From Detroit to Valencia with Ava LaTanya Hilton

Written By Christine Job

In this episode of Flourish in the Foreign, Ava LaTanya Hilton shares her remarkable journey from growing up in Detroit during the height of Motown to living in Valencia, Spain. She reflects on the challenges and triumphs of her childhood, pivotal experiences like her senior class trip abroad, her academic and professional accomplishments, and the profound impact of dance on her life.

Meet Ava LaTanya

Ava Hilton recently retired as the Chief Executive Officer of Dynaxys, a financial services software development firm. As CEO, she led the company’s corporate vision, culture, and strategy, leveraging nearly three decades of leadership experience in technology and organizational transformation to expand Dynaxys’s impact in its markets.

She is a founding partner of Hilton Advisors LLC and Playa Publishers LLC. Throughout her career, she held global tech and change management leadership positions at IBM, PricewaterhouseCoopers (PwC) and Booz Allen Hamilton. Ava also led Non-Profits with national impact.

While serving as the Executive Director, the AAUW Educational Foundation Ava led the release of groundbreaking reports, “How schools Shortchange Girls” (math, science, and technology for/by girls), and Hostile Hallways (sexual abuse in public schools): causing media fire-storms and facilitating foundational changes for the education and treatment of girls nationwide.

Ava’s legacy from her time as the Executive Director of CulturalDC, included the creation of the first ever Mobile Art Gallery (taking visual and performing arts to communities across the DMV (DC, Maryland and Virginia, and the creation of hundreds of thousands of square feet of affordable spaces for artists and the arts.

Ava has worked with a diverse range of clients, including Fortune 100 corporations, civilian and military federal agencies, and global, as well as domestic nonprofit organizations.

Ava also dedicated time to her first love; dance; teaching and performing globally, for over 30 years.

She earned a B.S. in Business (Finance) and B.S. in Education from the University of Minnesota, completed an IBM-sponsored Executive M.B.A. at Harvard Business School, and pursued graduate studies in Management Sciences at the University of Manchester (UK).

Ava has served on federal and commercial advisory boards, and several nonprofit boards. She remains a strong advocate for education, particularly financial literacy, and the visual and performing arts, demonstrating her commitment to public service.

Her accolades include multiple Women in Technology awards, a DEI Visionary Award, and various service honors. Her insights on organizational agility and resilience have been featured in national business publications.

Ava is blessed with a loving family: daughter, Taylor; son, Justin; and husband, Steven.

What resources (books, blogs, services, apps) did you utilize to help you go abroad & thrive abroad?

  • Live and Invest Overseas

  • Consultation from an expat living in Valencia

  • Expediter (in Valencia Spain)

  • Real Estate sites

What is the motto (affirmation, prayer, poem, song lyrics, etc.) that you live by?

MOTTO:

I am a Warrior Goddess

I am the epitome of GRIT, GRACE, and GRATITUDE

POEM:

Come to the Edge By Christopher Logue

“Come to the edge.”

“We can’t. We’re afraid.”

“Come to the edge.”

“We can’t. We will fall!”

“Come to the edge.”

And they came.

And she pushed them.

And they flew.

SONG (s):

  • TRIPLE OG- Tayylor Made & Justin

  • Greatest Love of All - Whitney Houston

  • You'll never walk alone - Andrea Bocelli

  • Home - Stephanie Mills

  • 4 Women - Nina Simone

  • Feeling Good - Nina Simone

  • Natural Woman - Aretha Franklin

  • Count on Me - Whitney Houston

  • People - Barbara Streisand

  • At Last - Etta James

  • Everything Must Change - Quincy Jones

soooo many more (Tina Turner, Sam Cooke, Luther Vandross, Queen Latifah, (Bongos) Cardi B featuring Meghan Thee Stallion, etc!!)

This Episode Covers:

  • First International Experience

  • Living Abroad: England and France

  • Living Abroad: South Africa and Saudi Arabia

  • Dance: A Lifelong Passion

  • Defining Wellness and Final Thoughts

  • And much more!

    Episode Credits:

    Christine Job-Creator & Host

Zachary Higgs-Theme Music

Flourish in the Foreign Resources

*Affiliate links are used to support this podcast and website at no extra cost to you! Thank you for your support!

Christine Job
Next

Embracing a Creative Life in Malaga, Spain with Lori L. Tharps: Aging Abroad