Some experiences shape you early, whether you’re ready for them or not. For Monica Guardian, a defining childhood moment became the quiet force behind a lifetime of service. With over two decades of experience in public service, nonprofit leadership, and healthcare, she has developed programs that empower youth, strengthen families, and protect seniors—all rooted in a deep conviction that community care saves lives.

This episode shows what happens when resilience is paired with action. Monica didn’t just pursue a career—she built a purpose. Her story reveals how empathy, persistence, and vision can turn personal trials into a legacy of leadership and impact.

In this episode of Amiga, Handle Your Shit, Monica Guardian opens up about growing up in East Los Angeles, co-founding a youth nonprofit as a teenager, and rising through the ranks of city government to manage multimillion-dollar community programs. She shares her international work on cyber safety, her leadership in healthcare, and the lessons she’s learned about resilience, mentorship, and multiplying leaders.

Monica opens up about starting a youth-led nonprofit as a teenager, running multimillion-dollar programs for the City of Los Angeles, and now shaping senior care as an executive in the healthcare sector. Her story is one of courage, service, and leadership rooted in empathy.

Tune in to episode 246 of Amiga Handle Your Shit if you’ve ever questioned whether you have the strength to keep going. This episode will remind you: not only can you rise, you can transform hardship into impact for generations to come.

Episode Takeaways:

• Monica’s East LA upbringing and the family foundation that shaped her values (02:57 )
• How the murder of her brother fueled her lifelong commitment to community service (05:16 )
• Founding the East Los Angeles Youth Leadership Council as a teenager (08:12 )
• What she learned about persistence while securing $63,000 in funding as a teen activist (09:37 )
• Lessons in empathy, leadership, and public service from her time in city government (13:55 )
• Her international work on cyber safety in Uruguay (24:06 )
• Why building other leaders—not just leading—is the true test of leadership (31:10 )
• How she blends family, career, and service while raising five children in a blended household (37:12 )
• Monica’s perspective on funding challenges in the nonprofit and health sectors (42:34 )
• Her two powerful tips for every Amiga to “handle her shit”: show up for yourself daily and use the to-do list as your compass (45:47 )

Connect with Monica Guardian:

• LinkedIn

Let’s Connect!

• Website
• Facebook
• Instagram
• LinkedIn
• Jackie Tapia Arbonne's website
• Book: The AMIGA Way: Release Cultural Limiting Beliefs to Transform Your Life

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