In this heartfelt episode of First to Thrive, I’m joined by PR powerhouse and proud Filipina immigrant Ely Anne Vedar, founder of the Ely Agency. We talk about her journey from navigating cultural whiplash as a four-year-old immigrant to building a career amplifying underrepresented voices in the PR world.
Ely opens up about the early loss of language and identity, the pressures of assimilation, and the conscious decision to stop hiding. We dive into how embracing her full self—from her name to her natural curls—has not only changed how she moves through the world but also how she supports others in owning their stories.
This is a powerful conversation for anyone who’s ever felt like they had to hide parts of themselves just to belong.
What We Talk About:
- 🎤 How Ely accidentally found her way into PR—and made it her calling
- 🧳 Her early experience immigrating from the Philippines at 4 years old
- 🫢 The impact of being told to stop speaking Tagalog
- 💫 What it means to follow the “70% aligned” rule in life and business
- 👁️🗨️ How reclaiming identity shows up in everyday decisions—like embracing her curly hair
- 📣 The power of visibility for underrepresented voices
- 🔁 What inspired her to break generational cycles of hiding
- 🧠 Why authenticity isn’t just personal—it’s strategic in business
Guest Links:
Follow Ely and learn more about her work:
📱 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ely.vedar/ 💼 LinkedIn:linkedin.com/in/elyannevedar
🌐 Learn more about Ely Agency: elyagency.com
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