We had the good fortune of connecting with Jay Minaya and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Jay, can you talk to us a bit about the social impact of your business?
Journey Language Center (JLC) has helped thousands to achieve their goals to become better travelers, increasing benefits and opportunities in their workplaces, enriching personal growth and being part of a globalized world. Through our cultural, interactive, immersive and fun language programs; children, teens, adults and seniors are able to learn a second language, and a new culture,  to see the world in a more enriching way. Throughout the years, JLC has built strong cultural and community bridges through the art of languages. JLC has provided many direct and indirect jobs in Boulder County and has helped the local traveling and tourism industry by bringing students from Europe, South America and Asia to learn English while doing tourism in the beautiful Colorado. Also, thanks to our Teen Immersion Language Courses, JLC helped hundreds of American teens to become bilingual (and even trilingual) and prepare them and enhance their professional career paths. .

Let’s talk shop? Tell us more about your career, what can you share with our community?

 I was born in Lima , Perú. I came to the United States in 2003 with no much money, no knowledge of English language and without having a solid plan about my future. I graduated with a degree in Business Administration with Emphasis in Marketing in 2005 from the Leeds School of Business at CU. After graduation, I worked for a couple of years in a local bank and a mortgage firm. I though working for these financial institutions will be my new life but shrotly I realized that they were not a good fit for me. In 2007 and quit my job and opened my first Language Agency business with $2,000 in my pocket. I started off this business in my house by providing a couple of Spanish classes and using my dining room as my classroom. I remember that I  had only 7 students back then.
It is never easy to run a new business from the ground up, but I learned quickly that with passion, discipline and be surrounded by great employees you can make your dream business idea a reality. Passion is to believe 100% and totally love for what your product or service can do to benefit others. Discipline is to feel motivated every day about how your product/service can make an important change in people’s lives. That motivation helps you to keep moving and work hard and responsibly everyday to ultimately achieve your business goals. When you truly believe, in your product or service, your body and mind will ask you to keep going and that is the fuel that I needed in order overcome everyday obstacles. Lastly, being surrounded by business partners, co-workers or employees that share your vision and passion is the key to increase sales, improve services and build a strong brand. The Journey brand does not only provide language classes, but also owns properties, has published linguistic books, culinary books, children books, etc. We love what we do since day one and that creates fulfillment and satisfaction.

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?
David Minaya, my brother. He is my business partner, right hand and best friend. I founded Journey Language Center and Journey Culinary Ltd. David joined me a couple of years after to help me to work on creating our first  language books. David is the Prgoram Coordinator and also a dedicated and fun Spanish and Italian instructor at JLC.

I also would like to thank our amazing Journey team and clients for trusting us from day one. Without their support and love to local businesses we wouldn’t be here.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
I am a cooking instructor and I am a foodie as well, therefore one of my favorite places is Larimer Square in Denver. We can find there a great selection of outstanding restaurants. I also would take my friend to the beautiful city of Estes Park. It is not too far from the city and rocky Mountains is always a great spot to visit anytime.

Website: www.journeylanguagecenter.com

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/jay-minaya-2b792337/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/search/top/?q=journey%20language%20center

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xN6djL0dhgU

Nominate Someone: ShoutoutColorado is built on recommendations and shoutouts from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.