Bridget Espinosa standing near honey bee supermercado next to the flags with the Brooke and the Michigan Central Train Station behind her

Chapter 54: MÁS

August 20, 2026

On August 24th, I turn 54.

Every year around my birthday, I choose a word to help shape the year ahead. This year, one word kept showing up again and again in my journal:

MÁS.

I have experienced a lot of loss over the last few years, and I am rebuilding a life that truly feels like mine.

That rebuilding has come with growth, change, difficult decisions, and more than a few growing pains.

But it has also created clarity.

Clarity about what matters.
Clarity about what I value.
Clarity about the kind of life and work I am choosing next.

That is part of why MÁS feels so important to me this year.

I am deeply grateful for the life I have built, the work I get to do, the people I love, the communities that have welcomed me, and the opportunities that have brought me here. I treasure my family, the people who have loved me through every version of myself, and for the privilege of watching my children build lives of their own.

MÁS is about expansion.

It is about continuing to evolve while staying grounded in the values that have guided both me and my work: integrity, communication, collaboration, authenticity and growth.

MÁS impact.

More stages and microphones.

More opportunities to speak, teach, facilitate and lead conversations that matter.

More workshops. More partnerships. More international work.

More meaningful collaborations that connect people, businesses and communities.

More creative work.

More financial stability. More profitable work. More clients and partnerships that value the expertise behind the work.

MÁS life.

More energy and strength.

More rest and wellness.

More dancing. More live music. More travel. More cities I have yet to discover.

More sand and sea. More sunsets and full moons.

More friendship. More connection. More deep conversations and laughter.

More adventures.

More saying yes.

More experiences that become stories worth telling.

MÁS is not a declaration that I already have everything I need. It is a decision about what I am willing to pursue, build, receive and create next.

MÁS of what matters.

More freedom.

More generosity.

More learning.

More possibility.

More memories.

More moments of surprise.

More opportunities to use everything I have learned so far in ways I have not yet imagined.

I can be deeply grateful for what I have built and still be honest about wanting (and needing!) more.

MÁS means growth with intention: more stability, more opportunity, more joy, and a life and business that feel increasingly sustainable and aligned.

I also know that 54 years of living, learning, teaching, building businesses, making mistakes, solving problems and starting again have given me something valuable: experience. I intend to use it.

At 54, I am not interested in becoming an entirely different person. I truly love the woman, entrepreneur, coach, author and professional speaker I have become.

I am simply ready for more of the life and work that feel most like me.

Chapter 54 is about holding gratitude and ambition at the same time.

It is about being grateful for what already exists while remaining open, intentional and courageous about what comes next.

This year, MÁS is not about pretending that everything is easy or already figured out.

It is about refusing to confuse a difficult season with a future so extraordinary that I still cannot imagine it.

My word for this next chapter is simple.

MÁS.

Bridget Espinosa sitting casually on a bench with the Gordie Howe International Bridge in the background with wind blown red hair.

UNAPOLOGETICALLY

July 11, 2026

Become More You

For years, I thought I was teaching business strategy.

Then I thought I was teaching alignment.

Today, I realize I’ve been teaching something much bigger.

I’ve been helping people to design the life that they want to live.

I’ve been helping people become more themselves.

Not a “better” version.
Not a perfect version.
Not someone else’s version.

The most authentic version of who they already are.

The people I work with aren’t looking for another motivational quote or another checklist.

They’re looking for permission. Sometimes all it takes is for someone else to tell you to go for it.

Permission to change.
Permission to grow.
Permission to leave what no longer fits.
Permission to dream bigger.
Permission to take up space.

I’ve learned that growth can’t happen if we don’t believe that we deserve to live our dreams.

Growth happens because we finally realize we are worth investing in.

That belief has shaped every major decision I’ve made.

Pillar 1: Alignment

Everything begins with alignment.

When your life no longer reflects your values, you feel it. You may not have the words yet, but your energy, relationships, work, and health begin telling the story.

One of the biggest shifts in my own life was recognizing that work-life balance wasn’t what I wanted.

I wanted alignment.

That realization eventually became my book, Harmony Aligned, and completely changed how I coach women today.

Alignment isn’t about doing less.

It’s about making decisions that reflect who you are becoming.

Pillar 2: Authenticity

Authenticity isn’t a branding strategy.

It’s a way of living.

For years I’ve built business and a life that reflects who I am: bilingual, entrepreneurial, community-centered, deeply connected to both Detroit and Mexico.

I’ve stopped trying to fit into one category.

I am a business strategist.
I am an educator.
I am an author.
I am a professional speaker.
I am an entrepreneur.
I am a nonprofit leader.
I am a coach.

The more I embraced and integrated all of those identities instead of choosing just one, the more my work began attracting the right people.

Authenticity creates clarity, even when it looks confusing from the outside.

Pillar 3: Self-Trust

Sometimes self-trust looks much smaller than people expect.

After my separation from Paco, I switched sides of the bed.

There wasn’t some profound reason.

I just did.

Years later I realized I had never switched back.

That tiny decision reminded me of something much bigger.

Life is rebuilt one small choice at a time.

Self-trust isn’t always dramatic.

Sometimes it’s simply allowing yourself to choose differently without needing to justify it.

Pillar 4: Courage

Courage isn’t the absence of fear.

It’s action before certainty.

I’ve built, failed and rebuilt my business. I created something that never existed.

I’ve hired and led teams.

I’ve started over more than once.

I’ve applied for opportunities that scared me, including TEDx. (Fingers still crossed!)

I’ve chosen to build a life between two countries because it reflects the life I want—not necessarily the easier one.

Every one of those decisions required courage long before confidence arrived.

Confidence follows courage.

Not the other way around.

Pillar 5: Growth

Growth is a lifelong decision.

I’ve failed.

I’ve pivoted.

I’ve started over.

I’ve continuously launched new projects, programs & platforms. I have closed chapters that no longer fit, written a book, raised my coaching prices when I finally recognized the value I bring, and continued learning every step of the way.

None of those decisions came from believing I wasn’t enough.

They came from believing I was worth investing in.

Growth is an act of self-respect.

Pillar 6: Joy

Joy isn’t something we earn after success.

It’s something we create along the way.

You’ll find me dancing.

Swimming in the ocean.

Traveling.

Laughing with friends.

Speaking on stage.

Singing.

Exploring new places.

Those aren’t distractions from my purpose.

They are expressions of it.

The fullest version of ourselves isn’t found only at work.

It’s found in the moments when we feel completely alive.

That is the life I’m choosing to build.

And that’s the life I want to help other women build, too.

Because becoming more yourself may be the bravest thing you’ll ever do.

2022: A Year to Remember!

January 16, 2023

Puente Annual Report 2022

puente-annual-report-2022 Download

Eventos 2022

Durante el año 2022 tuvimos un índice de participación en nuestros eventos que nos sorprendió. Nos gustaría agradecer a quienes nos invitaron a su(s) evento(s), nos acompañaron, a los dueños de negocios que nos permitieron ser anfitriones en sus locales, a los panelistas que participaron y, sobre todo, a nuestros patrocinadores. Esto no hubiera sido posible sin todos ustedes. A continuación se muestran imágenes y un pequeño resúmen de algunos de los eventos del año anterior.

¡Estamos emocionados por lo que vendrá en 2023!

During 2022 we had an outstanding participation rate in our events. We would like to thank those who invited us to their event(s), joined us, the business owners who allowed us to host at their establishments, the panelists who participated, and most of all our sponsors. This would not have been possible without all of you. Below are pictures and link recaps of a few of the events from this previous year.

We are excited for what is to come in 2023!

Chelas & Cheers con Contratistas

Empezó con la idea de reunir a los contratistas y celebrar a aquellos que reciben su certificación en reducción de plomo, junto con los empleados de la ciudad que pueden ayudarlos. Sin embargo, este evento lo organizamos para reunir a todo tipo de emprendedores para establecer contactos y forjar nuevas relaciones mientras disfrutan de una bebida y comparten ideas.

¡Felicitaciones a los participantes de la reducción de plomo que recibieron su certificado en 2022!

May 3rd, 2022 at Los Altos Restaurant

October 4th, 2022 at La Palapa del Parian

December 21st, 2022 at La Posada Mexican Restaurant

Initiated in an attempt to bring contractors together and to celebrate those who receive their certification in Lead Abatement as well as city employees who can assist them. We hosts these to bring together every kind of entrepreneur to network and forge new relationships while enjoying a drink and sharing ideas.

Congratulations to the Lead Abatement partcipants who received their certificate in 2022!

Cheers! with Business Alianzas

El propósito es reunir a los miembros de Business Alianzas, así como a otros empresarios, para conocer dónde se encuentra su negocio y cómo podemos ayudarlos. Este es un buen momento para tomar un descanso y pasar el rato con otros. A veces tenemos invitados especiales quienes comparten información valiosa para los emprendedores.

January 18, 2022
at La Posada

August 24, 2022
Cheers to 50 Years!

Is meant to bring together Business Alianzas members as well as other entrepreneurs to learn about where their business stands and how we can help. This is a great time to take a break and hangout with others. Some times we have guest speakers who share predominant information with the entrepreneurs.

Cafecito with Business Alianzas

Cafecito con Business Alianzas es un evento trimestral de networking en la mañana para dueños de pequeñas empresas y líderes comunitarios en el suroeste de Detroit. Los eventos de Cafecito han sido patrocinados por Alliance Catholic Credit Union desde 2021. Estamos agradecidos por su continua coperación. Los Cafecitos trimestrales ya están programados para 2023: el primero se realizará el 24 de enero.

February • May • November

2022

Cafecito with Business Alianzas is a quarterly AM networking event for small business owners and community leaders in Southwest Detroit. Cafecito events have been sponsored by Alliance Catholic Credit Union since 2021. We are grateful for their continued partnership. Quarterly Cafecitos are scheduled for 2023 – the first one is coming up on January 24th.

Mercadito

A finales de 2021 iniciamos un evento en colaboración con El Artesano llamado Mercadito para promover las pequeñas empresas y ayudarlas a hacer crecer su negocio. En 2022 organizamos 2 Mercaditos y asistieron más de 30 vendedores. Planeamos continuar con estas ventanas para ayudar a otros proveedores.

Toward the end of 2021 we initiated a pop-up event in collaboration with El Artesano called Mercadito to promote small businesses and help them grow their business. In 2022 we hosted 2 Mercaditos & had more than 30 vendors who attended. We plan to continue these pop-ups to help other vendors.

Develop with Business Alianzas /
Bilingual Bootcamp Credito Commercial

El propósito de este evento bilingüe es ayudar a los dueños de negocios a conocer las diferentes formas en que pueden aumentar su crédito comercial. Los panelistas, banqueros y prestamistas se unen a nosotros durante estos eventos para brindar más información sobre cómo pueden ayudar o cómo y por qué es importante el crédito comercial.

The purpose of the Bilingual Bootcamp & Develop with Business Alianzas is to help business owners learn about the different ways that they can grow their business credit. Panelists, bankers, and lenders join us during these events to provide more information about how they can help or how/why business credit is important.

Charlas

Estamos ofreciendo Charlas virtuales breves en español o bilingües de temas para emprendimiento durante todo el año. Se puede conectar por zoom a cualquier de las Charlas con este enlace de Zoom: bit.ly/micharla

We also offer short (bilingual or Spanish only) virtual presentations about entrepreneurial topics throughout the year. You can connect by zoom to any of the Charlas with this link: bit.ly/micharla

Learn More

Lead Abatement classes have been a success!

Durante el año tuvimos 70 participantes y ayudamos a certificar a 59 de ellos; esperamos ayudar a certificar más en 2023. Las clases fueron de forma gratuita para los residentes de Detroit y contratistas que trabajan o planean trabajar con la ciudad de Detroit. Aparte de completar todo el papeleo, nuestro equipo se comunicó con la ciudad y el estado para programar las fechas de clases y exámenes. Nos gustaría agradecer a todos los contratistas que participaron en estas clases, los inspectores estatales y los empleados estatales que nos ayudaron a hacer esto posible.

We had 70 participants and helped certify 59 of them and look forward to helping certify more in 2023. Classes were provided free of charge to Detroit residents and to other contractors who are working or planning to work with the city of Detroit. Our team helped fill out all of the paperwork and had communication with the city and state to schedule the class and exam dates. We would like to thank all the contractors who participated in these classes, state inspectors, and the state employees who helped us make this possible.

Keep Reading

Small Business Gala

“The Small Business Ethnic and Minority Media Appreciation Dinner on Wednesday, September 7th, 2022 brought together micro-business owners, Black and Brown community leaders and our Metro Detroit ethnic press together to network and celebrate at one of the most prestigious locations in the midwest, the Detroit Institute of Arts.
Our incredible team spent weeks inviting and confirming the guest list for this free event. Puente is so thrilled to have partnered with the Latino Press Foundation to host this celebration of our small businesses in Southeastern Michigan. I am so proud and grateful for my staff!”… Keep Reading

WE HOPE TO SEE YOU IN OUR 2023 EVENTS

TE ESPERAMOS EN NUESTROS EVENTOS DEL 2023

ANCHORED in 2022

January 13, 2022

Our word for 2022 is ANCHORED. Puente Cultural Integration spent all of 2020 living with INTENTION and all of 2021 DEVELOPing our team, new programs, new platforms, new partnerships. We will revisit this metaphoric ANCHOR frequently, understanding that we are anchored with room to move, to ride the waves, but that our foundation is strong. We are rooted and connected to our community around us, connected to partnerships, connected to our clients, and connected as a team.

Definition of ANCHOR:
A source of security or stability.

“At its core of most anchor symbolism, though, lies strength, faith, and hope. When a ship’s captain calls for the anchor to be dropped, it’s to stabilize and secure the craft, even in the stormiest of waters.”
Karma & Luck

Definition:

Full Definition of Anchor per Merriam Webster

(Entry 1 of 2)

a device usually of metal attached to a ship or boat by a cable and cast overboard to hold it in a particular place by means of a fluke that digs into the bottom
a reliable or principal support : MAINSTAY
something that serves to hold an object firmly

Preparing Your Anchor: “Be sure the anchor line is strong and long enough to anchor [your boat]. A good rule of thumb is that the length of the line should be at least seven to ten times the depth of the water where you are setting anchor.”

As I read the quote above, I reflected on the length of my line. I currently have a team of four talented, bilingual women in Detroit and we’ve just added our first male to the staff. In Puerto Morelos, I have my business partner and our contracted webmaster. So now Puente is a team of eight. In addition to our staff, we have just over 150 partners and clients. With this team, we will go far in 2022! Goals … 7×10

Hope you find your anchor in 2022!

Bridget B. Espinosa
CEO, Puente Cultural Integration

Reflection 2021: Changes and Challenges

December 27, 2021

This seemingly never-ending global pandemic has provoked so much change and challenge over the last two years. As we hear of new variants, flights cancelled, restrictions recommended and with the future uncertain, it is easy to sink into complacency or dispair. Our team at Puente Cultural Integration never stopped working for our clients. From the day we suspected a looming shut-down in early 2020, we tried to predict what our clients would need to survive. Little did we know what long-term effects and toll it would take on all of us. It will forever change the way we move, relate, and work in this world. I pray that in some ways, the change is for the better.

Change and challenge are good, but we never expected this much. Sometimes change and challenge provide opportunities for growth. It has been a crazy couple of years, that is for sure. I am reflecting on these last two years and looking forward to what the future holds. As we adapted and developed new programs this year, we never lost sight of our original Puente mission: “To ensure that [our clients] have equitable access to opportunities and resources.”

In January of 2020, Puente hired its first two part-time employees from Southwest Detroit, Mayra & Allyssa. I shared with them that my five year goal was to be able to work virtually so that I could travel the world and continue to lead Puente with a strong team in Detroit. Little did we know that in just a couple short months, we would be thrown into constant Zoom meetings.

Two weeks into the pandemic, in March of 2020, my closest colleague, Monica Casarez, passed away from COVID-19. Her loss was felt every single day as we supported our immigrant entrepreneurs without her. My instinct was to crawl into bed and pull the covers up over my head. But knowing that I had a team of 4-6 employees & interns waiting for my direction everyday and that our clients needed us more than ever propelled us forward with our consistent mantra of “Who needs our help today?” We spent all of 2020 in triage mode. (Reflection 2020 – Summary, January 2020)

To add to the challenges of these past two years, my youngest graduated in June 2021 after a crazy Senior year. We survived it. Schools have had even more challenges since I shared my thoughts on educating our children with Grace in Times of Covid in August of 2020. As referenced above, we are still experiencing loss. But if we continue to live with intention, we can manifest what we desire, regardless of the world around us.

More Changes and Challenges

Then at the beginning of this 2021, my work contracts got flipped upside down and inside out. Within three months, four major programs and contracts ended. The final one without notice or transition. I grieved. I felt like everything we had worked so hard for had been stripped from me, all the pro bono hours we invested, all the grants we wrote, and the successful programs we created in 2018-2020 were just “done”. I struggled with my fight or flight instincts. Should I just throw in the towel? Close my business & go find a <gulp> “job”? I had employees that counted on me. How would I pay them? I had clients who needed me. How would I get paid to help them?

On February 2nd, 2021 it was over. I actually breathed a sigh of relief after the months of uncertainty and stress and then I cried. I took one day. Cancelled all my meetings. Told my staff we’d figure it out. I’d take out a personal loan if I needed to – but they could trust they’d have their paycheck on the 15th. Made phone calls. I was on my own. So what next?

I had committed in January to #Develop2021, but what did that mean now that I was no longer contracted by a nonprofit organization and the over $500K in grant money for programs I had created no longer was available to my clients or my team?

It meant we would start over. (To Be Continued …)

Read more about how we adapted, changed, challenged and grew in 2021 and will continue to develop in 2022.

2021 New Programs and Success

Puente Cultural Integration, LLC – Team of 4 in Detroit / Team of 3 in Puerto Morelos
Business Alianzas – over 145 Partners and Business Members
FoodTruckX – 15 FoodTruckX Partners and Members
Experience Puerto Morelos – almost 50 Small Business Members and two social media clients in Mexico.

2021 Year End Summary of Puente / Alianzas

annual-report-2021-3 Download

Here is what we accomplished in the third quarter of 2021

pci-q3-2021-summary Download