Today we’d like to introduce you to Daniela Cintron.
Hi Daniela, 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?
At the age of six, I walked into a radio station and asked for a job. Best of all. I got it.
No, seriously.
My mother had me taking summer classes at the library next door, so every day I would see the on-air broadcasters through a window. It was love at first sight. I wanted in.
Despite being kindly turned away by the receptionist several times, I kept showing up while waiting on my parents. One day, I hit the jackpot. The radio station’s owner walked in and was intrigued by this child asking to speak to him. He gave me an interview on the spot and then gave me an opportunity as co-host of the iconic morning show during my summer break. That little gig turned into a career and went on until this day.
Connecting with an audience and creating content has been my passion for almost three decades. Journalism was my starting point, and 12 years in marketing helped me marry both worlds and successfully create content that connects with an audience in a very intimate and engaging way, creating lasting connections.
I am incredibly passionate about telling the stories of underrepresented communities and look for ways to be the best at what I do in order to be given the opportunity to tell these stories on influential platforms.
With a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications, I am currently a journalism grad student at Harvard University and content manager for Discover Atlanta – always looking for opportunities to tell stories.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
At the age of 13, my family immigrated to the United States. For many years, I was undocumented and had to live in the shadows so that we wouldn’t get deported. It was one of the most challenging years of my life because despite winning academic awards, earning good grades and being offered dream opportunities, doors kept shutting on my face only for the fact that I didn’t have the right documents. This became one of the biggest challenges in my career and created insecurities in me as a person and as a professional for many years, but I didn’t let it define me.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I am a journalist and content creator with an eye for stories that matter to the community. I am passionate about telling the stories of underrepresented communities. I want to shine light on stories that tend to hide behind the revolving doors of a kitchen, the film credits, the unsung heroes. My goal is to find a connection between communities and generations so that we can learn from each other and find similarities between us. I want to give a voice to those we overlook, empowering them to receive the respect and opportunities they deserve. We are writing the story of today’s society, reflecting on how the past has impacted it and how the future is in our hands. I believe that if we realize we have more in common than we thought we did, we might be more likely to be empathetic to each other. I want to give respect and credit where it is due, then we can see the world and each other through a more compassionate lens.
One of my proudest career moments was landing a story on the cover of OZ Magazine, a televisión and film magazine in Atlanta, putting Latinas on the cover for the first time since the magazine’s founding in the 1990s. It was a piece about the Latino representation in the industry and these women deserved the platform and the highlight. It gave the underrepresented community the credit it was due for so many years.
Who else deserves credit in your story?
Many people have been essential to my journey, even those who didn’t intent to.
Dr. Dale Van Cantfort was my college teacher, advisor and forever mentor. He was tough with me because he knew I was capable of more, but he always encouraged me to stay true to who I am and that is something I will forever thank him for. I thought I needed to change to “fit in” and he inspired me to instead find my voice. Until this day, I reach out to him when making career decisions and he has been a light along the way. He has believed in me since day one and that has been a force to me.
Contrary to that, I once had a boss who continuously told me to “take it down a notch and be less”. Believe it or not, she has also inspired me in my career to make sure I never ever find myself shrinking anyone’s light. On the contrary, I want to help ignite the potential of those I come across.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.danielacintron.com/
- Instagram: https://www.Instagram.com/danicintron
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/danielacintron
Image Credits
Credit Daniela Cintron
