We’ve all heard the famous saying about the comfort zone and how nothing good ever happens inside it. Paulina Roe, whose voice you can hear on Chicago’s 103.5 KISS-FM’s Fred and Angi morning show, is no stranger to that philosophy.

When Paulina graduated from University of Illinois at Chicago she moved to Los Angeles not knowing anyone. She took a job at a radio station because that’s the only place that hired her. Working as a Promotions Assistant, Paulina knew that she wanted to be on air. Seemingly without fear, she talked to the people who could get her there. By offering to help with social media, she successfully snuck her way into programming. When Paulina moved back to Chicago, she stayed with her company, iHeart Radio, but the only position open was a sales job.

“The first day I got hired, I went to talk to the program director. He teamed me up with the morning show and I began managing their social media.”

Now, she is three-and-a-half years in on Chicago’s biggest radio morning show. Where others either work hard or coast by hoping that an opening will become available, Paulina creates opportunities for herself. That mentality led her where she is today and allowed her to interview everyone from Steve Aoki to Ellie Goulding.

Paulina is also the host of “unEntitled,” a podcast that provides a platform for influential millennials to share their stories and offer career advice. The idea originated on a public transportation ride home some years ago and is still going strong today. Now, Paulina is in talks to bring on an exciting sponsor this year, and she’ll likely take the show on the road in early spring.

Almost subconsciously, throughout the half-hour we had together, Paulina stresses the importance of voice, whether it be finding the voice to get a career opportunity or sticking up for your opinion in a difficult situation.

“No one’s path is the same, but I had to fight for me a lot.”

That fighting started at an early age with an identity crisis that a lot of mixed-race children could relate to. Paulina comes from an immigrant family, with a Polish mother and a Mexican/Ecuadorian father. Her mom enrolled her in Polish school, where other kids would tell her she didn’t look Polish. In high school, though she looked like her Latinx peers, she didn’t speak Spanish well enough to truly be a part of them.

“Being mixed in the United States right now is hard because people constantly remind you that you are not one of them because of x, y, z.”

Nevertheless, Paulina uses her platform to support both communities. She volunteers her time working with undocumented immigrants, rescue animals, the LGBTQ community, and has recently teamed up with Healthy Hood Chicago on a mental health initiative that offers healers for free to those who can’t afford therapy.

“Radio has helped me understand a lot of things. Because of radio I became a lot more aware of people’s mental health. That’s something I never touched on growing up in an immigrant family. All we know is work, providing for others and caring for others. What is self-care? Then I learned, if I can’t take care of me, how can I take care of you?”

The importance of mental health seeps into her own life. Her professional growth and the risks she took taught her hustle and a specific work ethic. But her platform comes with haters, too. The more she puts herself out there, the more negativity she has to deal with.

“People can sense vulnerability from a mile away, but there is nothing you can tell me about me that I haven’t already said. I live my truth.”

Returning to the significant voice, Paulina says staying quiet is the first step to losing your voice. But she doesn’t have the time to deal with all the haters, which is where the rule of ten comes in.

“Four people are always going to like you. Three are going to hate you. And three are going to be on the fence. Those on the fence are the ones you have to convince.”

Follow Paulina on Instagram at @paulinaroe and check her out on weekday mornings on the Fred and Angi Morning Show.

Media Personality and Activist Paulina Roe on the Importance of Speaking Up for Ourselves and Others

“The first day I got hired, I went to talk to the program director. He teamed me up with the morning show and I began managing their social media.”

“No one’s path is the same, but I had to fight for me a lot.”

“Being mixed in the United States right now is hard because people constantly remind you that you are not one of them because of x, y, z.”

“People can sense vulnerability from a mile away, but there is nothing you can tell me about me that I haven’t already said. I live my truth.”

“Four people are always going to like you. Three are going to hate you. And three are going to be on the fence. Those on the fence are the ones you have to convince.”