Join me in candid conversations with immigrants and first-generation individuals who’ve started something meaningful of their own. From entrepreneurs to creatives and small business owners, we’ll explore how change and lived experiences have shaped their journeys and fueled their ideas.
I’m your host, a Colombian-born, New York-based design leader who once launched a travel startup. Like you, I’m here to learn with these remarkable people. Through their stories, we’ll uncover the lessons, turning points, and insights that can inspire all of us to bring our own ideas to life.
In this episode of First Person, we welcome Mari Iwahara, a designer and founder of Sibling, a cross-cultural brand consultancy (https://www.sibling.info/en-home).
Mari shares her unique upbringing in a Japanese household in New York City, her struggles with dual identity, and the pivotal moment that led her to embrace her mixed heritage.
She discusses her journey into the creative field, the founding of her agency, and the importance of cultural exchange. Mari emphasizes the value of being useful and the significance of community in her work, aiming to bridge the gap between Japanese brands and the U.S. market.
Learn more about Sibling:
- Website (https://www.sibling.info/en-home)
- Instagram (https://www.instagram.com/sibling.newyork/)
- LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/company/siblingconsulting/)
31 Jul 2025
Alejandro Lopez — Culture as the Blueprint for Business
Alejandro López is the founder of Toma—a small-batch Bloody Mary mix inspired by his Colombian and Cuban roots.
In this episode, Alejandro shares how growing up as the only Latino family in his Arizona neighborhood shaped his identity, how he found his way into brand marketing, and what led him to start Toma from a family recipe.
We talk about building a business rooted in culture, the creative power of being a solopreneur, and what it means to keep going—even when things get tough.
Alejandro’s story is a reminder that our roots aren’t something we have to grow out of. They can be the foundation for everything we build.
🎧 Listen now and follow First Person for more stories like this.
Learn more about toma on https://drinktoma.com/
16 Jun 2025
Sonny Caberwal — The Gift of Difference
Entrepreneur Sonny Caberwal shares with host Alejo Largo how embracing his unique background as a first-generation American and Sikh model fueled his entrepreneurial success, in this interview.
2 Jun 2025
Rachel Gogel — Designing a Life that Works for You
Host Alejo Largo interviews Rachel Gogel, a design leader, about shaping a career that reflects personal values and leveraging lived experiences to build a fulfilling life.
20 May 2025
A Reflection — Why I Started First Person w/ Alejo Largo
Host Alejo Largo reflects on his multicultural upbringing and journey into the creative world, highlighting how lived experiences shape identity and drive entrepreneurial pursuits in this solo episode.
7 May 2025
Tiffany Shi — From Third-Culture Kid to Entrepreneur and Product Leader
Tiffany Shi discusses her experiences growing up between China and the U.S. and how it shaped her entrepreneurial journey and approach to creative risks in an interview with Alejo Largo.
29 Apr 2025
Introducing First Person
Host Alejo Largo introduces the First Person podcast, exploring how immigrants' experiences shape their entrepreneurial journeys and provide inspiration for bringing ideas to life in this introductory episode.
Who has been a guest on First Person with Alejo Largo
Names identified in recent episode analyses. Showing up to five guests.
Sonny Caberwal
Rachel Gogel
Tiffany Shi
Reach and audience
Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.
YouTube views
1,073
Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025
Apple Podcasts (US)
5.0 / 5
1 ratings
Podcast Authority Score: 34 / 100
A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.
Quality
41
Social presence
0
YouTube
68
Engagement
0
Contact First Person with Alejo Largo
Guest appearances
Books guests
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