Meet Monica Denisse Pineda | Founder & CEO

We had the good fortune of connecting with Monica Denisse Pineda and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monica Denisse, what was your thought process behind starting your own business?
I find that in this life we truly don’t know how long we have to experience it. With this at the forefront, I believe every person deserves to live more at home in their bodies given it’s the home you carry throughout your life experience. Because of this and the lack of education on emotional intelligence, I launched a business for mental and emotional health to introduce a new concept of mental health workouts via circuit training at Avance Hub. I believe intuitive, experiential programs empower us with self awareness, self knowledge, and the self leadership to connect back to ourselves. My hope is that more people get to experience their inner world with compassion, safety, love, and flexibility. Avance Hub is not only a business but indeed a hub for collaboration, innovation, and thought leaders to emerge in a time where our generation must step up to the plate and play a different game. I feel a great sense of responsibility to participate in leaving the world a better place than I found it, contributing to the emotional impact on generations after us.

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
This journey to launching Avance Hub was not straightforward or easy. Five years ago I wrote the name Avance when I started to prepare for what a “mental health gym” would function like. Leaving my role as a therapist to bring mental health workouts has brought many sentiments that I am proud to say shape the dynamic flow of Avance. The business is led by an understanding of support systems with servant and transformational leadership at its core. I want the world to know that Avance exists to help them lead themselves emotionally and mentally, empowering them thru experiential learning and self leadership. I want the world to know they are not alone. I want them to know that we aim to serve the unheard and the unattended especially for the populations that need a more accessible, stigma free, and anonymous approach.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I’m a West Phoenix native and local fan. I would first pick them up from the airport and take them straight to Unos Tacos in West Phoenix for quesotacos con birria (as a snack). We would get pupusas and horchata from a local family owned Salvadoran restaurant (Salvadoreño) that now spans locations across the valley with the newest grand opening in Tempe. Being a Sun Devil, we would take a short walk up “A” mountain to catch sunset. We would visit Piestewa Peak and Camelback Mountain for moderate hikes, expanding our city views. We must get Vietnamese cuisine, specifically pho, at Little Saigon in downtown Glendale for a lovely bowl at dinner. To watch sunset in a relaxed setting where we can share insights, we would position ourselves at Different Pointe of View enjoying more snacks while we laugh and share stories. To continue our nature-filled week, we would drive to The Japanese Friendship Garden of Phoenix which is best experienced when intentionally slowing down. On one of our evenings we would journey underground to the New Mexican and secret Rokerij for a cozy fireplace and ambiance. We would have to eat breakfast in Scottsdale at Butters Pancakes & Cafe to be energized for our last climb, Victory Steps at Verrado to touch every part of town and the perspectives from each vantage point. We would pick up local cheesecake from Anthony “thecheesecakeguy” on IG or find him at the Parkwest Market in Peoria to celebrate our small wins in life. Just before ending the week, we would visit the Uptown Farmers Market in Central Phoenix for tamales from The Tamale Store, leaving us as happy campers. For their journey out, we would pick up “Postcards from the Desert” from local author and mental health advocate Diana Resendiz capping off our quality time together.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
My parents were the first believers in my abilities though humbling me often, letting me ground and own my self belief inside. I understood that courage and bravery would be requirements for the road ahead. Additionally, Ms. Johanna Rosalye Luna and Mr. Noah Ruiz have been two pivotal supporters in helping me bring Avance Hub to light. The story of Avance unfolding could not happen without their brutal honesty, love, guidance, and support. I believe we need people like them in our corners, reminding us of the realities of our journeys while being present with us. With a reality based approach, we grow faster surrendering to “what is” and simultaneously taking intuitive action for what we create. Both Mr. Ruiz introducing me to the book “Play Bigger” and author Christopher Lochhead sharing an “Arrrr” with me are the small tokens of encouragement that I will pass on to the next entrepreneur looking to play bigger.

Website: avancehub.co

Instagram: avancehub.co