Where do you trace your curiosity back to?

My dad is a mathematician and has always approached the world with wonder. The way he spoke about the stars and the universe was captivating for me then and still is. He has always seemed like the most curious, smartest person in the room, yet he approaches everyone with a gentle curiosity and a first-principles perspective when talking about almost anything. He never made anyone feel lesser for exploring an idea or topic they knew little or nothing about.

He has three master’s degrees and a Ph.D. and has been an educator for most of his life. I think that’s what sparked my curiosity—a father figure who was always eager to explore any question I had about people and the world, without judgment. Curiosity is smothered when it’s met with condescension. The curiosity he instilled in me has been central to my pursuit of things that evoke a sense of wonder.

How does curiosity show up in the way you express yourself?

I once wrote a college essay titled “Google Was My Third Parent.” I grew up in the early days of YouTube and the internet, diving into anything that caught my attention, from Wikipedia rabbit holes to discovering music. My brother was in a band, and through him I found artists like The Pixies, The Cure, and The Strokes. That led to finding my own taste in music, art, and fashion, which I see as extensions of who we are. A friend once told me that what you wear is part of your personality. That idea stuck. Now, what I choose to wear, listen to, or create feels like a reflection of what I’m curious about.

How has curiosity shaped the way you connect with people?

I try to meet people with a clear mind. Even when I meet well-known figures, I avoid over-researching because I’d rather have a real conversation about what excites them than rehash their résumé. People open up when they feel seen for who they are, not just what they’ve achieved. Curiosity turns small talk into something deeper. It has helped me build genuine connections and share things that might never come up in a professional setting. Everyone just wants to feel seen, and curiosity makes that possible.

If a magazine featured you, what would you want it to show about success and identity today?

One of my favorite parts of my job is how I exist as an immigrant in a business setting. Many of the faces I’ve encountered while building Bawi have been visibly perplexed by my presence—young, brown, and building something successful. In my early days, I remember meetings where investors would barely acknowledge me, directing questions only to my cofounder.

I was often the only brown person in the room.

It became clear early on that I was helping shape the standard for what it means to be a Hispanic professional. Where others might have felt more at ease blending in with corporate uniforms, I made a deliberate choice not to mute my personality or cultural identity. I wear my jewelry, show my tattoos, and grow out my facial hair. I’m not saying I represent all Latinos in how I present myself, but I do believe it’s important to expand the idea of what a businessperson looks, sounds, and acts like.

Too many of the systems that have benefited the elite are built around customs reserved for the privileged. When I dress up, I do it in clothes I like—not in clothes I think will make others like me. If someone can’t recognize my competence in business because of how I look, that’s their loss, not mine.

I hope my success helps redefine what an “entrepreneur” looks and acts like. I’ll never mute my appearance or personality, and I hope that makes it easier for future generations. If a magazine were to feature me one day, I’d want it to be one that celebrates authenticity—one unafraid to show a modern definition of success that reflects both who I am professionally and personally. With every platform I’m given, I’ll continue to push the culture forward, intentionally and unapologetically.