Intentional Living with Elena Sarango-Muniz
In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, host Andrea engages with Elena Sarango-Muñiz, a leadership executive coach and emotional intelligence expert, to discuss her journey from Lima, Peru to becoming the founder and CEO of Sarango. Elena shares her inspiring story of personal and professional transformation, encompassing her experiences in the United States and her journey in the hospitality and HR industries. They delve into Elena’s coaching philosophy, emphasizing the importance of self-awareness, vision, and emotional intelligence in effective leadership. Elena encourages leaders to challenge their beliefs, reflect deeply, and adopt a holistic approach to personal and professional growth. This episode is filled with valuable insights into leadership development and the power of self-reflection.
Mentioned in this Episode:
Mentorship Guide – This VOI guide and journal for mentors and mentees includes 12 sessions covering key topics young professionals need to set themselves up for success at work.
Listener Feedback Form – Share how you see people shaping the future – and/or ask a question for Andrea and guests to address on the show!
00:00 Introduction and Guest Welcome
00:39 Elena’s Journey from Peru to the USA
02:41 Career Beginnings and Challenges
04:28 Discovering Coaching and Leadership
06:17 Overcoming Adversity and Building Resilience
09:24 Shaping Leadership and Personal Growth
21:44 Mentorship and Influences
36:34 Final Thoughts and Challenge to Listeners
Summary:
We all have an inner voice—but too often, that voice limits us. In this episode of the Voice of Influence podcast, executive coach Elena Sarango Muñiz challenges us to question the self-talk that shapes our leadership and life. Drawing from her extraordinary journey—from leaving Peru in search of freedom to navigating high-stakes leadership roles—Elena shares the insights that help leaders not just succeed, but truly evolve.
Your Future Self Starts with the Narrative You Choose Today
What do you tell yourself when things go wrong? Elena invites us to examine the beliefs we’ve inherited from childhood, culture, or past experience—and consider whether they’re still serving us.
“The future self isn’t the goal—it’s the starting point,” she says. By imagining who you want to be one year from now, and reverse-engineering your daily mindset, you begin to shift the trajectory of your choices. Listeners will walk away with a powerful exercise for clarifying that vision and anchoring it in intentional, daily action.
Self-Awareness Is More Than Reflection—It’s Strategy
Elena offers compelling examples of how leaders unknowingly repeat the same patterns—until something painful forces them to reflect. But why wait?
She encourages leaders to pay attention to emotional and physical signals: “Stress, fatigue, disconnection—these are your wake-up calls.” Through real-life stories, she shows how self-awareness can become your greatest leadership tool—not just for avoiding burnout, but for building trust and culture that lasts.
Growth Is Uncomfortable—and That’s the Point
Many of us avoid discomfort, but Elena flips the script: “Discomfort is a signal that you’re changing.” Whether you’re navigating a new leadership role, facing team disengagement, or just sensing it’s time for a shift, this episode gives you permission to lean in, not numb out.
Her challenge to listeners? “Write your future self into reality. Reclaim your imagination. Don’t just coast—create.”
Conclusion
This conversation with Elena Sarango Muñiz is a gift to any leader ready to stop running on autopilot and start leading with intention. Through vulnerable storytelling and practical wisdom, she reminds us: the power to shape our future starts with the stories we tell ourselves today.