Are you facing the pressure to reinvent your business before it’s too late? Imagine your cash flow vanishing, your team at risk, and your market shifting overnight.

In this candid, deeply human episode, Sivana Brewer talks to Ruth Velez, COO and co-founder of Vinali Group, who led her company from the brink of collapse during COVID through a string of audacious pivots to global growth. Ruth exposes the real emotional rollercoaster behind leading with your partner, building culture across borders, hiring and keeping amazing talent, and never losing faith, no matter how chaotic it gets.

This episode isn’t just about operations, it’s about surviving, adapting, and growing stronger together. Listen now to avoid the pain of stalling out, wasting years on the wrong models, or letting fear keep you stuck. Don’t miss Ruth’s rare, actionable insights. You won’t get this level of honesty or inside story anywhere else.

Timestamped Highlights

[00:00] – The bold moment Ruth and her husband decided failure was NOT an option

[02:50] – How COVID nearly destroyed their staffing business—and the exact pivot that saved them

[03:59] – Recruiting from Colombia: training from scratch to building a cross-border powerhouse

[05:45] – Nearshoring vs. offshoring: hidden advantages for cost, culture, trust

[08:52] – Security, HR, and team-building—the true reasons to use a staffing partner

[12:00] – Grit and transparency: the secret to client loyalty during chaos

[17:48] – Marriage + business: the COO/CEO dynamic, picking which wild ideas to follow

[24:06] – Being the “options queen”—conquering doubts and finding your strengths

[33:42] – Building legacy: raising entrepreneurial kids in a family business

[35:34] – Only work with clients who TRULY fit—how that changed everything

About the Guest

Ruth Velez is COO and co-founder of Vinali Group, an international nearshore staffing company headquartered in Orlando, FL with offices in Colombia and across Latin America. Ruth is known for operational excellence, culture-building, and helping US companies leverage nearshoring for both trust and talent.

🔗 LinkedIn | Website

Mentioned Resources

PPP Loan (COVID relief program)
EOS – Entrepreneurial Operating System
ISO 27001 (cybersecurity certification)
Alex and Layla Hormozi (business couple)
Traffic and Conversion Summit (business conference)

Ep. 542 - Vinali Group COO and Co-Founder Ruth Velez - Uncommon Wins: The Proven Way to Lead with Vision Under Fire

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