From Venezuela to London: Kidnapping, Migration, and Reinvention | Laura Jareño
Laura Jareño, a Venezuelan with a Colombian mother, has lived in London for over a decade and today shares a story that blends migration, resilience, and professional reinvention. As a child, her father's kidnapping changed her family's course, leading them to emigrate to Spain to start over. Years later, Laura migrated again, arriving in the UK without speaking English. She worked in cleaning, hospitality, and various other jobs simultaneously, eventually carving out a niche for herself in the City and building a seven-year career in finance.
In this Tuesday's discussion, we talk about what many Latinos in London experience but few talk about: culture shock, the grief of migration, the feeling of not quite belonging, and how to learn to survive and thrive in London through hard work. We also delve into a very real issue: being a Latina woman in a demanding financial environment, with power dynamics, machismo, and constant pressure, and how this led her to rethink her future.
The most London-centric twist of the episode takes place in Elephant and Castle, an area known for its strong Latin American presence. Searching for a good quality girdle, Laura encounters a problem (price/comfort/quality) and that's where the idea of starting her own business comes from. With the support of her family and her personal experience, she creates her own brand and decides to design a girdle for real comfort, naming it Snatched By Laura. If you're thinking of moving to London, if you work in the City, if you're Latina in the UK, or if you're dreaming of starting a business in London, this episode will resonate with you.
📸 GUEST
Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/transform.w...
Snatched By Laura's Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/snatched_by...
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Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/episode/4ZXA...
🎬 CREDITS
Directed by: María Victoria Cristancho
Instagram: / mariavictoria.cristancho
Editing and Post-production: The Creative Design UK
Website: https://www.thecreativedesign.co.uk
Instagram: / thecreativedesignuk
💼 WANT TO APPEAR IN THE TUESDAY TALK SHORTS?
During each recording, we produce promotional clips for entrepreneurs and brands.
These spots are paid and have limited availability.
📩 Write to us on Instagram: @tertuliadelmartes
🕒 CHAPTERS
00:00 The idea that changed everything: “make a comfortable girdle”
00:18 Introduction: who is Laura Jareño (Venezuela, Spain, London)
01:44 Her story: emigrating for political reasons and her father's kidnapping
07:39 The phone call that marked the family and the impact of the kidnapping
11:49 The decision: to leave Venezuela and start over in Spain
14:12 The shipping container, the memories, and the stuffed animal that never arrived
19:20 Being a migrant: “I feel like I don't have a home”
21:23 Arriving in Spain: life change, space, and tears
23:29 The first cold and the culture shock of a Caribbean girl
25:10 Bullying and adapting to “Spanish from Spain”
29:15 Her sister goes to London and breaks the mold Family
33:20 Laura decides to come to London and stay (without speaking English)
34:25 Jobs from day 3: cleaning, waiting table, and discipline
37:30 The City: how she enters finance and starts her career
39:14 Latina woman in finance: not taken seriously and sexualized
40:44 Disenchantment: corruption and pressure in the banking world
42:46 Elephant and Castle: searching for shapewear and finding a real problem
43:25 The entrepreneurial journey begins: designing a “revolutionary” shapewear garment
45:02 Her brand: from scratch to building something of her own in London
46:43 Message for Latina women in the UK: support and community
49:16 Snatch by Laura: social media, website, and closing the deal
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