Carlos Toledo, 27
Travel, Social Media | Kinship
Member Engagement Manager | Utah LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce
Was there a pivotal moment in your life that brought you to where you are today?
The pivotal moment that brought me to where I am today wasn’t a breakthrough success — it was a period of extreme necessity. I was faced with a perfect storm of personal and professional crises: navigating a health scare while covering multiple extensive roles without support. This quickly spiraled into being laid off from two different companies and entering a national recession with no clear future in marketing. Unemployed and with opportunities scarce, I had to find a way to survive and create my own future. This necessity fueled a resourceful strategy. I re-entered the service industry as a bartender and server front-of-house trainer, helping open one of Utah’s best Mexican restaurants (Sol Agave) for stability while aggressively leveraging my expertise in marketing, communications and PR on the side. This dual-track approach eventually led me back into the professional workforce, first within the entertainment district, and then crucially, through involvement with the LGBTQ+ Chamber. This period of adversity forged the resilience that defines my career. Today, I continue to apply that grit in my role at Kinship, while maintaining my deep and active commitment to LGBTQ+ community work. That crisis didn’t just teach me to survive; it taught me how to strategically thrive and never compromise on my values.
What advice do you have for other young professionals?
Wait for no one; passionately command your own success. That’s my advice: The fear of being told “no” is often scarier than the word itself. You always have that “no” as the baseline, so you might as well try, be fearless, and show up as your authentic self. Don’t let the possibility of rejection stop you from speaking your truth and seizing an opportunity.
