TAMPA, Fla. — Moving to a new country and starting over can be scary. Studies show that many people move in search of better opportunities.

What You Need To Know

  • Florida ranks No. 1 in net migration according to the U.S. Census Bureau

  • More than 400,000 people have moved to Florida from July 2021 to July 2022.

  • Pilar Ortiz founded Pilar Ortiz Enterprises, where she provides coaching for women

  • One of her biggest goals is to help women adjust to the Tampa Bay area after having left their country

Florida ranks No. 1 in net migration according to the U.S. Census Bureau, with more than 400,000 people having moved to Florida from July 2021 to July 2022. 

One of those people is Pilar Ortiz, who spends a lot of time on the pickleball courts. But if she’s not on the court, you’ll often catch her at the beach.

“I come, I walk, I swim, I meditate here,” she said.

Ortiz said being outdoors helps keep her grounded. It’s also a big part of her immigration journey from Colombia to the U.S. 24 years ago.

“Every single day I am very grateful for everything, what I have lived in the past," she said. "Some things have been difficult, some things have been easier."

She said the biggest challenges she faced were learning to speak English and believing in her capability to succeed in a new place.

Studies show that other challenges for immigrants include raising children and helping them succeed in school, while also securing work and housing.

Ortiz used her own personal experience to start a coaching company, Pilar Ortiz Enterprises. She hopes to help others who are adjusting to a new place.

“Everything that we do, we work on the mindset, the emotions and the communication and leadership skills of every person," she said.

Through workshops, Ortiz can connect with people like Liliana Ramirez, who moved to the U.S. three years ago.

“I had that fear of confronting the reality," Ramirez said, "and with Pilar I saw the opportunity to learn how to speak in public, the opportunity to help find my lane to follow my dreams.”

Pilar said moving to the U.S. was life changing for her, and it’s why she’s passionate about what she does every day.

“I want to help other women leaders to help each other," she said. "If we can give a hand to someone else, we are going to move further and faster.”

Just like Ortiz has made the St. Pete community her home for many years, she wants to help others do the same, turning the tide on any challenges they might face.

Florida’s total population has reached more than 22 million and is third behind California and Texas, according to the Tampa Bay Economic Development Council.