Balancing Dreams and Discipline: Angel Mendoza's Journey from Starbucks to Valencia Apparel

In this powerful episode of Let’s Do It Afraid, we sit down with Angel Mendoza, a man who wears many hats: store manager at Starbucks, future asset protection professional, and the creative force behind Valencia Apparel. After nearly a decade with Starbucks, Angel is preparing to put his Criminal Justice degree to work while continuing to build his clothing brand—a brand inspired by his mother and driven by a vision to bring luxury to all, including the often-overlooked plus-size community.

Angel opens up about the fears that shaped his path, from worrying about not being “cool” enough to feeling the weight of burnout. He shares how discipline, rather than emotion, guides his decisions and how stepping back for self-care was a hard but necessary lesson. With raw honesty, Angel discusses his mental health struggles, his journey to set bounda ...