Today we’d like to introduce you to Sandra Bibiana Prieto
Hi Sandra Bibiana, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
My story is that of a Latina who never imagined becoming an executive at a globally renowned nonprofit organization in the United States. It’s a story of overcoming obstacles and believing that we are created with a purpose and that we can pursue our dreams despite numerous challenges.
I was born in Colombia, South America. In my early 20s, shortly after graduating as a clinical psychologist, I started volunteering, which gradually led me to implement community projects to support vulnerable communities. What began as volunteer work to help women design strategies for creating small businesses—so they could support their children’s future through earnings—became my passion. More than 25 years later, I am still focused on finding ways to help people in vulnerable situations achieve better living conditions.
I soon left my clinical psychology practice to study nonprofit management and social economics with a scholarship from the Spanish government. At 24, I became the organization’s executive director, where I began my journey in the nonprofit world. I then started working across Latin America, developing strategies for high-impact, integral programs, particularly for women, because giving a woman an opportunity can change the course of a generation.
Later, I became a consultant for various organizations, and then, with my then-husband, who was born in the US, we moved to Haiti. An abrupt change in my personal life brought me to the United States, first to South Florida via air ambulance, and 13 years ago, I settled in Marietta, Georgia. I joined the international organization Habitat for Humanity, where I initiated a unit focused on creating housing products and services for those without adequate housing in the developing world by strategizing partnerships with the private and public sectors. I started that unit with $250,000, including my salary, and today, 13 years later, it has mobilized over $200 million and helped more than 10 million families secure decent housing globally.
However, there are other stories. In 2006, I became a mother to twins born at just 25 weeks gestation, which changed my life forever. I faced a new world of needs I had never known before—the pain and exhaustion of parents who, like me, had to endure extended hospital stays and address the unique needs of their children. Here in East Cobb, where I live, I learned to advocate for my children’s rights within the Georgia public school system, which has led me to support other parents in defending their children’s right to be educated alongside other kids and receive the services and accommodations they need to not just survive but thrive during their school years.
In 2019, after the loss of my son at the age of 13, I decided to share my story in a book titled Me Cambiaron el Libreto (They Changed My Script), which I published in my native language, Spanish. The book has sold over 6,000 copies in Hispanoamerica, and we will publish it in English by the end of this year. Inspired by the book, I have developed motivational segments under the same title, broadcast in over 24 countries through a multiplatform with which I collaborate, CVCLAVOZ. I have also had the opportunity to speak to groups of women, inspiring them to move forward and walk in their purpose despite the losses and challenges.
After more than 27 years of supporting social impact projects, I am now dedicated to life and business coaching, helping women live their purpose to the fullest. I am also launching SIGUE NETWORK, a network designed to support social projects and nonprofits, helping them strengthen their operations, become more fundable and visible, and connect them to funding sources to expand their impact and reach. Through this network, I plan to use strategies that have helped me sustainably grow social programs for well-known nonprofits, such as Habitat for Humanity International.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
It has been a challenging road. I wasn’t born into a wealthy family, but I was raised in one, where my parents taught me the value of never giving up and persevering to achieve our dreams. I graduated from a public university. Out of more than 8,500 applicants, I secured one of the 45 spots to study psychology.
In 1996, I lost my sister in a car accident, which brought immense pain to our family. In 2005, I moved to Haiti to continue my social projects. While there, in my fifth month of pregnancy, I went into labor. I arrived in the United States on an air ambulance with little hope, but by a divine miracle, my children were born. I spent six months, four days, and eighteen hours in a neonatal intensive care unit, accompanied by many diagnoses and prognoses. My son was discharged with a diagnosis of cerebral palsy and a congenital heart defect, and my daughter was sent home with a gastric tube for feeding.
After three and a half years of many health challenges for my children since birth, my husband was diagnosed with terminal cancer, and in 2013, while living in East Cobb, he passed away. At that moment, I faced a new reality: being the mother of a child with special needs and the sole head of my household.
In 2019, as I landed in my home country to spend the summer there with my children, Juan, my 13-year-old son, suffered a cardiac arrest and passed away. My life was shattered, and I withdrew from the world, literally. But there was a light at the end of the tunnel, as there had always been in my previous life episodes. That light, which for me is GOD, because I am a woman of faith, showed me that my story could help transform the stories of others from despair to hope, from meaninglessness to purpose, so I stood up and wrote the book, which supported so many lives during the COVID 19 pandemic. I never thought that book would support many lives through loss and grief.
Alright, so let’s switch gears a bit and talk business. What should we know?
I specialize in supporting individuals and organizations in defining their purpose and creating actionable steps to achieve their goals. I work with those who may not yet know how to harness their skills to fulfill their purpose, those who desire to serve and impact others but aren’t sure where to start, or those who want to begin a social enterprise but need guidance on the steps to take. I also assist those who already have a social enterprise but need more clarity on expanding it.
My approach is rooted in identifying what drives us internally and, from there, determining our actions. I use the “Five Senses” method, a framework I developed based on my 25+ years of experience. I always ask: What makes your heartbeat, or what are you passionate about? A tremendous success in any endeavor, whether for individuals, companies, or organizations, is identifying whom we want to serve and how we will serve them; that has been my experience. Everything else is a boundless creative process.
What I’m most proud of in my work is that the insights, strategies, and tools I share are not just things I learned from a book—they’re things I’ve lived, walked through, and tested. These proven approaches have led to sustainable strategies with the potential for long-term growth.
Individuals and organizations that seek my support have different levels of clarity about what they want to achieve. I also recognize that financial resources for investing in this discovery process vary. That´s why I work with my clients to create packages tailored to their needs and economic situations. Those who have received my coaching, mentoring, and support can attest to seeing fundamental changes and results, which is, in the end, my biggest reward.
Another critical aspect of my work involves motivational speaking, primarily to women (but not exclusively). I connect with diverse needs and reach their hearts to inspire them to rise and pursue their dreams. Being Latina and bilingual has allowed me to communicate in both Anglo and Hispanic contexts, which I consider a privilege. When women hear my story, many can hardly believe what I’ve been through. But when they see me sharing my experiences while giving them hope, it often reignites their sense of purpose and reason for living.
I work virtually with clients worldwide and offer in-person sessions for those in Atlanta. In 2025, I plan to expand our offerings to include group workshops for organizations and gatherings of women, providing even more opportunities for growth and impact and in-person connection for those in the Atlanta area.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
The qualities that have been most crucial to my success are perseverance and consistency, coupled with the ability to envision a strategy and outline the steps to implement it. I’m skilled at turning challenges into opportunities.
As someone once said about me, I was born to take on challenges and turn something seemingly undesirable into the next big trend in the industry.
Pricing:
- I have ourly packages
- I have packages according to the goals
- I have complimentary services
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.sandraprieto.org
- Instagram: @sigueconsandraprieto https://www.instagram.com/sigueconsandraprieto
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/SIGUEconSandraPrieto
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@SIGUEconSandraPrieto
- Other: https://linktr.ee/SIGUEconSandraPrieto
Image Credits
Oscar Lugo @oscarhlugog
