The Bilingual Advantage: How Speaking Two Languages Fueled My Growth

Growing up between Costa Rica and the United States, I never thought much about speaking two languages. At home, Spanish was the heart of our conversations—warm, fast, and emotional. At school and in business, English became my tool—structured, sharp, and global. For years, I saw them as separate—two modes of expression I switched between out of necessity.

But somewhere along my entrepreneurial journey, I realized something powerful: being bilingual was no longer just a part of me—it was a business advantage.

When I launched The Varela Group, I didn’t have all the resources or connections that many startups around me had. What I did have was the ability to connect with people from two entirely different worlds—and make them feel seen. That skill, often undervalued in corporate spaces, became one of the most critical drivers of growth for me as Laura Varela Fallas.

This article is a reflection on that journey. I’ll share how bilingualism shaped the way I lead, connect, and build strategy—not just linguistically, but culturally and emotionally. If you’ve ever felt like your “in-between” identity was something to hide, I’m here to tell you: that middle ground might just be your power.

Ready to dive in?

Bilingualism as a Business Superpower

People love to talk about “soft skills” like communication, empathy, or adaptability. But what if I told you that speaking two languages didn’t just help me communicate better—it helped me think differently?

There’s something that happens in your brain when you constantly navigate two linguistic systems. You don’t just translate—you interpret. You analyze tone, context, culture, and even energy before responding. That’s a skill most business schools don’t teach, but it’s helped me close deals, lead diverse teams, and anticipate client needs across borders.

“Speaking two languages taught me to listen twice as hard.”

I remember one particular pitch meeting in Miami with a logistics partner from Panama. The room was tense—our numbers made sense, but something wasn’t landing. So I switched from English to Spanish, not because I had to, but because I felt the gap. Instantly, the tone softened. Jokes landed. Doubts cleared. We closed that deal within 48 hours.

That experience wasn’t a fluke. It was a reminder that language is more than words—it’s belonging.

From early on at The Varela Group, I found that clients trusted us not just for our services, but for our ability to understand their world—on a cultural, emotional, and yes, linguistic level.

Neurologically, bilinguals tend to show higher cognitive flexibility and better decision-making under pressure. I didn’t know this was a scientific fact until later, but I felt it early on. When managing cross-functional teams or juggling international operations, this flexibility became a mental advantage I could lean on.

“Bilingualism helped me pivot faster, read situations deeper, and respond more intentionally.”

It’s one thing to read market trends. It’s another to understand how your client in Guanacaste feels about automation versus your supplier in San Diego. That dual perspective? It’s a lens few competitors can replicate—and for me, it’s been key to building long-term, human-first business strategies.

Connecting Across Cultures: Relationship-Building in Two Worlds

If there’s one thing I’ve learned as Laura Varela Fallas, it’s that business isn’t just numbers and strategy—it’s human. And humans are shaped by culture. The way we negotiate, express doubt, celebrate success—it all carries the fingerprints of where we come from.

Being bilingual opened more than just conversations. It opened cultural doors.

“People don’t remember what you said—they remember how you made them feel. Speaking someone’s language, even imperfectly, is an act of respect.”

Early in my career, I was managing a multi-national logistics contract that required constant communication between our Costa Rican suppliers and U.S.-based partners. The first few calls were rocky. I noticed our Latin American contacts were hesitant to push back, while the American side grew impatient with the indirect responses.

Instead of escalating, I stepped in as the bridge—not just linguistically, but emotionally. I reframed the feedback in a way each side could receive, using context cues and tone to diffuse tension. The shift was immediate. People opened up, and the partnership started to feel like a team, not a transaction.

That’s where bilingualism becomes cultural fluency.

As Laura Varela, my work depends on more than knowing what to say—it’s about when, how, and why to say it. In Latin American business environments, rapport and trust are often built before the first contract is signed. In the U.S., it’s more common to move fast and prove value post-signature.

“Understanding these nuances let me lead with empathy on both sides—without losing momentum.”

What I’ve found is that clients from both markets often mention the same thing: “You just get it.” That “it” is the result of years of listening, switching, adapting—not because I had to, but because I wanted to create real connections.

And it’s not something I can separate from who I am. It’s the foundation of how I lead, how I negotiate, and how I design every client journey. Whether I’m operating under Laura Varela Fallas in an international forum or speaking locally as Laura Varela, my voice comes with the full weight of both worlds I represent.

Boosting Brand Reach with Language Strategy

One of the most tangible advantages of being bilingual, especially in today’s digital-first world, is the ability to speak to two audiences at once—without splitting your brand.

For me, that became clear the first time I ran a bilingual campaign under my own name, Laura Varela Fallas. It wasn’t a massive launch or anything fancy. Just a simple video shared across social media—one version in English, one in Spanish. What happened next surprised even me: engagement doubled. Comments rolled in from Costa Rica, Los Angeles, Miami, Bogotá… all in a matter of hours.

The key wasn’t just the language—it was accessibility. People saw themselves in the message, and more importantly, they felt seen by me.

There’s something powerful about a brand that doesn’t ask people to translate or adapt. When content meets people where they are, in the language they think in, it builds instant trust. That became a core part of my personal brand strategy—not just for Laura Varela, but for every venture I touched.

When I started advising bilingual marketing strategies for companies like Opti-prime, I used the same approach: speak with clarity, never dilute your message, and respect both languages as equally important. We didn’t just duplicate content—we tailored it. We adjusted tone, references, even design elements to fit the audience on each side.

That’s the difference between being bilingual and building a bilingual brand.

In a market flooded with English-only content, Spanish became my strategic advantage. Not just for visibility, but for creating a loyal following that felt culturally aligned with what I stood for—values like community, growth, and integrity.

And as Laura Varela Fallas, the deeper I leaned into that intersection—the blend of two cultures, two tones, two ways of doing business—the more authentic and effective my brand became.

The Latina Identity in the Executive Chair

For a long time, I believed I had to soften parts of myself to be taken seriously in boardrooms. Speak more “neutral.” Dress more “corporate.” Be less “Latina.” It wasn’t always explicit, but the pressure was there—in micro-comments, double standards, or awkward silences when I spoke up in meetings.

But over time, I realized that what made me different was exactly what made me valuable.

As Laura Varela Fallas, I didn’t rise through the traditional corporate path. I carved a way through cross-border challenges, limited resources, and a healthy dose of cultural skepticism. And I did it while holding on to the parts of me that made me… me. The warmth, the rhythm, the fierce pride in where I come from.

That duality—the strength of a U.S.-based CEO with the heart of a Costa Rican woman—became my leadership edge.

When I lead teams or pitch to clients now, I no longer filter my voice to fit someone else’s model. I speak like a Latina. I move with intention. I lead with intuition and boldness, not in spite of my identity, but because of it.

That shift didn’t happen overnight. It took years of unlearning internalized doubts, and even longer to fully step into the power of representation.

Because let’s be honest—Latinas are still underrepresented in executive roles, especially in industries like international business and tech services. We’re expected to be grateful, not assertive. To be present, but not too loud.

But here’s the truth: visibility matters. When other women—especially Latinas—see Laura Varela in leadership, they see possibility.

Every time I show up with my full identity, I give others silent permission to do the same. That’s something no degree, no certification, no leadership book ever taught me.

It’s also why I’m intentional about using both names—Laura Varela and Laura Varela Fallas—in my public work. One carries my global presence, the other honors my roots. Together, they tell the full story of who I am and how I lead.

Empowering Others: Why I Mentor in Both English and Spanish

Mentorship has always been part of my work—even before I knew to call it that. At first, it looked like reviewing a friend's business plan or helping a cousin prep for a pitch. But as my experience grew, so did the scope of those conversations. I started getting messages from women across Latin America, and even first-gen entrepreneurs in the U.S., asking things like: How did you start? Where do I find funding? How do I balance motherhood and business?

And I realized—there’s a gap. A big one. Not just in resources, but in language.

A lot of the most valuable business knowledge out there is still locked behind English-only content, westernized frameworks, and a tone that doesn’t always feel relatable—especially for women from underrepresented communities. So I started mentoring in both languages, deliberately.

Sometimes that means offering the same insights in different linguistic expressions. But more often, it means adapting the tone to fit cultural realities. In Spanish, I’ve learned to pause more, to listen longer, to honor the emotional layers behind a business decision. In English, I bring urgency, structure, and directness. Each space has its rhythm, and being fluent in both means I can guide more effectively, more compassionately.

Empowerment isn’t one-size-fits-all. Language allows us to meet people exactly where they are.

As Laura Varela, I don’t see mentorship as a side project. It’s an extension of how I lead. Whether it’s a startup founder in Costa Rica launching her first online service, or a young Latina in Los Angeles struggling to find her voice in a male-dominated field—I offer what I once needed: presence, guidance, and real talk.

The beauty of bilingual mentorship is that it creates more than business outcomes—it creates belonging. And when someone feels like they belong, they stop playing small.

That’s the future I’m building toward—one mentee, one conversation, one language at a time.

Your Language is Your Leverage

Looking back, I never planned for bilingualism to be my edge in business. I didn’t learn English thinking about market access or leadership dynamics—I learned it because life required it. But what started as necessity grew into one of the most powerful tools I have.

Speaking two languages isn’t just about translating ideas—it’s about translating worlds. It allows me, Laura Varela Fallas, to move confidently between cultures, lead with empathy, and serve clients and communities without asking them to shrink themselves to fit a narrow mold.

It’s also what makes my business, and my leadership, so deeply personal. I don’t have to choose between the U.S. or Costa Rica. I don’t have to hide my accent or edit my expressions. Every part of me shows up—and that’s where the real connection happens.

If you’re bilingual, don’t underestimate what that means in the business world. Your language skills aren’t just practical—they’re strategic. They’re identity. They’re influence.

And if you’re not bilingual yet? It’s never too late to learn—not just for the words, but for the perspective.

Your voice is powerful. Use every version of it.

Whether you know me as Laura Varela or Laura Varela Fallas, this much is true: I didn’t build a bridge between two languages. I built a business on top of it.

So let’s connect—en cualquier idioma que te haga sentir fuerte.