Zoe Saldaña’s Journey to Success: Lessons for Women of Color

Zoe Saldaña’s Business Journey

In 2017, Saldaña launched BESE as a digital media platform to amplify underrepresented voices. The platform, which gets its name from combining the verb “to be” in two languages—”be” in English and “se” in Spanish—has the mission to amplify cultural pioneers’ voices and untold stories that shape the collective American experience. It creates multi-format cultural storytelling for millennial and Gen Z audiences distributed across social and digital platforms.

Beyond media, Saldaña has also entered the investment world. She has backed innovative companies like MoonPay, a fintech firm, where she joined the $555 million Series A financing round along with more than 60 influential figures and organizations from the worlds of music, sports, media, and entertainment, and others like Thrive Market, an online grocery shopping platform that focuses on accessibility and affordability, and Happiest Baby, the developer of a rhythmic motion-based cradle designed to calm the child and improve their sleeping environment.

Saldaña has also entered into business with her sisters, Mariel and Cisely, and co-founded Cinestar Pictures, a production company dedicated to telling diverse, character-driven stories.

Three Important Insights for WOC from Award-Winning Zoe Saldaña’s Journey

Own Your Identity

Saldaña has expressed throughout her journey how she has infused her authentic self into each character she has portrayed, especially in her role in Emilia Perez. During her acceptance speech, she honored her heritage, saying, “My grandmother came to this country in 1961. I’m a proud child of immigrant parents, with dreams and dignity and hardworking hands.” Saldaña emphasized how her family’s journey has been key to being where she is, adding, “I’m the first American with Dominican Republic origins to accept an Academy Award, and I know I won’t be the last—I hope.”

Use Your Platform to Amplify What You Believe In

The Oscar-winning actress has leveraged her visibility to encourage discussions on inclusivity, highlighting experiences from diverse voices, such as the voice of Afro-Latinos, who, according to the Pew Research Center, are approximately 6 million U.S. adults, advocating for representation and equity. She has also taken a stand on representing the diverse voices of women; during her acceptance speech last night, she stressed the significance of bringing women’s stories to light, voicing gratitude to director Jacques Audiard for his interest and commitment to showcasing a variety of female characters.

Rely On a Community to Uplift Each Other

Saldaña’s journey highlights the power of community in uplifting women of color. In a recent interview, Saldaña highlighted how important it was for her to connect with her roots to build the community and legacy she was aiming for and yesterday, she acknowledged once again how important it is to have a support system to thrive and succeed; “To my mom, my dad, and my sisters Marian and Cecily: Everything brave, outrageous and good that I’ve ever done in my life is because of you. Thank you so much!”

Conclusion

Saldaña’s win shines a light on the critical conversation around representation and success for women of color in different industries, and while some may see these takeaways as familiar, this historic award honors an incredible journey but also spotlights the important role of representation, community, and amplification in our lives.

FAQs

Q: What is BESE?
A: BESE is a digital media platform launched by Zoe Saldaña in 2017 to amplify underrepresented voices.

Q: What are some of the companies Zoe Saldaña has backed?
A: She has backed companies like MoonPay, Thrive Market, and Happiest Baby.

Q: What is Cinestar Pictures?
A: Cinestar Pictures is a production company co-founded by Zoe Saldaña, her sisters, and other partners to tell diverse, character-driven stories.