She handed her law degree to her mother to thank her, and quit an elite Miami law firm on her first day. Then she headed to culinary school—in France. Might be easy to say the rest is history, but that’s not the case with this Venezuelan powerhouse and former Top Chef Masters star. From being told her accent would hold her back, to being discouraged from having her own television show, Lorena has never allowed other people’s limitations to hold her back. Now, as the head of a growing culinary empire, she looks back at the unconventional way she made it to the top.

Follow Lorena on Twitter @lorenagarcia and on Instagram @cheflorena, @lorenagarciaculinaryloft and @chicarestaurants. If you loved this episode, listen to to-latina.simplecast.com/episodes/how-heyfranheys-francheska-medina-healed-herself">Fran Medina and to-latina.simplecast.com/episodes/nicole-mejia-wants-you-to-love-yourself-all-of-you">Nicole Mejia. Show your love and become a Latina to Latina Patreon supporter!