LEVERAGE - Undocumented Entrepreneurship Journey

About LEVERAGE - Undocumented Entrepreneurship Journey

I wasn’t supposed to have many opportunities. As an undocumented immigrant living with epilepsy, I built my first business at 19 without DACA, used entrepreneurship to help pay for UCLA, and later secured over $30,000 in grants to grow my mission. Now I’m building UndocuStartup to empower undocumented students through entrepreneurship. Follow along as I document the real journey of building a business without limits. Are you an undocumented student center looking to bring entrepreneurship programming for your undocumented students? Visit www.undocustartup.com, let's collaborate!

Publisher

Juan Maya Hernandez

Category

business

Language

en

Explicit

No

First episode

29 Jul 2023

Latest episode

9 Oct 2026

Latest episodes

152 episodes in the feed.

1. 

   9 Oct 2026

   43 Life Lessons at 27, My Biggest Regrets & What I'd Do Differently | Ep 150

   In this episode, I talk about why you should stop chasing people, why thinking bigger costs absolutely nothing, why making more money matters, and why entrepreneurship is an infinite game that most people aren't prepared to play.I also share how my faith in God has helped me navigate uncertainty, why I've committed to building UndocuStartup™ for the long term, and why learning to say NO might be one of the most important skills you can develop.If you're in your twenties, building a business, navigating uncertainty, or feeling behind in life, this episode is for you.You don't have to have everything figured out.You just have to keep moving forward.🔑 In this episode you’ll learn:- 43 lessons I wish I knew sooner: Why you should stop chasing people, set boundaries, embrace rejection, protect your energy, and fall in love with the person you're becoming.- The uncomfortable truths about entrepreneurship and money: What I've learned from going months without contracts, changing marketing strategies, thinking bigger, making more money, and committing to building a business for the next 10–15 years.- How to build a life you're actually proud of: Why faith, gratitude, discipline, relationships, health, and having a purpose bigger than yourself matter more than external validation.📣 Whether you’re a student with an idea, or an ally who wants to see undocumented students win — this episode is for you.📆 Bring UndocuStartup™ to Your Campus: Want to inspire the next generation of undocumented entrepreneurs? Bring UndocuStartup™ to your college or university and help students turn their ideas into businesses through entrepreneurship education, mentorship, and real-world experiences.🚀 Learn more: www.undocustartup.com🌍 UndocuStartup™ Week: An initiative dedicated to empowering undocumented students through entrepreneurship, innovation, and community.Discover how we're helping students explore entrepreneurship, develop their ideas, and build pathways toward financial independence—regardless of immigration status.Whether you're an undocumented student, educator, campus leader, or ally, discover how you can get involved and help create more opportunities for the next generation of entrepreneurs.⚡ Learn more: www.undocustartup.com/week🚀 12 Ways to Connect With Me:- Newsletter → https://shorturl.at/mpzLO- Programs & Speaking → https://www.undocustartup.com- TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@jmayahern- Business IG → https://instagram.com/undocustartup/- Personal IG → https://instagram.com/jmayahe/- LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/juanmayahernandez/- LinkedIn Newsletter → https://linkedin.com/newsletters/7011183488515129344/- Reddit → https://reddit.com/r/Undocumentedstudents/- Threads → https://www.threads.net/@jmayahern- Email → jmayahern@undocustartup.com- Website → https://www.jmayahern.com- Full podcast archive → https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/juan-maya-hernandez🎤 Hosted by Juan Maya Hernandez, founder of UndocuStartup™ — the leading entrepreneurship program for undocumented students.🧠 Be motivated. Stay motivated.

2. 

   23 Aug 2026

   STOP Believing YOU HAVE NO OPTIONS Because You’re Undocumented | Ep 149

   REPOST: In this episode, I break down five things that can hold us back as undocumented students: doubting ourselves, not knowing what’s legally possible, staying silent, getting trapped in survival mode, and feeling like we’re alone. I share parts of my own journey—from taking an $11-an-hour under-the-table restaurant job because I thought that was one of my only options, to navigating UCLA, asking for help, finding resources, and eventually building UndocuStartup™. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is that being undocumented doesn’t mean we have to stop dreaming. Sometimes we have to speak up, find the right people, learn what options actually exist, and build with what we have. Your circumstances may shape your path, but they don’t have to determine how far you can go. 🔑 In this episode you’ll learn: How to recognize when fear, self-doubt, and survival mode are keeping you from thinking bigger. Why learning your options, asking for help, and understanding entrepreneurship can open new paths for undocumented students. How I learned to speak up, “recycle my struggle,” and use my experiences to build something meaningful. 📣 Whether you’re a student with an idea, or an ally who wants to see undocumented students win — this episode is for you. 📆 Learn how to bring UndocuStartup™ to your campus: www.undocustartup.com (http://www.undocustartup.com/) 🚀 12 Ways to Connect With Me: Newsletter → https://shorturl.at/mpzLO (https://shorturl.at/mpzLO) Programs & Speaking → https://www.undocustartup.com (https://www.undocustartup.com/) TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@jmayahern (https://www.tiktok.com/@jmayahern) Business IG → https://instagram.com/undocustartup/ (https://instagram.com/undocustartup/) Personal IG → https://instagram.com/jmayahe/ (https://instagram.com/jmayahe/) LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/juanmayahernandez/ (https://linkedin.com/in/juanmayahernandez/) LinkedIn Newsletter → https://linkedin.com/newsletters/7011183488515129344/ (https://linkedin.com/newsletters/7011183488515129344/) Reddit → https://reddit.com/r/Undocumentedstudents/ (https://reddit.com/r/Undocumentedstudents/) Threads → https://www.threads.net/@jmayahern (https://www.threads.net/@jmayahern) Email → jmayahern@undocustartup.com (mailto:jmayahern@undocustartup.com) Website → https://www.jmayahern.com (https://www.jmayahern.com/) Full podcast archive → https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/juan-maya-hernandez (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/juan-maya-hernandez) 🎤 Hosted by Juan Maya Hernandez, founder of UndocuStartup™ — the leading entrepreneurship program for undocumented students. 🧠 Be motivated. Stay motivated.

3. 

   20 Aug 2026

   UndocuStartup Weekly #35: Lessons from UndocuStartup Week | Ep 148

   In this episode, I break down eight lessons from running UndocuStartup™ Week, a free seven-day entrepreneurship program designed to make entrepreneurship more accessible to undocumented students across the U.S. After receiving 55+ applications with only one month of marketing, I’m reflecting on what worked, what didn’t, and what needs to change. I share why stronger systems and follow-up matter, why future cohorts may need a more selective application process, what getting zero sponsors taught me, and how word of mouth could become a major distribution channel. I also explore the possibility of themed cohorts and what it would take to make this program recurring and less dependent on me personally. 🔑 In this episode you’ll learn: Why systemizing applications, onboarding, reminders, delivery, and post-program follow-up could make UndocuStartup™ Week easier to scale. What 55+ applications, participant commitment, and organic word of mouth revealed about marketing and selecting future cohorts. How sponsorship strategy, delegation, and themed cohorts could shape the next version of the program. 📣 Whether you’re a student with an idea, or an ally who wants to see undocumented students win — this episode is for you. 📆 Learn how to bring UndocuStartup™ to your campus: www.undocustartup.com (http://www.undocustartup.com/) 🚀 12 Ways to Connect With Me: Newsletter → https://shorturl.at/mpzLO (https://shorturl.at/mpzLO) Programs & Speaking → https://www.undocustartup.com (https://www.undocustartup.com/) TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@jmayahern (https://www.tiktok.com/@jmayahern) Business IG → https://instagram.com/undocustartup/ (https://instagram.com/undocustartup/) Personal IG → https://instagram.com/jmayahe/ (https://instagram.com/jmayahe/) LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/juanmayahernandez/ (https://linkedin.com/in/juanmayahernandez/) LinkedIn Newsletter → https://linkedin.com/newsletters/7011183488515129344/ (https://linkedin.com/newsletters/7011183488515129344/) Reddit → https://reddit.com/r/Undocumentedstudents/ (https://reddit.com/r/Undocumentedstudents/) Threads → https://www.threads.net/@jmayahern (https://www.threads.net/@jmayahern) Email → jmayahern@undocustartup.com (mailto:jmayahern@undocustartup.com) Website → https://www.jmayahern.com (https://www.jmayahern.com/) Full podcast archive → https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/juan-maya-hernandez (https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/juan-maya-hernandez) 🎤 Hosted by Juan Maya Hernandez, founder of UndocuStartup™ — the leading entrepreneurship program for undocumented students. 🧠 Be motivated. Stay motivated.

Reach and audience

Public platform figures. Ratings count people who left a rating, not total listeners.

YouTube views

294,291

Score snapshot 15 Sept 2025

Apple Podcasts (US)

5.0 / 5

4 ratings

Spotify

5.0 / 5

7 ratings

Podcast Authority Score: 81 / 100

A composite of feed quality, social presence, YouTube performance and engagement. Read the methodology.

Quality

99

Social presence

0

YouTube

86

Engagement

71

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