Love what you do. Working with faith, harmony and unconditional support for the women in her life is the legacy Independent National Sales Director Silvia Saldaña wants to build as a Mary Kay leader. “I love working my Mary Kay business. It fills me with energy because I am helping women change their lives for the better and teaching them to build confidence,” she says with a sparkle in her eyes.

Silvia and her husband, Oscar, and their family, Joseleny, Angel, Emely and Ashley, are very close and like to spend time together. In the beginning, Oscar was not so convinced that his wife would be successful with a Mary Kay business. Silvia took that as a challenge and showed him differently. “I’m all about challenges,” she says. At the time, her work schedule at the factory was mid-afternoon to midnight. She would arise early in the morning to prepare meals for the day, see her family off, and then work her Mary Kay business until she had to report for her job as a supervisor. Her husband’s skepticism proved to be valuable motivation for Silvia, because a year after she signed her Independent Beauty Consultant Agreement, Silvia debuted as a Mary Kay Independent Sales Director, earned the use of her first Mary Kay career car, moved into a new house and quit her job at the factory!

Her aspirations to take her business to a higher level were born when her sister’s sudden death in a tragic accident caused her to do some soul searching. Silvia knows it was the wakeup call she needed to stretch herself to make her life and influence count to make a difference, while she was blessed with life. Silvia believes the most important skill her Mary Kay journey has taught her is perseverance, to continue helping women develop their own potential to the highest level. “I’ve become a woman of vision, faith, strength and persistence,” Silvia says. “I always wanted to be a teacher, and through my Mary Kay business, I’ve achieved that dream.” The most valuable part of her business is the flexibility it provides to devote time to her family. “We travel several times a year together,” she says. “I was also able to keep working while helping my mother during my father’s long illness.”

Of Anabell Rocha, her Independent Senior National Sales Director, Silvia says she is constantly inspired by Anabell’s hard work and achievements. “She always achieves her goals,” Silvia adds. Another inspiring woman in her life was Mary Kay Ash. “She inspired me when I met her in Dallas, while working hard to earn the use of a career car. She told me I was going to be a great leader, and at that moment, I didn’t care about the car. What stayed with me was that I could become a great leader,” Silvia recalls.

She understands that her leadership as an Independent National Sales Director may help inspire others, especially those in her National Area, to become Mary Kay leaders, as well. Silvia has a vision and a goal to lead others to the pinnacle, along with her. “In this business, you can live your dream from the very beginning, if you are constant, persistent and love what you do.”