstoppable_latina on Instagram.
Photo: Paulette Piñero
Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Lindsey Rose is a mom, writer and longtime public relations professional. After recovering from colon cancer in 2012, she launched a communications consultancy that supports purpose-driven brands. She is a passionate autism awareness advocate, dog lover, yogi and cookie baking aficionado. Follow her on Instagram: @lindseyrosepr.
Publish Her is a female-founded independent publisher dedicated to educating authors and elevating the words, writing and stories of women. We are passionate about amplifying the voices of women of color, women with disabilities and members of the LGBTQ+ community. We aim to make publishing an attainable, exciting and collaborative process for all.
