Today we’d like to introduce you to Jeannette Kaplun.
Hi Jeannette, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today.
When I was a little girl, I wanted to be a ballerina or a journalist. I did my first interview when I was 10, graduated college in Chile with a degree in broadcast journalism, and started working on TV in 1994 but never in a million years did I imagine the career I have had.
When I moved back to the US after growing up in Chile, I did a brief stint in PR before going back to working in the media. I hosted a tech show called Vida en Linea for Discovery Channel Latin America and cofounded a parenting online media company called Todobebe (all things baby in Spanish) in 1999. For 13 years I was Todobebe’s chief content officer, and TV host and even published a parenting manual for the baby’s first year.
In 2012 it was time for a change and I decided to launch a bilingual lifestyle platform for women called Hispana Global, where I aim to inspire women to live their best possible lives. It’s wild to be able to be on TV as a morning show contributor, in front of thousands of people as a speaker, or writing in English and Spanish for my online magazine while also constantly learning new skills to be able to reach new audiences through short-form videos. Since I know what it’s like to be bullied, it is one of my passions to help prevent bullying.
For years I have led self-esteem and social media workshops for tween and teen girls, and I hope my words and tips help them thrive in a world that sometimes leaves them feeling more isolated than truly connected to other human beings. Helping others is what truly motivates me and I believe it is why I have been able to evolve and persist despite how quickly platforms, algorithms, and life change.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The paths I have chosen have always been full of obstacles. Nothing has been smooth but the goals I have achieved, from launching my own business to becoming a mom, have always been worth the struggle, effort, setbacks, and challenges. In many ways, I never felt I belonged anywhere. I grew up between two countries, Chile and the US, between cultures, between traditional and new media, always adapting, always learning, always feeling I was in uncharted territory.
In Spanish there is a phrase that says “No soy de aqui ni soy de alla” and in many ways, it reflects how I feel: not from here, not from there. When you are creating something new, it’s always a struggle to explain why it’s needed, while there is no playbook and you have to learn as you go. In many ways, thanks to the obstacles I have faced, I found my voice.
After being bullied in the 5th and 6th grades, it fueled a drive to carve out my own path. Perhaps I was unable to speak out and defend myself when I was a child, but now I don’t keep quiet about issues that I care about and am constantly raising awareness about causes near and dear to my heart, from childhood cancer to bullying to skin cancer prevention.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
Currently, I am known as a bilingual lifestyle expert who creates content for women in English and Spanish. As one of the first parenting bloggers and a pioneer in the Latina blogging space, perhaps my endurance and ability to constantly adapt have not only set me apart but also allowed me to create content in 2024, both in traditional media and online.
To think I published my first blog post in 1999 is mind-boggling! Now I not only manage and write for my sites, but I also publish journals, speak at conferences, do TV segments, and lead workshops. I also think that being 100% fluent in both English and Spanish has opened so many doors. I hope that inspires more people to be proud of their Latine roots and to celebrate the ability to speak and write in more than one language.
Recently I was selected as one of Telemundo’s Mujeres Imparables, won the Iris Award for Instagram of the Year, and was included in Chilean newspaper El Mercurio’s Mujeres Lideres. I’m a Special Advisor to The Bank of America Institute for Women’s Entrepreneurship at Cornell and was included in the Forbes #Next1000 2021 list.
Where do you see things going in the next 5-10 years?
The media landscape is always evolving, especially online. Even if technology, platforms, and algorithms change, there is one thing that doesn’t: the need for great storytelling that opens the door to true human connection. For now, AI cannot replicate that. Video will continue to grow in importance, but I do think people will seek out deeper, longer-form content.
I also think that AI tool usage will only grow, but the human factor will be a differentiating factor. Audiences will crave more than ever authenticity and connection. In many ways, I think content creators will have to “prove” they aren’t bots to be able to grow their communities. That is why developing a unique b = voice and sharing what makes you unique will be crucial.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://hispanaglobal.net and https://hispanaglobal.com
- Instagram: instagram.com/jeannettekaplun
- Facebook: facebook.com/jeannettekapluntv
- Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/jkaplun
- Twitter: x.com/jeannettekaplun
- Youtube: youtube.com/hispanaglobal
Image Credits
Santiago Betancur and Waseem Santorini
