Why Being Different is Your Biggest Advantage | Juan Alba

Today, Victoria sits down with Juan Alba, technology leader, and AI strategist, for a profound conversation exploring what it means to live authentically, create meaningful impact, and remain deeply human in a world being rapidly transformed by artificial intelligence.

Drawing from his experience at the intersection of technology, innovation, and leadership, Juan shares why authenticity is becoming one of our greatest strengths in an increasingly automated world. He reflects on the importance of understanding our identity beyond our careers, building a life guided by purpose rather than productivity, and recognising that meaningful impact begins with how we show up for ourselves and those around us.

Together, Victoria and Juan explore, identity, education, impact, creativity, and a sense of self. They discuss how to navigate uncertainty with curiosity instead of fear, why emotional intelligence and critical thinking are becoming increasingly valuable, and how embracing technological change doesn't require sacrificing our humanity.

This conversation is a reminder that while technology will continue to evolve, our ability to connect, create, lead with integrity, and live authentically will remain timeless.

In this conversation, you'll learn:

- How to Embrace AI Without Losing Your Humanity 
- Why Authenticity Is Becoming Our Greatest Competitive Advantage 
- How to Build an Identity Beyond Your Career 
- Why Human Presence Matters More Than Ever 
- How to Create Meaningful Impact in an AI-Driven World 
- The Human Skills Technology Can Never Replace 
- How Curiosity and Adaptability Prepare Us for the Future 
- Why Emotional Intelligence Is Essential for Modern Leadership 
- How to Stay Grounded During Times of Rapid Change 
- The Difference Between Productivity and Purpose 
- How to Think Critically in an Age of Infinite Information 
- Why the Future Belongs to Those Who Lead with Presence, Wisdom, and Compassion 

As artificial intelligence continues to transform the world around us, the greatest opportunity isn't simply learning how to use new technology—it's learning how to become more fully ourselves. Because in a future where machines can imitate almost everything, our authenticity, our presence, and the impact we have on others will be what truly sets us apart.

Transcript

SPEAKER_01 0:00

Welcome to the Human Presence, the show How to Stay Deeply Human in the Modern World. Today I'm New York City Central Park with my lovely guest Juan. And today we're gonna explore a multidimensional aspects of his identity. Juan is my dear friend, and we met one year ago in San Francisco on a coffee chat at Google, actually. And super excited to show and present him to you guys.

SPEAKER_00 0:29

Aw. Thank you, Victoria.

SPEAKER_01 0:33

Why don't you give a little bit more of background about yourself?

SPEAKER_00 0:36

Absolutely. Hi everyone. My name is Juan Alba. I'm a 27-year-old living in New York City. As Victoria mentioned, I recently moved to New York from California, where I lived for basically my whole life. And it's been California. And it's been so crazy living here in New York City. There's so much I've been learning and happy to unpack some of these learnings with y'all today.

SPEAKER_01 1:00

Oh my gosh. I miss California so much.

SPEAKER_00 1:03

I know. I know. Today she was telling me I miss California.

SPEAKER_01 1:08

Some days, you know. Some days, some days. Some days. You live California almost your whole life, but you were growing up in Colombia.

SPEAKER_00 1:16

Yes, I did. I did. So I I grew up in a small city called Bucaramanga until I was 10 years old. And then I moved to the United States to Sacramento with my mom, who married my stepdad, and have been living here since. So yeah, there's like a lot of aspects to like my identity that I'm happy to like talk about more today.

SPEAKER_01 1:37

Yeah, especially like uh as a Latino moving to different country, not knowing the language at the beginning, and being able to blend in so quickly, it must be like very tough. But also it shows that you are such a resilient person growing up in the different culture. Like, how was the experience for you?

SPEAKER_00 1:56

Yeah, well, thank you. And also the same to you coming all the way to the United States too from Poland. Um, from Ireland. Oh, from Ireland, Ireland and Pol. She is Polish, UK as well. UK, everywhere, everywhere in Europe. Uh but um, yeah, so I um, you know, moving to the US is definitely not something that was easy when I came to the to the states. I didn't really like know the language, I didn't have a lot of Colombian community, especially in Sacramento, where there's just not a lot of Colombians back in the in the time. Um, and so, you know, like coming here was was really challenging. And I really had to work super hard to get to where I am today. Um, which is why, like, for me, giving back to like other underrepresented minority groups is something that's really, really important to me. I think it's it's it's been a journey for sure.

SPEAKER_01 2:46

I can imagine, like also being in this third culture person that must be also teaching you many things about the building community, the human interaction, you know, like being able to be open to other people and open to the world. So, what is like your main learning from all of the experience?

SPEAKER_00 3:06

Yeah, that's a good question. And I think like the biggest learning coming to the US and right, like started feeling when I was here that I really wasn't Colombian, but I also wasn't American, right? It's kind of like that weird middle intersection that a lot of people who are third culture people, you know, and they identify with that. Yeah. Um, so for me, like something, a big aha moment that I had as I was grew older and I joined like another Latino club in college with a lot of other international Latinos like me who came here when they were 10 years old, 14 years old, and and then grew here. Um, is I'm not 50-50. I am someone that's 100-100, right? And I having I think that having that mindset shift of like I'm not being taken away, I'm not smaller, but rather I can grow and be a hundred percent something else is something that is is really important. And so I had a um that big epiphany in my life, but truly, like I do think that it's um it's that like thinking that you're 100-100.

SPEAKER_01 4:09

I I love that. I love that actually. This is like such an interesting thing, because like you don't kind of like separate yourself from all of that, you are one, and you can be one in any situation you are there, like with different people, and you can feel 100% as Colombian, you can feel 100% as an American, which is like also gives more like courage and confidence to identity, and yeah, yeah. I feel like um I know that you uh explore a lot of things and you are very interested in the education, and that's something like a core thing, which led you during this like the whole process of moving and also like building your persona, building your skills, building your career, etc. Uh, can you walk us through more about this education aspect you have?

SPEAKER_00 4:52

Yeah. Yeah, for sure. I mean, like when I came to the US, I didn't know the language, as I mentioned. Uh, so I had to really work super hard when I was in school. And that's something that my mom and my family really instilled in me since I was young. Um, and so she always told me there is no other responsibility you have in life other than school. And so she's like, that is the one thing that is your job. And I think that really helped me, right, to become very um, very disciplined in in school. And so when I was in school, I worked super hard and that helped me, right, like get to better places. And I always started at the bottom. I always felt like I was always the dumbest kid, the one who, you know, wasn't um not the dumbest kid, but just like everyone else was smarter than me. And then I would join these classes, and then I'll be like, wait, no, I think I'm actually smarter and I work harder than everyone else. Yeah. And I kept climbing and climbing and climbing. Um, you know, and then I got into Berkeley, then I got into Berkeley's High School of Business, which is like one of the best undergraduate programs for business in the world. Um, and then I got into Google. And so I think that's kind of the mindset that I've always had is education, really being disciplined and learning. And then, like, you're always gonna stand on top if you work hard and you know where you come from.

SPEAKER_01 6:08

What was this like northern star which kept you motivated during this process? Because you know, like you can be disciplined, you can work hard, you can like, you know, like kind of trying to be better 1% every single day, but then you have to have some kind of goal and some kind of like wait, okay, because I want to be this person, I wanna be here or there, etc. So, like, what was like this thing which you kept in mind when you were like studying and working hard? Like, what was this like the North Star?

SPEAKER_00 6:38

Yeah, yeah, I think like that North Star is so important. It's like what it goes back to like what your values are, and for me, it was positive social impact. So when I came to the US, and I uh, as I mentioned, like I felt like I had such an opportunity to make it here. My only responsibility was school, and so for me, it was like I wanted to go to school and I wanted to build a platform so I can help other people and so I can lift other people up along the way. And I think that mixed that with school, right? It's like I would start doing like, for example, like small projects. Um, and so like when I was in high school, I started a GoFundMe for kids in my in my in my city in Bucaramanga, and I bought them toys and art supplies.

SPEAKER_01 7:20

I don't know. This is like your birthday ritual, right?

SPEAKER_00 7:22

Yes, and then and then now that I've gotten to Google, you know, I don't fundraise anymore. I just save aside some money every year and I buy backpacks for kids. And so for me, it's like I think that motivation to build myself up so I can help other people who are in need, um, help those around me at work, help my friends, my family. Um, that is what's kept me going, helped me find the success I have today.

SPEAKER_01 7:47

So, like this not only keeping success here for yourself, but also spreading it and spreading joy and spreading love and sharing.

SPEAKER_00 7:54

Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 7:54

Yeah, was it like always in you, like something your parents passed you, or this was something you discovered along the way that that's how it is and that's how it works for you?

SPEAKER_00 8:04

I think my parents did pass some of it, but I think it's discovered along the way. I always had this idea in mind about I think it's into like spirituality too, of like at the end of the day, when you die, there's only the good that you live in the world, right? Like that really matters and how you make people feel, and how um, and that like positive aura that people think about you when they when they remember you. Yeah, and so for me, that's kind of what I always thought about is like I wanna be someone that's remembered for being a good person. Um, and I also believe that when you do good things, good things come back. I'm a huge believer in karma, even in negative karma, positive karma. I believe it's not linear either, right? Like what you do today can happen back in 10 years, it can come back in 15 years, but it'll always come back to the same amount. But I think the thing about negative karma is it'll come back equally, but I think when you do positive karma, it comes out bigger and bigger and better.

SPEAKER_01 9:04

Wow, I think that we we talked about it the other day about like karma and the whole circle and like the spiritual aspect of that. Um and do you think that uh getting to like the better schools and Google, like that was like your positive karma, which kind of made a circle to back to your life?

SPEAKER_00 9:22

Yes, I think so. I think so. I think I'm in a spot where I'm really happy. I love my job, I love what I do, I love the people that I'm with, I love my, you know, the people, the impact that it's has on people. Um, and I I a hundred percent think so. And I think there's even bigger things that are out there for me if I continue building on this. And so the idea is not as much like okay, like what's the next thing, but like what am I gonna do to help other people? So then one day I can get to the next thing and then keep building and building and building. It's kind of like empire, a positive impact.

SPEAKER_01 9:56

Building building wealth, yeah. Um tell me more about how you end up at Google. Like, have you always dreamt of working in tech someday when you were studying so hard? And you were like, oh, this company, one day, one day. Or does it something like um the celebrity's and other like coincidences which happened which led you to this way?

SPEAKER_00 10:17

Yes, that's a good that's a good question. I think everyone says something different for this, right? Obviously, obviously, it's like, wow, how do we get here? Yeah, um, so for me, I didn't always wanted to work in tech. Um, when I was when I I when I came to the US, I really wanted to be a food scientist, actually. Wow, I didn't have a lot of access to Colombian food, so I had to learn how to like use Filipino ingredients, Mexican ingredients to make the same Colombian dishes. And so I went to Berkeley as a nutritional sciences major and I wanted to study food science for the longest time. So I did pre-med pre-med, yes, exactly. Pre-med. I was literally like in organic chemistry, but I just felt like it was a little slow for me. And I I found that I'm someone that's extroverted and that I love talking to people. Um, and so I that's when I decided, you know, I could start, you know, business as a good way for incorporating like food and also impact. Um, and when I was even in Berkeley, I was in entertainment at Warner Brothers. I interned doing movie marketing, I did biotechnology, coffee roasting technology.

SPEAKER_01 11:23

Whoa!

SPEAKER_00 11:24

Um, and what I found is like those things, what is the biggest overlap? It's impact, it's positive impact. And I think that's what led me to tech is um that impact that you can see on people at a larger scale globally, the reach that um that it has, it's incredible. So that's how I got here.

SPEAKER_01 11:43

Wow, that's such an interesting journey, you know. Like science of coffee roasting, that's what we the most it was really technical.

SPEAKER_00 11:53

What? Coffee roasting, exactly. Very random, very random lore that I did my side quests.

SPEAKER_01 12:00

Do you think like the food is also part of your passion?

SPEAKER_00 12:03

Oh, yes, yes, I think so. I love food. I've always wanted to explore like food. I love cooking for my friends. It's something that I I get to do a little bit here in New York City. Um and yeah, I mean, I want to explore it more, honestly. So if you have any recommendations for you, you are not asking the right person.

SPEAKER_01 12:22

I just motivated. But I can get you some. I can get you some.

SPEAKER_00 12:28

Of course. She always has a plug for something.

SPEAKER_01 12:31

Um, no, that's super interesting because like it also like gives you this identity of being multidimensional, right? Like it's not only tech, it's not only Google, but there are like so many other aspects which led to you along this way, and also like being um different in certain rooms, like that's also a big advantage to have and to show the different perspective to other people. Uh, so I feel like this is so interesting to foster that. And how do you still stay authentic in all of it?

SPEAKER_00 13:01

Yeah, that's a good question. I think authenticity is so important, right? Like, because it I hate being that person that puts on a fake front. Um, and I think I know. I feel like in America, yeah, and I remember I have so many friends like Victoria that come from Europe and they're like, whoa, it's so it can feel inauthentic in certain spaces, right? It's like you can't really be yourself. And I think I'm I've always been very positive, right? Um, and I I like that about me. Uh I but I think I've always also just been transparent with people. If I'm not having a good day, you can you can notice. Like it's so hard for me to hide it. Yeah. Um, I think obviously when it comes to work, it's really important to know who you trust, right? Like it's really important to know who you tell things to. But as long as you're like, I'm just like positive. Um and also like I've always been proud of myself and I know the values that I bring to the table and the skills that I can bring. And I know I'm very capable. And so I've never shied away from like being myself because of that, because I know I'm capable.

SPEAKER_01 14:01

Yeah, exactly. And that's also like it's very interesting because not everyone has that part. They want to be authentic, but they don't feel like this is something they can are allowed to be in a workplace, in a friends group, in a community, right? Like they need to plan in. And how did you like build this confidence around you? Is it because of the uh successful uh things you've done in life and then it kind of builds you up, or is something you always had in yourself? Like, how can you inspire other people who are struggling with that?

SPEAKER_00 14:31

Yes, I mean that's really hard. I because I think you know, especially when you're in corporate world, there's gonna be so many different types of people that you interact with and certain dynamics, right, that are there. Um I always remember why I got to this place, right? Like somebody made that decision to put me on the seat, and I'm gonna like work as hard as I can to like prove that. Um, always knowing where I came from. I've there's been so many instances in my life, like as being an immigrant, as being Latino, as being gay, as being, there's so many things about me where I have been doubted or have been othered by other people where I overcame it. And then I was like, I'm I'm smarter than some of these people here. Like, why am I doubting myself? And I saw it ever since I came to the US, and I felt like I was there's other smart people in the class, and I always climb and climb and climbed, and then I've got me to where I am. So I literally don't let those things affect me anymore.

SPEAKER_01 15:30

So that's your advantage. Yes, exactly. That's something which you feel like, oh, that's actually unique.

SPEAKER_00 15:36

It's unique, exactly. And even I remember there's like one team that I joined at Google where everyone was like a little bit older than me. Um, and I felt really intimidated by that, just being Gen Z, I was 25. And um and I was I was crushing it, I was doing super well. And I remember talking to one of my managers and being like, hey, like I feel really intimidated. I feel like I can't really share things. And then he's like, What are you talking about, Juan? It's such a strength to be the youngest person in the room and to be so capable like you. And you know, that's just like an example of like a mentor that like really helped me see things in a different way. And I started speaking up and then, you know, got promoted quick after that. Period, period. Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 16:19

Um, yeah, but like uh not everyone has that privilege to have those people around them, right? Like having the people who empower you is such a privilege, and having this mentorship, it's amazing to think that someone believes in you sometimes more than you believe in yourself. Yes. But first, you need to show the world, like to believe in yourself and show the world that actually, oh, I'm capable because no one would believe in you before you want to believe in yourself. Yes, yeah. So you had like this belief somewhere along the way, right? Like you were like, okay, even though I'm unique, even though maybe I'm like the youngest in the room, I am still capable because I am me.

SPEAKER_00 16:55

Yes.

SPEAKER_01 16:56

So how did you build all of that? Like getting there, even.

SPEAKER_00 17:01

Yeah. It starts with a positive impact at the core. What is it that you're fighting for in life? Always bringing that back to that impact makes me feel like I'm just like I'm deserving of this place. Every every position I've gotten, I'm deserving of it. Why? Because I know I'm gonna do something good about it, and I know that I'm also more capable than other people, and I can use my power for good.

SPEAKER_01 17:24

How do you know that you're capable?

SPEAKER_00 17:26

I know that I'm capable because there's been instances in my life where I felt like I wasn't capable and I realized I actually was the most capable, and it's happened over and over and over and over again. I love that. Um, and and it's why it's so important to also put yourself in situations where you grow, right? Where there's people that are smarter than you, where there's people that you know you feel like are just like incredible and you learn from them, but then you actually learned maybe I could do this even better. Yeah, right? Yeah.

SPEAKER_01 17:53

So yeah. Wow. I love that. You are like such an interesting, you know, like you kind of see things from such an interesting angle. Um, and also like right now, like being in the age of AI as Gen Z, yes, yes, um, at Google, like it's also for sure like interesting, challenging at the same time, right? What kind of advice would you give to people who would like to enter the workplace in an age of AI, but also like in tech right now, who are maybe studying or you know, thinking to uh change their careers, um, or like, you know, kind of thinking to do something else in life?

SPEAKER_00 18:31

Yeah, yeah, that's a good question. AI is something we talk about so much, right? It's it's literally like such an important part of society now. Um, I think they there's a trillion dollars in investments for AI. Um, so it's it's crazy. I think what's important here when it comes to AI, I know there's gonna be so many like discourse around if AI is good, if AI is bad, you know, what are the consequences? And it's important to understand those. But it's also really important to acknowledge that society is gonna adopt AI, whether we like it or not. It's part of human evolution, just how we had fire, just how we had cars come out instead of horse carriages, just how we had electricity come out. I think AI is the next wave. And so we need to be embracing of that because it's not gonna go away. It's literally only gonna get more evolved and more smart. But it's important to understand like, what are how can we be ethical with AI? How can we make sure it's serving the right people and it's learning from the right places? And then also think about what is the benefits that it's had in society. And there's a lot of research that's come out on like DNA, for example, it speeds up DNA research. It helps with wildfire detection, it helps with um scanning for diabetic retinopathy, people who are going blind. Um, and so these are examples of things that it's positive. And how can we make that even bigger, right? Like focus on the positive, on the things that are are getting better. Um, and also minimizing obviously the negatives with like being more ethical.

SPEAKER_01 20:02

Well, Juan, last question to you. I know that uh you had a very interesting like life trajectory, and I know that it's only like you're only 27, right? So it's gonna be so much more. But like today, like thinking about what would you say to your younger self? What would you like you to hear from your younger self right now?

SPEAKER_00 20:26

Oh, that's so nice. So, what would I tell my younger self? And what would I like to hear from your younger self right now? From my younger self. Wow, okay, that's a spin. I love it. Um okay, I would say what I would tell my younger self is there's so many people out there in the world that are incredible, that can bring so much knowledge and care and support to you. And you just have to go find them, go talk to them, right? So when I was younger, you know, I was definitely more timid. Um, growing up, I was just a kind of like more of the overweight kid. I was always like more a nerdy kid. And so I always felt a little bit more insecure. Um, but I think now that as I've gotten older, I've really embraced who I am. I think, and I've always been very extroverted. It's like, why did I miss out on the opportunity to meet people and learn new things and really focus on the education that we talked about earlier to meet new people? And so I would tell my younger self, go out there and meet people and don't be scared to talk to strangers. Um, that's the first thing. Yes.

SPEAKER_01 21:34

So yeah, educate yourself.

SPEAKER_00 21:36

Educate yourself, educate yourself, literally. Um, but then I think like what I would my younger self would tell me. Um, I think my younger self would tell me to be aware of present. I think I've always been so future thinking, yeah, um, literally AI. I was I've always just been so focused on my goals and what I want to do next. And it's so important to just enjoy the present. Um, I actually recently went on a trip to El Salvador um with my boyfriend, and we had a great time. And it was an awesome trip because I got to really experience being present and just saying yes to new new things. So, like taking adventures, just really taking the path that you would like least think, right? Like going to I was surfing. It was crazy. So it was it was just such a fun trip. But I think like staying present by saying yes and like knowing what's your end goal, but like it doesn't matter how you get there and just enjoy the ride. Um, so I think that's kind of my my parting words to myself and to everyone here.

SPEAKER_01 22:36

Wow, I love that. I love that. Thank you so much for sharing all of that. This is so amazing to hear, you know, like your story and your learnings and your insights on the whole aspects of your personality and how to stay deeply human in the modern world.

SPEAKER_00 22:53

Yes, exactly.

SPEAKER_01 22:55

Thank you so much, Juan. Thank you, Victoria.

SPEAKER_00 22:57

I love you.