Episode #385: How Spanish Immersion Changed Her Life: Kylah Williams on Language, Culture & Living Abroad from Chile to Spain

Episode Summary

Hear how studying, living and working abroad helped Kylah reinvent herself across cultures and continents. Kylah Williams shares how Spanish immersion shaped her global journey—from growing up in a bilingual program in Sacramento to studying, living, and working abroad in Chile and Spain. She reflects on how language opened doors to deeper cross-cultural connection, from comparing Tagalog and Spanish during her travels in the Philippines to navigating the cultural, business, and marketing nuances across Latin America and Europe. Kylah also discusses her experience living in Chile during the 2019 uprising, building community through sports, and ultimately reinventing herself abroad. Along the way, she breaks down how culture shapes communication, trust, and consumer behavior—and how speaking multiple languages can transform not just how you travel, but how you see the world.

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About the Guest

Kylah Williams

Kylah Williams (“That Bilingual Chick”) is a bi-lingual world traveler and cross-cultural marketing expert. After getting a Masters Degree in Marketing, a Fulbright, and working for the New York Times, she now specializes in the cultural nuances of advertising to different Hispanic and Latino communities. Originally from Sacramento, California she grew up in an African-American home, became fluent in Spanish through immersion, and has lived in Chile, Mexico, and Spain. She now runs immersive trips to Spanish speaking countries, creates bilingual content that teaches Spanish through bite sized lessons, and she is launching the Convo Club—a language learning community where virtual sessions are centered around a trending TV show, album, or book—making practice fun, engaging, and culturally rich.

What You'll Learn

How bilingual immersion and studying abroad can accelerate language fluency and open doors to global opportunities
Why cultural nuance—not just language—shapes communication, trust, and consumer behavior across different countries
How living overseas can push you outside your comfort zone, build community, and lead to powerful personal reinvention

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LOCATIONS WHERE THE INTERVIEW TOOK PLACE