Elisa Irvolino
After 30 years in healthcare working as an ultrasound technician and later in management, I found myself feeling disconnected as my children grew up and life got busy. I made the decision to work through my own journey of self-connection, and what I learned transformed me so much that I now dedicate myself to teaching other women how to connect with themselves through creativity, cooking, and craft. I started the virtual community in January 2026, where I teach live cooking workshops, share recipes through videos, and host special experiences like mocktail events with guest bartenders and upcoming summits. My mission is rooted in my healthcare background - I spent years with patients who were disappointed when physicians told them to cut out all the foods they loved, especially Latino staples like rice, beans, and plantains. I've made it my mission to teach people how to cook delicious foods with health in mind, honoring our culture while supporting wellness. I also teach in-person workshops at the library and offer bougie experiences like decorating wine and tequila bottles, creating wreaths, and teaching women how to repaint furniture and kitchen cabinets, drawing from my background in retail. It's all about helping women reconnect with their creative and feminine sides in a safe space.
• Ultrasound Technician
• Healthcare Management
• Certificate of Special Recognition from Congresswoman for contributions in promoting bilingual literacy and commitment to advancing Latino culture
• 100 Hispanic Women - Long Island Chapter
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to finally choosing myself. For years, like many women, I lost myself in the roles I played for others. When I began to reclaim my voice, my creativity, and my connection to my culture, everything changed. Now I build from a place of fullness, and that’s what allows me to pour into others in a meaningful way.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Stay rooted in who you are. The more I leaned into my culture, my values, and my natural way of connecting with people, the more doors opened. Authenticity has been my greatest advantage.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The first thing I would say is trust yourself. We always have all these self-doubts, so I say trust yourself and stay connected to your true self. I wish I would have known that the lonely feeling I felt raising my young children and being busy all the time wasn't about anything from the outside of the world. I didn't need validation from anyone. If I would have just taken this time to connect with myself, I would have seen that it comes from within. Do you love yourself enough? Do you trust yourself enough? Are you confident in yourself enough to put yourself out there in the world? And it doesn't have to be about perfection.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges in my field right now is visibility. Many of us are doing meaningful, community driven work, but reaching the women who truly need it can be difficult in a crowded digital space.
For me, the opportunity lies in expanding beyond local, in person experiences and building something that can reach women anywhere. I’ve created a warm, supportive virtual community where women can come as they are, whether they need inspiration, a simple meal idea, or just a safe space to connect without the pressure of traditional social media.
The challenge is getting that message in front of the right people, but the opportunity is that the need for this kind of connection has never been greater.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that guide both my work and personal life are authenticity, community, and self respect.
Authenticity is at the core of everything I do. I believe in showing up as I am and creating spaces where other women feel safe to do the same.
Community is just as important. We are not meant to do life alone, and I’m passionate about building connections where women feel seen, supported, and understood.
And self respect is the foundation. I’ve learned that in order to truly give to others, I have to honor my own needs, my time, and my well being first.
Milestone Moments
Releasing The Casita Community!