She Dares to Speak
Why your voice imperfect and unfiltered matters more than you know
She wasn't built for quiet corners. Born in the vibrant chaos of the Philippines, she devoured knowledge, a scholar fueled by her nation's faith, a debt she vowed to repay.
Then, life cracked open. Loss, a diagnosis, the relentless hum of a workaholic's drive – all threatened to shatter her. But she chose a different path. She said "yes" to the dizzying dream of New York, a tiny apartment, a baby on her hip, and a heart pounding against the city's relentless rhythm.
She wrestled with the unseen, the silent battles fought within, while building a life, a career, a testament to the sheer, audacious power of showing up. This isn't just a story of success; it's a story of choosing courage over comfort, of weaving vulnerability into strength, of daring to share the messy, beautiful truth of a life lived on her own terms.
She discovered that courage wasn't the absence of fear but the willingness to walk forward, even when the path blurred. And now she extends a hand, a bridge built on shared experience, inviting you to do the same.
Meet
Q: Tell us a little bit about your background
I was born and raised in the Philippines. I graduated from the top high school and university in the country. I was a scholar, which means the Philippine Government (through my countrymen’s tax money) paid for my education. I’m grateful for it and have been giving back through philanthropic initiatives, such as providing school resource-speaking events. I speak about Career Development, Communication Skills, and Corporate World 101 to students who want to migrate to the U.S. or venture into an Information Technology (IT) career.
In 2012, I was diagnosed with bipolar disorder. It was a strange and tough time in my life because my mother had just passed away the year before (2011). I was also a highly functional workaholic—so functional that it led a Managing Director from New York to hire me as one of their resources.
I said YES to the opportunity. (New York City had always been a dream of mine to live and work in—those sitcoms like Friends and Seinfeld had a LOT of influence on me when I was younger.)
With a one-year-old, my husband and I left our families and started our life in the U.S.—in a tiny New York apartment. I would commute one hour to the Manhattan office, and my husband would stay with our baby until I came home.
Ten years of figuring out parenting in a foreign land while being an IT Consultant, Project Manager, and Success Manager in a Fortune 500 consulting firm was not easy without the physical presence of our relatives. But we made it work.
Q: Beyond the act of hitting "publish," what's the most courageous thing you've done as a writer on Substack?
Commenting on big names, like Tim Denning, I would review my grammar and how readable my thoughts are, since I know thousands of people could potentially read what I have to say. Another feature I started in 2024 was the podcast feature. :) I’ve recorded only 2 sessions so far, and I feel like once I get my systems in order (just started my path from a 9-to-5er to a business owner), I’ll go back to podcasting and interview my women friends in the Philippines who inspire me every day.
Q: Many people dream of writing but fear judgment or failure. What advice would you give to those who are hesitant to share their voice on Substack?
The world needs to hear your voice. There’s no one who has lived life the way you’re living it. Your experiences and your perspectives are unique—someone out there could be a person whose life you may impact hugely. Do the world a favor—share your voice. Someone is meant to hear it and be transformed by it.
Q: In your opinion, what's the most courageous thing a reader can do after engaging with your work?
Set up a connection to get to know me. I have a reader who works in the medical space. She set up a Zoom call with me so we could get to know each other. That conversation led me to gain more connections in her space. I love how the community on Substack is so friendly and high-quality.
Q: Vulnerability is often a key component of courage. How do you balance being vulnerable with maintaining healthy boundaries as a writer in such a public space?
There are several articles on Substack where I’ve disclosed my battle with bipolar disorder. There were times when I felt I might have shared too much. The reward is that a few acquaintances in the Philippines, who are also subscribers, replied and said how the article helped them understand themselves and people close to them.
There’s still a long way to go when it comes to mental health education in our country. The tips, notes, mental models, and thought patterns I’ve learned from my project mentors and from interacting with amazing and strong people—I make sure to share them with others so that I’m a vessel and a bridge to inform others about tools that I know work, as they worked for me.
Q: Courage often involves taking risks. What's the biggest risk you've taken in sharing your writing or building your Substack community?
I’ve recently changed my newsletter name from “Mindful Moments” to “Mindful Tech Simplified.” The first one seemed like it was all about mindfulness and mental well-being. This 2025, I’d like to focus on sharing the skills I’ve developed in the tech industry I’ve worked in for years and share tips, tools, and techniques to simplify chaotic systems, especially for those who have invested in expensive tools (like Salesforce CRM, for example). I’d like to be a guide to those who need help in this aspect.
Q: What advice would you give to someone who feels stuck or unfulfilled but is hesitant to take the leap and reinvent themselves?
Take long walks. Allow yourself to be bored and detach.
I felt stuck too when I was still working my 9-to-5 job. I felt unfulfilled with what I was doing, and I wasn’t happy. Little did I know, I’d be starting my own business in 2025 and could dictate my workday the way I wanted it.
It’s the belief that whatever life throws at us, there’s always going to be a guide, a person, an experience, or a gut feeling that will make us take action.
I’m already turning 46 this year, and I feel like I’m just getting started to reinvent myself.
Q: If you could go back and tell your pre-Substack self one thing about the journey ahead, what would it be?
Engage more, don’t overthink that article, and work on your digital writing skills. Listen to people who have done the work, walk the talk, and stay consistent. It’s not complicated—you just need to get started. And while you’re at it—enjoy!
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’s way of being, subscribe and reach out! She’d love to hear from you.
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Another wonderful conversation which I found helpful and inspiring. Thank you for introducing Mae Salinas whom I will follow soon. Your servant leadership means a lot to me and our community. Thank you Magdalena.
Love this insight into the struggles Mae Salinas has overcome - sometimes we all just have to grab our concerns by the scruff of the neck and do it anyway! Kudos to you - and to Magdalena for sharing these stories!