In this powerful episode, Xavier Mercado sits down with Andres Zapata, Founder of GEMBA LLC. and associate pastor at his church in the Mukwonago area. Inspiration blooms as both sit in for a heartfelt conversation on perseverance, purpose, and community impact. Born and raised in Milwaukee, Andres opens up about overcoming a difficult childhood and finding direction through faith, resilience, and hard work.
He shares his professional within a Fortune 500 company, where he rose from an entry level technical support specialist to senior global leadership roles. A turning point came with his son Milo’s autism diagnosis, which reshaped his life and inspired the launch of GEMBA LLC. A platform focused on helping small businesses and nonprofits grow while also raising awareness and education around autism.
Andres speaks candidly about the personal challenges he’s faced, including fear, perfectionism, and self-doubt, and how he leaned on faith, positive self-talk, and a strong support system to push forward. His story is one of balancing business ambition with a deeper mission to serve others and make a lasting difference.
Whether you’re an entrepreneur, parent of a child with special needs, or someone striving to lead with purpose, Andres’ honesty and passion will leave you inspired to stay the course, embrace compassion, and find strength in your calling.
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