From underpaid to unstoppable: A story of resilience, fairness, and leadership

Voices of Viva is a conversation-style blog series that explores the “why” behind our mission through the lens of our team at Viva. Today, we’ll tell you a story of resilience.

In Episode 4, we get to hear the story of Daniela Gonzalez, a long-standing Viva team member who pivoted from a unique career as an equestrian instructor to executive operations when she joined. Since joining, Dani has become a role model for many team members and has received comments like “Dani is the GOAT” (greatest of all time). She has paved the way for many others through her notable impact and coaching.

What Gender Equality Means to Her

“Gender equality means having the same access to opportunities and your voice being heard the same as other voices.”

Dani believes gender equality is about access, inclusion, and the confidence to speak up. She recognizes that progress has been made, especially compared to her mother’s generation, but there’s still work to do.

Progress Starts with Yourself

“If you want to create an impact on the world and the system, the first step is to create an impact on yourself.”

Dani shares how Viva has enabled her to grow personally and professionally. She highlights the ripple effect of personal development: when individuals grow, they influence teams, organizations, and eventually the broader system.

Fighting for Change Through Education

“Fighting for change means educating people and making them conscious about reality.”

Dani supports newer team members by encouraging them to speak up and think critically. Her approach isn’t about giving answers but about challenging mindsets and developing the “muscle” to think independently. Dani won’t give you the answers. She’s going to challenge you to think.

Overcoming Gender Inequality

Dani recounts a past job where she was underpaid compared to male colleagues despite working longer hours.

“The answer I got when asking for an adjustment was, ‘No, because you live with your parents.’”

This experience fueled her desire to advocate for fairness and led her to seek out a work environment, like Viva, where she is respected and valued.

Her Role Models: Mom and Grandma

“My mom has not been defeated. That’s the woman I want to be someday.”

Raised by strong women, Dani was inspired by her grandmother, a single mom in the 1960s, and her own mother, who has now worked for 27 years in the same company. Their perseverance and values taught her resilience, independence, and how to set healthy boundaries.

Humility and Leadership

Dani is often praised by her peers as the GOAT, but she remains humble. When asking her about this, she shared:

“I feel awkward about it… I prefer recognition when it comes from others noticing what I do, because actions speak louder than just me talking about it.”

She attributes her impact to being genuinely involved, working across multiple areas effectively, and treating people as individuals.

Learning from Women Executives

Dani has supported senior female executives at one of the fastest-growing companies in the world. Here’s what she has observed:

“What made them successful was patience, caring, and a people orientation.”

Dani admires the leaders she’s supported, noting that their strength lies in caring about people, creating psychological safety, and leading with empathy.

Advice for Early-Career Professionals

“Own your business. If you want to grow, seek growth. If you want to learn, seek learning opportunities.”

Dani urges others to take control of their own journey. Her advice centers on three things:

1. Set boundaries – Know what you’re willing to take on and why.
2. Be patient – Sometimes clarity comes with time.
3. Be proactive – Growth doesn’t happen passively, you own your path.

Final Thought

“Not everything is written in stone. There’s always a way to make things better or different that will cause an impact.”

Dani reminds us that change is always possible. With the right mindset, we can reshape our lives and the systems we’re part of.

If you’re looking for an executive assistant who leads with humility, drives change, and inspires growth, book a call with us today.

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Adnan Khan

Adnan is a Co-founder & co-CEO at Viva, where he oversees the People and Customer Success functions. Prior to Viva, Adnan was at Deloitte Consulting, where he was exposed to many key ingredients for his Viva journey, including executive assistants, Latin American talent, and remote work. Health and family are Adnan’s two biggest priorities outside of his career. He enjoys playing squash, running long distances, and cooking. Quality time is his love language and he likes to spend his time with his wife and son. Adnan writes frequently about leadership, delegation, and executive assistants on the Viva blog.