contacto@valce.com.mx
A few years ago, you’d find me in a completely different setting—one filled with music, movement, and energy. I was leading salsa dance classes, traveling across Latin America to compete, and proudly ranked among the top 10 in my category. My specialty? New York Style salsa — Mambo On2 — a rhythm born from the streets of New York but embraced by dancers worldwide.
Back then, it was just a passion.
Movement.
Music.
Community.
I lived for the thrill of learning new routines, mastering over twelve different rhythms, from sensual bachata to the fast-paced Cuban son. Dancing gave me confidence. It taught me discipline. It introduced me to people from all walks of life. Yet, I had no idea that those years on the dance floor were preparing me for something much bigger — my career in sales and business development.
What Dance Really Taught Me
As a dance teacher, I wasn’t just teaching steps. I was learning to:
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Lead with confidence — guiding people who had never danced before to move as if they had years of experience.
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Read people quickly — understanding their energy, pace, body language, and comfort level within minutes.
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Adjust my delivery — because every student was different. Some needed humor, some needed patience, others needed precision.
Little did I know, those exact same skills would later define my success in the business world.
The Shift From Dance to Business
At first, dancing was my escape. It kept me active after stepping away from mixed martial arts. It was a creative outlet, a community, and a way to stay mentally and physically sharp. I didn’t step onto the dance floor expecting to grow a business network. But that’s exactly what happened.
Week after week, I met entrepreneurs, business owners, tech leaders, and creatives. And in a space where people showed up as their authentic selves, I found real connections. I didn’t have to pitch. I didn’t have to cold-call. I just had to be present, engage, and build trust. Before I knew it, dance students became clients. Casual conversations turned into business deals.
I realized something important:
People don’t buy your pitch — they buy you.
They buy trust.
And dance gave me the ability to build trust quickly and authentically.
Applying the Lessons in Business
Today, I lead commercial growth at Valce Talent Solutions. My role is to help companies across the U.S. scale their teams through nearshore staffing in Latin America. We build bridges between companies and talent in Mexico, Colombia, and beyond.
And every day, I apply the same principles I learned on the dance floor:
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Connect first, sell second — Building relationships that feel personal, not transactional.
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Lead with confidence — Guiding clients through complex staffing decisions with clarity and expertise.
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Stay adaptable — Reading the room, adjusting the approach, and meeting people where they are.
I’ve learned that the secret to sales isn’t in the perfect script or the latest tool. It’s in how you show up. It’s in how you connect. And in my case, my secret weapon wasn’t a business degree — it was salsa.
The Bigger Picture
I still dance. I always will. But today, my rhythm is different. I help businesses move faster, smoother, and smarter. I scale teams. I break barriers between markets. I help companies move with the same flow and precision as a well-led dance partnership.
And here’s what I’ve learned along the way:
Sometimes, your background isn’t just part of your story —
It’s your competitive edge.
So whatever your journey has been — whether you started in sports, arts, hospitality, or something else entirely — don’t underestimate it. You might just be one step away from discovering that what makes you different is exactly what makes you great.