One day a phone call came in to Mil Jugos, “Can I speak with Norah Briceño?” I said yes I am. “May we get your biography and some photographs from you because you won the nomination of the entrepreneur for the year, and can we get this tomorrow?” And I did. Next thing, there I was with a microphone in hand at the Anna Maria Arias Gala in DC. It really was the most wonderful experience I have ever felt in my life.

I was born in Caracas Distrito Federal in Venezuela on July 23, 1969. My parents, Humberto Gallo is an engineer and my mother, Solange de Briceño Briceño, is a home maker. My siblings Zailee, Miguel, Humberto, along with my lovely husband Robert and my nieces Danielle and Victoria, whom I love dearly, are my inspiration and motivation to keep going.

I studied at the University Bicenteneria of Maracay in Venezuela where I received a degree in finance and banking. While studying I started my first business, Mil Jugos (Thousand Juices) in Maracay city where I grew up and spent half of my life. As the name implies, with over a thousand combinations of fruit to start your day or just cool off with, the delicious fruit smoothies quenched the heat of the city where I lived. What else can you ask of life?

Seeing the success of my small business I decided to explore new horizons in order to give to the world the richness of our cuisine. So I decided to move to California where my sister Zailee now resides. After living in Southern California for almost three years, I found the perfect site for my second restaurant. Today, Thousand Juices is at 318 W 5th St. in Santa Ana, California. Digging out of my checking and savings account, I made my second of many thousands of dreams that I have and today that is what holds me up and am eager to move forward in my life. After the first three years of austerity, I worked from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Thousand Juices and as a waitress in a prestigious golf club in South Orange County. There I learned many techniques in the field of customer service and in the field of gastronomy, I loved my work but also cried many nights on the way to my second job and I wondered, why do I have to do this? God help me, I cannot do this anymore. But I continued because it was there where I learned about food and also met the companion of my life, my husband.

After five years of great experience I decided to marry and leave my second job which helped me so much. This was the best decision that I took because after this I started to see the fruit of many tears and sacrifices. I started to see light at the end of the tunnel. After five years of hard work and sacrifice, I started to see the fruit of all my efforts and the answers to many questions and so many prayers. I was finally able to pay myself after having already paid to all the individuals that worked with me, especially my mom. After all her hard work, it was gratifying to get her first paycheck.

The word of mouth advertising paid off. The years passed and more and more people were coming to taste our food and juices. Suddenly I could not put more people in our space and thought that was a great problem. One day I was given the opportunity to move next door, which is four times bigger than the original Mil Jugos. I felt excitement and fear at the same time, but there was no alternative, let’s go!

Every day eager to continue showing the world what we eat and drink, I feel such deep gratitude to this country that has welcomed me as a daughter and more. That protects me and teaches me every day the beauty of the hearts of those who visit us.

I have to thank my mother and my team, my father, my sister, my brother Humberto, my husband Robert and my niece, Lorena. And of course a great person and a very hard worker, my mother, without her I could have never achieved my dreams. My dad always tries to put his experience into practice. My husband is my engine; he keeps me safe with love.

In truth with all my heart I thank LATINA Style Magazine. This is an organization that recognizes the work of Latinas and so many dreams of so many Latinas who arrived to this country who want to work and grow as professionals in any type of field. I know we are a community that will keep growing. If you have a dream, go for it! Trust yourself, work hard, don’t give up and you will succeed. In many ways expand your vision a thousand ways to fulfill your dreams.