| Tell us about your company: |
| LIXMIX is a premium ready-to-drink espresso brand inspired by global travel, petite desserts, and the joy of small indulgences. We create bold, dessert-inspired coffee flavors like Strawberry Kiss and Dulce de Leche in sleek petite cans designed to feel playful, elevated, and effortlessly chic. Our mission is to bring café-level flavor and wanderlust-inspired storytelling into everyday life. |
| What inspired you to start your business? |
| After years leading digital products at large Fortune 50 companies, I found myself craving something more personal, creative, and emotionally resonant. My inspiration came from traveling the world and falling in love with the way coffee and desserts can create unforgettable moments — whether it was strawberry pastries in the south of France or dulce treats in Latin America. I realized the ready-to-drink coffee aisle was missing something: beautiful, premium, playful options that felt indulgent without being overly sweet or artificial. LIXMIX was born from that gap — a brand designed to make everyday coffee feel like a mini escape. |
| What are your proudest achievements so far? |
| One of my proudest achievements is the journey itself. As the daughter of two Mexican immigrants, I grew up with a deep appreciation for hard work, resilience, and the courage it takes to build something from nothing. Rising to every challenge, breaking stereotypes, and continuing to exceed expectations has always been a powerful force behind how I move through life and business. I’ve always loved surprising people — especially by stepping into spaces where others may not expect me to lead, innovate, or win. From building digital products used by millions in corporate leadership roles to now launching LIXMIX, a premium coffee brand rooted in creativity and bold vision, I’m proud to show that ambition and imagination can coexist beautifully. More than anything, I’m proud to be building something that reflects both where I come from and what’s possible for the next generation. |
| What advice do you have for aspiring entrepreneurs: |
| Truly embrace the learning journey. Entrepreneurship will naturally come with hard seasons, unexpected setbacks, and moments that test your confidence. That’s why it’s so important to be deeply connected to why you’re building in the first place. Passion alone isn’t enough unless it’s rooted in real purpose. When you have a clear understanding of what you want to build and why it matters to you, that deeper conviction becomes the fuel that carries you through the difficult moments when it would be easier to walk away. Before building something of your own, spend time getting honest about your “why.” That clarity, passion, and sense of purpose can make all the difference. |
| Please share a memory or thought about your alma mater: |
| Both Bradley University and Northwestern University played important roles in shaping who I am as a leader and founder. Bradley gave me the foundational confidence to dream bigger than what I had seen before. It was where I began to understand the power of discipline, ambition, and creating opportunities for myself. Northwestern helped sharpen that foundation into strategic leadership. It challenged me to think bigger, move faster, and operate at a level of excellence that later became invaluable in my corporate leadership roles and now as the founder of LIXMIX. Looking back, both experiences reinforced something I still carry with me today: the courage to keep evolving and the confidence to build something meaningful from vision alone. |
