We’re looking forward to introducing you to Patricia Vila & Patricia Vila. Check out our conversation below.
Hi Patricia & Patricia, thank you so much for taking time out of your busy day to share your story, experiences and insights with our readers. Let’s jump right in with an interesting one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
Opening the CNN Havana bureau in March 1997 was both exhilarating and humbling. It was historic to be standing at the center of a long-closed chapter in U.S. Cuba relations and helping reopen a window for direct reporting after decades of distance. I felt a strong sense of responsibility knowing we were the first American news organization allowed to do this, and that how we worked would set a tone for those who followed. There was excitement in the journalistic challenge, in navigating the political sensitivities, and pride in giving audiences unfiltered, on-the-ground coverage of a place that many knew was a closed society. It also reinforced to me of why journalism matters: being present, bearing witness, and telling stories firsthand.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I am the founder of Patty Vila Media, a strategic communications and media advisory firm drawing on decades of frontline journalism experience. As a former CNN producer and bureau manager, I led groundbreaking coverage around the world, including opening CNN’s Havana bureau in 1997 as the first American news organization to do so. Today, I help leaders, organizations, and brands navigate complex issues, shape clear narratives, and communicate with credibility during moments that matter most. What makes the work unique is the newsroom tested perspective behind it combining editorial rigor, global insight, and strategic storytelling to turn complexity into clarity and trust.
Amazing, so let’s take a moment to go back in time. What breaks the bonds between people—and what restores them?
What breaks the bonds between people is fear, fear of the other, of loss, of being unheard. Mistrust, silence, and dehumanizing narratives widen those gaps, especially when power or politics replace empathy and listening.
What restores those bonds is connection grounded in truth: honest dialogue, shared stories, and the willingness to see one another fully. Presence matters. Listening without an agenda matters. When people are given space to tell their stories and others are willing to bear witness understanding follows. Trust is rebuilt not all at once, but moment by moment, through accountability, curiosity, and compassion.
Is there something you miss that no one else knows about?
It wasn’t just the work or the diplomacy of covering Cuba it was the feeling of being part of a community, of living alongside people whose resilience and warmth left a lasting mark on me. I was able to meet and spend time with my family that stayed behind. I was able to really understand the entire Cuban – American dynamic. Covering the news in the only communist country in the Western Hemisphere was a responsibility that I took very seriously. I am looking forward to the day that we have a free Cuba. I would like nothing more than to contribute to that community in any capacity when it is free.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
The public version of me is the real me. I don’t know how to be any other way. I have never been interested in performing a role or curating an image to get ahead. What you see is truly what you get.
In a world that often rewards polish over honesty and connection over character, I believe authenticity has become rare and undervalued. But real trust, real relationships and real impact only come from showing up truthfully. I have built my life and work on that belief, and I would not trade it for anything.
Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. When do you feel most at peace?
I feel most at peace when I am sitting in solitude thinking and writing in my journal. I love to think without pressure and expectations. Those moments remind me how important having quiet time is. I also feel peace when I am meditating with my community at a meditation class. When everyone is vibrating for the collective good it always makes the experience so much better.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: pattyvilamedia
- Linkedin: Patricia Vila
- Facebook: Patty Vila
- Other: Lemon8 Patty Vila
Image Credits
Patty Vila
