Step up your personal presence and influence with image coach Alba Gomez

Personal brand, body language and presence coach, Alba Gomez, shares tips to amplify your  presence and success both in person and in a remote working world. 

With her keen process engineering background and vibrant, Colombian personality, Alba has developed a system for success. She works with clients all over the world building their personal and career confidence.

We talk about colour, confidence, conference calls and Colombia with Alba Gomez.

“The screen steals 50 per cent of your energy, so if you’re stepping it down, then your (online) presence is becoming really, really weak… you need to show up and step it up!” – Alba Gomez 

You’ll hear:

• Leaving engineering and starting her business (3:00)
• Growing up and journey to image consulting (8:00)
• Mindset and presence (12:00)
• Colours (13:00)
• Body language (15:00)
• Alba's 7 Pillar System (16:00)
• Remote work and conference calls (20:00)
• Returning to the office (24:00)
• Being a human being not a human doing (27:00)
• Reflecting on Colombia (28:10)

Duration: 40 mins

Links:
Alba’s website
Alba’s podcast ‘Amplify’
Colombia

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 Thank you!

• Sincere thanks to Jay (Justin) Hill for his expert sound mastering and patience! Jay, together with the incredible Eva Chye, have inspired me through their passion project If Innovation Could Talk – a YouTube vlog also promoted through LinkedIn. If you have your own ideas for a podcast or video, feel free to reach out to

Transcript

Sonia Nolan: 0:06

I'm Sonia Nolan and around my warm table, we will welcome an eclectic and fabulous range of guests to share their expert knowledge and life experiences. In this first season, we are exploring a wide range of topics, including some of those with a torch not to discuss at the table, politics, religion, and set. The table is set, please join. Today I'm speaking with Alba Gomez, a presence and personal brand coach, keynote speaker and a body language specialist. She is all of this and more. Born in Columbia. Alberta is now based in Western Australia but has clients all over the world who she works with to bring out their best. You may have seen Alba on Australian television or on social media. She shares her expertise generously and with such contagious enthusiasm. Today, Albert is sharing her personal brand and image insights with us all and she's also let us in on a special Colombian hangover cure recipe. The table is set for us to learn how to be more confident, have more influence, and create a great first impression. Thank you very much for joining me Alba Gomez. It's lovely to see you again, Alba. So lovely to see you. We worked out this morning that it's probably been about 10 years that we've known each other. So from the very very start of your business, which is really exciting for me because I've been watching your your growth in social media and in all the things that you've been accomplishing on television. And it's just delightful to be able to sit down now and actually reminisce on the last 10 years. We're

Alba Gomez: 1:46

so excited. I love it. I really feel so humbled and grateful to have you had in my life for the last 10 years. Oh,

Sonia Nolan: 1:53

thank you Alba. So tell me, tell me where it all began. And then we'll move on from there, because so much has happened in 10 years. So where did it all start? Oh,

Alba Gomez: 2:03

so it's a long story. But it all started with an idea I have had for few years of wanting to run my own business. And in the past, I work as an engineer in Colombia, and in Australia, I had lost my passion for what I was doing back then. And one day, I just got myself really out of that, you know, circling which you just keep complaining about how life is going and not doing anything with it. And I went to a retreat in Bali for women in business. And I was the only woman who was in the corporate world, all the other women were already business owners. And from that retreat in Bali, I got a little big fire in my belly. That made me believe for our means don't have a second that I could do whatever I wanted to do. So I came back from Bali in a very late flight, went to work the next day and wanting to my boss office and resign. And that was a big move. I remember calling my husband back then and saying I did it and he was like what but you were gonna wait, what happened. And that was it. Once I had resigned, I thought okay, now I need to do something. And I started doing the one thing I knew I loved and I had been doing as a hobby for so many years and was working with image consultancy. And that's pretty much when I first met you

Sonia Nolan: 3:26

it was and so that's it. That's a huge difference. So engineering, what kind of engineer Well, action engineer, production engineer. So going from being a production engineer, to being an image consultant. Yeah. Now it's interesting. We were talking earlier, Albert that in Perth here in Western Australia, we talk a lot about STEM subjects about really encouraging engineering and encouraging the technical subjects. In Columbia, though, going back to where you were from being an engineer was not an unusual occupation for you,

Alba Gomez: 3:59

not at all. And actually a university, you will see that 50% of the students are women. 50% are men is like super balanced. So it's super normal for you to just go to university most of us do if you can afford that you do. And then most of my friends are engineers, doctors, dentists, and so it's normal. So when I came to Australia, I did notice that people will get very surprised to see me and to know and learn that I am an engineer. So it was quite a challenge actually to find a job as an engineer and know how your local experience and know how in like a huge demand, I guess for women in engineering.

Sonia Nolan: 4:37

Yes, of course. Now you also mentioned that your parents were quite surprised for your change from engineering to being an image consultant. Tell me about how that went down.

Alba Gomez: 4:48

Oh, yeah. That was devastating for them. Especially for my dad. Well, I have two sisters and the three of us are engineers and obviously we are his biggest pride. Because of course and I was a second to kind of leave my engineering behind. Today, we all left

Sonia Nolan: 5:04

engineering. Is that right? We did. What are your sisters doing?

Alba Gomez: 5:07

So they all have their own businesses there. Yeah. So it's like funny, but for my mom and my dad was devastating, because they couldn't believe all the effort, you know, that I put into any day put into sending me to university or the studies or the you know, all the late nights and data image consultancy. What is Dad, that's just so silly that they were really, they tried to be supportive, but I knew they were not. They were just okay, well, it's your life, you just do whatever you want with it. And it's funny, because today, they couldn't be any more proud of me. But yeah, we have to go through many ups and downs to get to this point.

Sonia Nolan: 5:43

I think that's a very typical parent response, though, isn't it? That's right. You know, engineering is you know, that's your, your, your path, yeah, and to steer it completely away from your path, but worth it where you really can completely steering away from your path, what sort of skills and knowledge processes from engineering, were you able to direct into your new business

Alba Gomez: 6:06

a lot, a lot. And actually, I always say this, like I am such a systematic person. And my type of engineer focuses on ordering processes and systems and efficiency and giving the best outcome in the last amount of time and you know, doing it the best way. So I have a very systematic brain. And the way I think is because of my degree. And plus, I also had the experience to work in the corporate world, both in Colombia and in Australia, which has given me a great insight and understanding of different cultures, because I work for a Japanese company, as well. And, you know, companies in America and Latin America, so it's learning so much about the world, having such a logic, way of thinking, and also how I do things now, not just compiled my professional experience in the corporate world and my personal life, but I have a systematic approach to developing your personal brand. So it was not for a second any waste of time or money at all.

Sonia Nolan: 7:03

That's very good. It's very reassuring, but it is it brings a completely different spin to Image Consulting. Absolutely. So let's fold one the clock then from when you went into your boss's office, and you said, I've finished I've had enough now I'm going to do my own thing, pursue my own passions. And you became an image consultant, tell me what your image consulting business was about.

Alba Gomez: 7:26

So back then, because now it's very different as well. So back then, growing up, I always had this passion and love for colours and makeup and style. And the reason I had that passion is because I was a very, I was the ugly duckling. I was bullied at school, and I look really terrible. And I felt really terrible. I felt ugly and inappropriate. So I guess I became passionate about something that could give me some level of confidence.

Sonia Nolan: 7:53

I know what makes you so beautiful, not just on the outside, but on the inside is that you're so willing to share your story and I've seen the photographs of you as a child on social media you're willing to share those you know, when we all go through those awkward teen years and and finding ourselves and also I grew up in the 70s and 80s. So look, taffeta and big hair have a lot to answer for in my stories and my photographs of the past. But you're you're just an average child in the fashion in the moment. Being just very, you being you, but also being very normal. And then to she come out and actually having found that person who you are now Yeah, which is truly beautiful inside and out that those humble beginnings was so so integral to who you are today.

Alba Gomez: 8:46

Absolutely. And thank you so much for those beautiful words. It just really is really beautiful, but it's so true. And the reason why I share it is because I want to share that with other women or young you know, young adults and, and even with the people who know me now that you might see a woman who know how to do her hair and her makeup and dresses, you know, decently and knows how to make the most out of how she looks and who she is. But I started in like minus 1000 Like, you know, like I was in such a low level of self love, self confidence, self image. And then we were speaking about this before the journey of who I was and where I am now, even though it's been the most painful and challenging. He has been beautiful because he has allowed me to grow. So if in any way I can inspire or help others, to know that wherever you are, doesn't really matter because life is happening for you. You can just transform yourself from the inside out and create something so completely different. So actually, Tao was the inspiration for me to start doing image consultancy and then to take those into personal branding as I do today because it's all about the transformation that happens when you learn that those experiences even difficult or just teaching you something invaluable. And now having the opportunity to share these with my, you know, with my the people in social media that follow me my clients is to me priceless. And is the reason why I do I do.

Sonia Nolan: 10:09

That's wonderful. Did you want to share a little bit about the last 10 years in Australia? last 14 years

Alba Gomez: 10:14

has been so yeah. So I then started my my business as an image consultant, because as I said, that's something I just learn intuitively. And I had a flare from it, and I got educated on it. So when I thought, why should I wait, I thought image helping women look and feel fantastic, as I did for myself. So I worked as an image consultant for probably two years. And it wasn't too long after I realised there was a disconnect, as I felt in my life as a teenager, probably, I don't know, let's say even older than that, probably 17 or 16. When I started university, I knew how to look really good. But I felt really bad inside, I still didn't like myself at all appreciated me or you're just thought I could do anything with my life. So I started a very early journey into my personal development path of really learning to know me to appreciate me to really see the woman I was and from that place, everything started changing in a very slow process, that I now can just help others infrastruc that so I realised image Consultants is not going to cut it for me only because I have done such a big development of my mindset and my self image. So I started integrating that into my work, then I also have been fascinated by body language in communications. And I guess he's been a Gemini and being Colombian, I always love to communicate. And I always love to just emcee events and talk to people. And it's another area that I always loved playing with. So then I went in to do further studies in body language. And I'm first impressions, training corporate people as well. And as I was working with people, I started finding parts of me that I, I love learning about and teaching others. And eventually I landed to where I am now and is working with personal branding and presence. Because there is so much more than changing what you wearing for you to feel great for you to achieve the things you desire for you to live a fulfilled life. And it always starts with your mindset and how you see yourself and it goes all the way through developing your presence, your body language, your communication skills, and how you show up every day, obviously looking the part and making the most out of who you are and how you look if you're a woman with your makeup, or how the way you dress, but communicating that openly so you can share with the world, who you are and what you have to offer and does the process I went through. And I've been doing a one on one workshops, doing presentation running, keynote speaking and it's something that completely aligns with who I am completely makes make me have a bigger sense of contribution with the world. And he also gives me like that insight of why did I go through all the challenges I went because now everything makes sense. All the learnings I had made me me today. And what I have to offer is feels just it was meant to happen this way, we

Sonia Nolan: 13:13

can all walk into a wardrobe full of clothes, and still have nothing to wear. And it actually has nothing to do about the fact we have a wardrobe full of clothes. It's all about how we feel on the inside. Absolutely. But also I wake up some days and I think Oh, I feel red, or I feel blue. And so you immediately gravitate to those colours in your wardrobe, which will actually match the feeling that you're having for that day. Tell me a bit about that sort of philosophy and that sort of understanding of how colours can make you feel different.

Alba Gomez: 13:47

Well there's such a big science behind colours and how they make you feeling how others perceive you. So there's like there's a science that actually explains what works best for you. And there's a different science that explains the message close sent, but I have exactly the same feeling as you and for example for me is I understand now the colours that complement my complexion, my eye colour my skin my hair, but I wake up feeling flat, I will straight away go for something very colourful. Interesting. Yeah. And it's, you know, it's kind of like and then there's some basics, I'm not gonna go into the very deep thing, but understanding that blue is a colour that is very people's friendly, and it allows you to connect that when you were red. If you are a woman, you might not connect as easily with older women. Wearing really light pastel colours can make you go under the radar because your brain won't pick up any contrast. So you will look very elegant and sophisticated but because you're not wearing high contrast, if you're like say pale and blonde, then you might go under the radar that putting together two colours that are very contrasting with each other. You can be seen as creative, which is fantastic, but it might take away credibility from you. So it's very fascinating. You get to understand that colour can not only make you look beautiful, professional, younger, which is

Sonia Nolan: 15:06

always handy, always handy,

Alba Gomez: 15:09

but it can also affect the perceptions that other people have about you. Because your brain is always taking information in a visual way. In the level of contrast, we work closer to our face is sending a silent message that ends up being taken for over more than 50% of the communication that we make.

Sonia Nolan: 15:27

That's interesting. So that's is that still part of body language? Is that what you want is

Alba Gomez: 15:31

on there non yet. So it's body language and image that will be doing a lot of the talking. And if we add to that the tone, the speed and your accent, you know, the voice, how it sounds, is over 93%?

Sonia Nolan: 15:46

That's incredible. It is before you even open your mouth your message? That's right, yes.

Alba Gomez: 15:51

And obviously, that's why you need to understand that if you image your body language, and your voice are not in alignment with the words you use, your message can get lost.

Sonia Nolan: 16:01

So how how have you been helping people in Perth to and all around Australia, around the world around the world? I'm sorry, I didn't hold you just in the city around the world. So tell me about that. How are you helping people with all of that.

Alba Gomez: 16:16

So I developed a seven pillar system to develop your personal brand, and as I mentioned briefly before, is just obviously, being an engineer with my systematic brain, I need I am all about systems. And I just got to realise that when you take somebody into a process with some structure, and then there's some implementation is thrown away from it, people get to implement new techniques. Otherwise, it ended up being just new knowledge that we don't get to live. So our seven pillar system that take an individual from the mindset through to the understanding their values, again, remembering who they are, and their essence, going into their magnetic personality, how you can become your most charismatic cell, then you work into your body language. So I help people to understand how to align their message with the body language they use, and also help understand those so much more to read other people's body language, but to understand who you're talking to, so what is the best way you can communicate to connect with them. And then from there, also learning and teaching how to use style and colour to create that presence that is in alignment with the individual or the, you know, either in the corporate world or in your own business that is going to connect with those potential clients. So how you present and look the part. And then we close the loop just really going into okay, how do you influence others normally played. And I want to make this clear here, because I am all about authenticity and staying genuine and true to who you are. But we need to influence others. And that's what we do when we talk when we communicate with others, we want them to take into considerations into consideration our comments. So influencing is the art of mastering who you are and what you have to say, and communicate it in a way that the other person receives it. So once you have worked through all those elements, then it's all about to about understanding how you position your brand. What are your brand values? What do you stand for? And how are you going to come consistently in all the ways we have now to communicate online and in person? So people get an understanding about who you are? And what is it that you have to offer?

Sonia Nolan: 18:18

That's exceptional. That's exceptional. And having gone through that whole process. Albert, what has been some of the responses you've had from people?

Alba Gomez: 18:27

Well, it is and it makes me smile straight away. Because i i One of the things that I inspire me to go from Image consultancy, to something bigger for me was the the desire in my heart to transform people's lives. Just because of my life experience, I want to just to have such a big impact as the impact I have had in my own life through the coaches and mentors I have worked with. So it's amazing because I have people who just really went from feeling like they even call themselves a couple of my clients call them seemed like the mushroom who wanted to be behind the curtains, or in the corner, to being able to walk into any room, boardroom or event, standing tall, feeling confident and owning who they are. So then as a result of that transformation in their relationships with their husbands and kids, starting business, succeeding in business, changing careers, getting to the CEO, you know, level they wanted to get or the manager position they wanted to get people being able to believe in their dreams and getting the house they dreamt of losing the weight changing countries where they were living. So it's actually a process that not only creates such a great success, professionally speaking because it allows you to stand in your power really and when you stand in your power, everything is possible. But also that realisation that understanding who you are at a different level allows you to live a more fulfilled life. So that that is to me amazing. Just Having my clients saying all the time, you just changed my life, you just changed my life, which I didn't, I just guide them through the process of achieving everything they desire.

Sonia Nolan: 20:11

We're obviously living through interesting times, with COVID, that connection is becoming, you know, sort of different, I'm not gonna say difficult, but it's different to the way it used to be. Now we're all being asked to connect via video conference or, you know, connect in a socially or physically distance type of way. How do we get around that? And how do you show up best on a video conference, you know, using all of the knowledge you've got and the expertise, what would you recommend for people? Absolutely.

Alba Gomez: 20:42

So I would say show up and step it up. What I've noticed is people have been getting really relaxed with the fact that they are on a camera and not only image wise, but energy wise. So people can just be more relaxing what they're wearing, sitting a little bit slouching, not taking care of their surroundings looking tidy and organised. And it's so important because they screen is stealing kind of 50% of your energy, everything. So if you're just stepping down, and then the screen is taking away the rest of it, you press this at the end is becoming really, really weak. So I will highly recommend you watch out your background, you have good lighting that makes you look healthy, intelligent, capable. Step it out with your makeup, if you're a woman, step it out with whatever you were in a row you face, you hear his tidy, bright colours. So wearing those white, white and under the camera looks can look really bad unless he's done with good lighting and good background. Make sure your seating app or standing up I love having those desks that are standing desks. So you can just stand up a little bit, move around, dance or jump throughout the day. So you can keep your energy up and watch your body language. Because as I said, make up body language emotions will be just 50% will come across 50% weaker on camera. So you need to step up your energy, how you speak, speak slower, make eye contact, look at the screen and stop being distracted looking at the phone. So really does make sure you're standing in a powerful pose. You bring extra energy to how you use your intonation you volume. And make sure image wise you are looking at part steel as if you're in a meeting, you can be wearing thongs it does you think or slippers under the table. But make sure your top your torso and your face everything is grown. And remember how you look affects how you feel? And how you feel affects how you show up?

Sonia Nolan: 22:43

Yeah, very, very true. They're very good ideas. I was talking to someone recently and they said I was in a video conference with somebody. And they had their little washing line with all their underpants and socks next to them. And he said we're in a meeting like I would not expect somebody to bring their washing into a meeting room. Yes, exactly. You are in a meeting room. So there's there's some very simple things we can do to not be quite as relaxed, as you've said, Yeah.

Alba Gomez: 23:09

And you know, it's not about having to just be like overdoing it, but be tidy and organised and pretend you're in an office.

Sonia Nolan: 23:17

And I guess we can all tolerate a level of distraction, because that's human. But then there's also that side where we do need to show up. And to make a point we do need to, you know, I like what you've said that the screen will take away 50% of the energy. So we need to really bring it in, step it up.

Alba Gomez: 23:32

Yes. And there's meetings of meetings, big meetings, we will allow distractions, but if you're in an interview, I've had a lot of friends doing digital virtual interviews at the moment. Or if you're trying to sell your services, you don't want a dog or a kid interrupting that meeting a specific meeting the other ones, you know, we can be more flexible.

Sonia Nolan: 23:48

Yeah, that's right. So it's know your audience Exactly. Going back into the office. So there's a lot of countries and Australia going back into the office now after the COVID wave. What sort of tips would you have for people who are now about to reconnect back after some period of time? Who remotely? Yeah, and

Alba Gomez: 24:08

I that's an interesting for us, because we haven't been affected by it. But I have been talking to a lot of friends in America and in Colombia, and everybody's like, Oh, no, going back to the office and communicating with people again and getting dressed again. I need to go and get a new wardrobe. So first of all, you need to go and check. You have clothes that make you look incredible, powerful, strong men or women like things that are still your colours are enhanced, you're not natural skin tone, that feed well for the season, you're in that you have you power wardrobe, that make you feel really good. And that looks good on you that is appropriate. So that's the first thing because some of us have put on weight or lose weight or you know, you need to make sure you have that side. Second of all is stepping up your energy to understand that it's a different level of energy and it's gonna be a change. Our brain doesn't like change. So from a mindset perspective, be prepared to feel different. You might either be feel more energised if you're an extrovert. But if you're an introvert, you're gonna feel drained. Because obviously, you're gonna have to be more out there. So being being aware of what it's gonna take, if you're an extrovert, or an introvert, introvert, and the amount of hours that you're gonna have to be now under air conditioning, whereas probably at your house, you have more flexibility. So from that perspective, think of that, but mindset wise, I guess, is understanding that you're going through changes, and the brain is going to try to sabotage the change, because the brain doesn't like that at all. The brain doesn't like the change. So take small steps into things like you know, like, start connecting with your colleagues, or beat. Watch, for example, the social events, you're going to be attending, stop checking in, as I said before, stop saying yes to everything to please people. Because we were in such a comfortable position we were hiding. Now you're going to have to start filtering and remember what is important to you, where do you get your energy from? Look at the things you say yes to. And now it will be a great opportunity to become visible again, if you were no, make yourself visible with your opinions at meetings, because they were online, now you don't have an excuse, now is the time to regain your confidence to show up to own your voice, to watch how your body language complements, why you say, and how you show up in meetings. So you remember that you need to make yourself visible because if you don't, you're gonna go unseen by opportunities. So it's kind of coming out of the little bubble of hiding, and doing little things every day to stepping outside of the shell.

Sonia Nolan: 26:32

That's really good advice. albourne Especially that idea about watching your energy and what you commit to something you just mentioned Alba, which was about being a human being, I have a very beautiful friend who talks about the fact that we are human beings, not human doings. Yes. And so it's interesting you say that to start the day actually being a human being, yes, that's a really beautiful way to start the day and, and get focused on what we really need to be doing.

Alba Gomez: 27:01

Absolutely. And there is actually our formula for life success, that he says b times do equals half. And like on a like on a mathematical formula. If you are not being being being zero by you're just taking action one, zero times one equals zero, so you don't have results. So true, saying the other way around. If you're just being all the time one, but you're not taking action zero results at zero. It is only when you align your being your thoughts, your mind with your actions, that one times one equals the results. You're getting life

Sonia Nolan: 27:38

as it that's definitely the engineering, you're getting out with a mathematical formula for that. But that's why it makes so much sense. Yes,

Alba Gomez: 27:44

it's actually not mine, but I loved it when I saw it because it makes so much sense. So that's one thing I have learned in my own life. I have a very masculine brain, meaning I'm a doer. But I have learned this concept and has revolutionised my life. And just understanding that what I do align my thoughts and I start my days on being and checking on with my heart with my soul. You know, whatever you believe in God universe, you know, for us, and then from that place you go and take actions, the results you get are just magnificent.

Sonia Nolan: 28:18

Alba, thank you so much for joining me again, today. It's just such a delight to have you as my guest on my warm table. Can you I want to take you straight to your happiest memory. Our happiest memory

Alba Gomez: 28:31

really is from last year when I finally in the middle of COVID and been locked in Australia, I was able to get an exemption and travel to Colombia and America to see my parents and just just seeing their faces and getting to hug them. There's no words to describe the joy, the happiness and and you realise how much we take for granted.

Sonia Nolan: 28:53

It's so true. So many things. So many things, I guess especially for you Colombia. So tell me more about your hometown and your land of Colombia, the sights, the smells, the sounds the food. It's so different to Australia.

Alba Gomez: 29:07

It is and you will have me here talking for years because my husband insists has to be the ambassador for tourism in Colombia. I love my country. I love all it is about. So I come from a gene, which is the second largest city in Colombia. We are called the city the eternal spring. So the city of eternal spring. And the reason we call daddy is because our weather is incredible. We don't have seasons in Colombia because we're on the equator. So our weather is determined by the altitude. So we're on the Andes, but we also have coastal cities. So I am highway through the Andes 1600 metres above sea level, which means we have a perfect dry weather all year round, that doesn't get too hot and doesn't get too hot, too cold. And I guess in Colombia, even if it gets cold, it never gets too cold. But one thing I would say is the biggest characteristic of my country is how colourful and warm it is. And I refer to the culture to the people to the food to their relationships to the personalities of the people and and everything is colourful and alive is There's music everywhere is a little bit messy and disorganised. But then actually, when I moved to Australia, I felt that something had died here. Somebody who died Why is everything so quiet, so orderly? Yeah, and for me, that's very interesting. Every time I go back home is sensing that aliveness and that colorfulness that is hard to describe, but you can feel it in people in places, wherever you go.

Sonia Nolan: 30:38

Absolutely. And that shines through with you out here. And I want to understand some of your Christmas traditions in Colombia and especially with your grandparents and some of the food that you would make together.

Alba Gomez: 30:48

So for us, Christmas is messy because we Catholics, so obviously the whole leading to the Christmas Day, we do the Nativity for nine days, and it's all about getting together with your family. So I grew up getting together with grandparents and costings and uncles is an excuse to get together to eat food to drink some stuff and to pray a little bit. So we we organise everything about the gathering with the family and food. There is one specific memory that I have that is lovelies. Usually people have holiday houses up in the mountains where my mom and dad come from is a little bit cooler than the city. So we will spend Christmas Day as little kids we celebrate Christmas Eve. And then on Christmas Day at midday, everybody will gather outside in the lawn. There will be like the coals and wood in the ground and a massive pot cooking something that is called sancocho that is like a soup with chicken meat and potatoes corn. But if the whole leading to it, it sinks seven in the morning somebody starts cooking the soup that just seamers there until midday. And then everybody gets together and it's kind of like a hangover cure, because we have the fighting craziness. And just remember seeing my my grandma and my uncle's my Auntie's all of us every year doing that together so many good memories running, running the grass, playing with the cows or the horses and is just such a beautiful time.

Sonia Nolan: 32:08

Oh, wow. So it's like a hangover cure you it is it? Is

Alba Gomez: 32:11

it because we have the party on the 24th. So this will be something now that I understand our Sandalow, you drink more when you hungover.

Sonia Nolan: 32:19

And it's made over the hot coals. Yes, it made outdoors

Alba Gomez: 32:22

outdoors, like not obviously at home, my mom or you know, somebody will cook it indoors, but it's originally meant to be cooked there. So it's kind of like the more traditional way of doing it.

Sonia Nolan: 32:31

Yeah. And would you have a whole lot of houses or making it outside and the hot cold?

Alba Gomez: 32:36

Well, actually, that's needed. So in my childhood he was with are in the holiday house with my family. But that's how warm Colombia people are people actually close the streets, and they get together with neighbours. And in the middle of the street, they will do the soup even to this day.

Sonia Nolan: 32:50

Is that right? Yes. That's wonderful. What a great tradition. Yeah. And that's how Christmas Day would start. Yes,

Alba Gomez: 32:55

yes. And then obviously after that, then you start drinking again. And then the buddy containers and getting together with friends. And yeah, it's very, it's such a beautiful time to just spend so much more time with your family, and your friends and, and share food. And the love you have for each other is really cool.

Sonia Nolan: 33:10

That's very important. And so coming to Australia then was was quite a change from all of that family and that aliveness and that colour. So tell me a little bit about that, and how particularly how you've kept some of those traditions alive here in Australia for yourself, because that's really important for your own soul.

Alba Gomez: 33:29

Absolutely. So it was really, really hard. So I came here with my ex husband, he's Colombian, but it was just the two of us. And I remember when I arrived, I couldn't speak English to start with when you know, communications is one of my most important things, having friends having family, so it was so hard. I found Australia way to organise a little bit too dry for me, too. I didn't have friends and family. So obviously, that was the worst shock of my life. I felt as he had gone to another planet. And he really hit me hard. He just sent me the words depression. And let's just remember that 17 years ago, we hardly have Skype. So it's not that we had the possibilities we have now with WhatsApp and zoom and other things. My mom couldn't even work out how to work Skype. So it was way harder. I'll have to buy cards to do a phone call. So yeah, it was way harder the difference the time difference is 13 hours. So while I asleep, they're awake. So it was super tough. And then slowly, slowly because my ex husband is Colombian, we did bring a little bit of our traditions then I made some friends. And then fast forwarding to today My husband actually is Australian. But my closest friends are Colombian and we every Christmas celebrated the the Australian the Colombian way and my husband loves that we we now have a lot of opportunities to buy frozen stuff from Colombia from Chinese places. Oh really. And by the things that we eat home frozen, or we can buy a little because we don't have in Australia all the vegetables and fruits we have back home.

Sonia Nolan: 34:58

Oh, tell me some of the bed troublesome fruits you have in Colombia,

Alba Gomez: 35:01

oh, there's many fruits that you don't even I don't even know how to say them in English that you will know about, but really different fruits that you probably seen barley, then we have home and then when it comes to vegetables, there is something called is like a green plantain that you find something similar here but it will never be the same. So it's a savoury banana that you actually do fry. Right so we call it PATA Quan, and it's incredible. You put all this stuff on top of it like cheeses and meats and hams and you could put seafood then at a pass, which is our traditional kind of bread. We don't need as much bread, but this is like a corn bread, but it's that texture. Imagine a thicker tortilla, and that's made from corn. So then again, I can buy that but we can no buy that type of corn here in Colombia. There's like 30 types of corns, and you don't have savoury corn in Australia, you just have sweet corn.

Sonia Nolan: 35:51

Oh, now, I didn't know there was that many different types.

Alba Gomez: 35:54

There's even blue purple is incredible the amount of coins there are. So then we kind of buy the cornea but the flower, and it's important from either Venezuela, Colombia. So then we buy the flower now at this Chinese shops. But as time passes, and I think there's more Colombians in Australia, more people on importing things that we can eat. So now it's a little bit easier. However, every time I go home, I'm like, on a rampage. going everywhere eating the things I don't get to hear, of course,

Sonia Nolan: 36:21

and there's so much attachment between memory and taste. Taste something of home, it takes you right back there. Yes, actually,

Alba Gomez: 36:30

we went to Columbia friend's house this Sunday. And she gave us Alfie Kohn, which is just pretty much like, like fruit salad in small squares. But then he's got some liquid. And I literally said it tasted like home. Wonderful. We were all smiling. Like ha. And that would be one of the biggest compliments I'll be is my friend was like big smile. I like this. Thank you so much. It's just Yeah, it's beautiful. It just always makes me happy.

Sonia Nolan: 36:53

Of course it does. Now tell me about happy in Colombia.

Alba Gomez: 36:55

Oh, we're so happy. Like, actually Colombia has been in the top three happiest people in the world. And it's so interesting because knowing that we are a third world country where there's so much poverty. And there's so much challenges that actually what you see in Australia, happy people everywhere. And that's one of the biggest things I love everybody's Smiley. Everybody's passionate. Everybody's warm and open. And I think the big difference is people are not worrying so much about what people are thinking of them. But they worry more about how can they connect connection for us is so important in having a good time and in creating meaningful relationships. i You're getting a boss in a taxi in an Uber, you go to a shopping centre, you walk out having had 10 great conversations. Wonderful. That to me is wonderful. Yeah, it's beautiful. There's just spreading joy everywhere you go. Like, obviously, people have bad days. And not everybody's like that. But as a general rule, the culture is very happy and warm and open.

Sonia Nolan: 37:52

Yeah. And that is what my warm table is all about. So I love hearing all of that. I could talk to you all day. And I feel like we've only just dipped our toe in the water of all the amazing depth of what you have to offer in your business and as a woman and as someone who's transforming lives across the globe. So I'm really excited about that. Thank you for joining me today. Oh, it's been a pleasure. I really have loved reconnecting with you in person. Yes. And and I look forward to maybe even having more conversations on on this podcast.

Alba Gomez: 38:23

Absolutely. Thank you so much.

Sonia Nolan: 38:25

Thank you, Alba. Bye bye. Bye. Alba's transition from engineer to personal brand coach may have seemed like a stretch at first, but she's used her engineering process and systems knowledge to create a business which has gone on to inspire so many people around the world. Alba has hundreds more proven tips and ideas to help us tap into the best version of ourselves and even cure a hangover the Colombian way. In fact, she's just launched her own podcast called amplify with Alba Gomez. You can find out more on her website, Alba gomez.com.au. Let's keep the conversation flowing. Please subscribe to the my warm table podcast and share it with your friends and networks. Perhaps if they are new to podcasting, take a moment to show them how to download and subscribe so they don't miss an episode either. I'd also love you to join our community on Facebook. You'll find the group at my warm table podcast. Your support is very much appreciated. Until next time, shine bright. Be kind and remember that great movements and positive change often begin with ideas shared around a warm table