Jackie Peña grew up in the Bronx in New York and, after a stop in Massachusetts, came to Miami to pursue her doctoral degree. That planned two-year stint ended up being a long-haul decision, as she’s still living in South Florida today nearly 20 years later. She is the founder of ETE Consulting – where she and her team provide strategic planning, grant writing, coaching for leadership in the higher education small business space, and more – as well as the host/producer of the Coffee & an Interview podcast and the founder of the “Discover Your Strength” book club.
I dug into your podcast a bit – it sounds really interesting! Tell me about the people you speak with and the topics you’ve covered.
It was inspired by how I live my life; you meet all these incredible people every day and if you just sit down with them over a cup of coffee you can learn so much. There’s an episode for everyone and it’s a way of providing information from experts – we’ve talked to medical advocates and caregiver consultants, nutritionists and health coaches, people in the small business space, someone with dyslexia who spoke about how she navigated her education from elementary to graduate school, another person who spoke about imposter syndrome – all kinds of stuff. We’re getting ready to start Season three.
What’s going on with the book club?
I hit pause on that during the pandemic – there were so many clubs formed at that time that really took off – so right now I’m offering it as a tool for my consulting clients. I’ve also sort of segued the spirit of the club and the books we read in that space into a publishing imprint of the same name.
How did you first learn about Miami Book Fair?
I was working at Miami Dade College and was recruited to escort authors at the Fair in 2011 – I met a lot of authors and also Dr. Rolando Montoya while doing that! He’s a former interim president of MDC and truly inspirational as a leader. It was a great experience and I continued to volunteer through 2018.
Do you remember when you joined the Friend of the Fair family?
Yes, absolutely; it was about two or three years ago, after I left MDC. I wanted to stay involved in the Fair and also continue to support it.
There are a lot of benefits to being a FOTF; what’s your favorite?
One thing I really love is that as a Friend of the Fair I get invitations to events during the year, and for me that’s meaningful because it keeps me connected to the creative writing community. I’m a terrible creative writer [laughs] but I’m inspired by creative writing. And knowing when authors are coming to town to speak, like at Books & Books, is definitely a benefit. People who love movies go into awe when they see movie stars; I’m awed by seeing authors. These events also push me to get out of the house and stay social, which is really important to me because I work from home full time.
Another perk I like is access to the Friends Hospitality lounge – and I thank you for having that! Book Fair can get hot and there’s a lot going on in just a few days, so being able to take a break and recharge makes the whole experience much more enjoyable and do-able for Friends.
What’s an MBF moment or experience that really stands out for you?
Seeing Mitch Albom present The Stranger in the Lifeboat. I’d never heard him speak before and what he was talking about that year resonated with me – at that point in my life I really needed to hear the message he was sharing.
Someone else I was really excited to see was Elvis Duran. Growing up in New York, especially growing up in the Bronx, he was someone I listened to on the radio every day on Z100. He was genuinely one of my cultural icons, and I got to hear him speak, talked to him directly, and took a picture with him.
What’s the one book you think every kid (or teen) should have on their bookshelf?
Every teen should have at least one book that connects to their lives. For me I think that would have been Sandra Cisneros’ The House on Mango Street or How the García Girls Lost Their Accents by Julia Alvarez.
Which MBF23 events are you most looking forward to attending?
Kerry Washington! I’m dying to hear her speak; I think she’s very courageous to jump into a new space as an author. And Jada Pinkett Smith. I’ve already got my tickets for both.
Interview by Elisa Chemayne Agostinho; responses have been edited for space and clarity.
