Barbara Miranda Winkler’s new film, “Invisible Woman”

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FWM: You were an incredible athlete for the National Beach Volleyball Team for Honduras. How did this shape you as a person? 

It was an honor and an incredible experience, I learned so much from the sport. Truly grateful for my coaches who encouraged me to improve and be a better athlete. It helped me develop different skills like discipline, determination, and teamwork. I was recruited at age 16, the same year I started college. I had to divide my time studying and training for the National Beach Volleyball Team. 

It required a lot of dedication, for example staying late after classes to work out at the gym or waking up at 5 AM on Saturdays to drive 10 miles to the beach. All of my friends were surprised that I manage to do this for 4 years! I bet; it continues to do so.

When you are a high-performance athlete, you have to work hard for qualifiers and be able to represent your country. Besides the physical preparation, having a positive mindset is crucial. All of these aspects are engrained in me and I apply them every day with projects, at work, and with my 7-year-old daughter!

I still play beach volleyball in the city, when it is warmer out of course!

FWM: Tell us about your time traveling abroad and using your PR skills to gain sponsorship for your team. 

Having the opportunity of representing Honduras was exciting, I travel to countries like Costa Rica, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Mexico and explore their culture and cuisine- which was fantastic because I have a kinship towards food and tourism. However, we had to raise funds in order to travel. Soccer is the main sport that gains most sponsors, so we needed to be creative. In college, I took a Public Relations class and I had the initiative to write letters to Journalists to get the team’s exposure in TV, newspapers, and magazines targeted sports companies to sponsor our FIVB uniforms and investors to help us with travel expenses and registration fees. It was thrilling and I am grateful for the people that supported us.

FWM: How did this lead to your career in the financial sector? 

My parents are hardworking people and always advise us to achieve our goals and continue to learn new things. My brother and I attended private schools in Honduras and for this, I will always be grateful to them. Before joining the investment bank, I was working in hotel management and marketing analysis with different companies. It was until I decided to take a shift and try a different path in the finance sector. Again, bringing those aspects I gained with volleyball helped me through where I am now.

FWM: What do you enjoy most about working in investment banking? 

I enjoy the culture of the firm, the fast-paced environment, and their diversity. It is rewarding when we see our customers and the team working together to achieve great results. I have encountered mentors and women who are I admire throughout the firm.

FWM: Have you always been a champion for causes? 

Always…Growing up in Honduras, I often saw poverty, hunger, violence, and corruption; It helped me understand that sometimes we need to make a difference, we need to let people know they matter. My father is a great humanitarian. Where I grew up, we had a soccer field next door. My father loves soccer and he would play with the kids in the afternoon. I remember when I was 10 years old, I joined him to play, but the kids were afraid of me because I was the only one wearing cleats and they were barefoot. I can imagine! So, my dad took the measurements that day of every kid in the field and got them new soccer shoes! It was memorable, they were all cheering jumping with joy and tears along their cheeks.  

This gesture, made me feel proud of my dad, it widened other ways to help people who need it. I volunteered as an interpreter in medical brigades, donating food, clothing, and toys to underprivileged towns and hospitals.

I talk to my daughter about the importance of helping the community. We both read books, visit non-profits and talk about how we can help – we write our ideas in our chalkboard wall and she always impresses me! 

I believe it plays a significant part in children’s development to have empathy and to understand that in some countries’ children don’t have access to toys, clothing, water, housing or other necessities we need and that we have daily. 

She is bright, kind and a caring child, she recently donated a box full of clothing and toys that we sent to Honduras. She was very proud of herself; I was proud of her.

FWM: Tell us about working with the non-profit Sanctuary for Families. How did you get involved?

Sanctuary for Families is New York’s leading service provider and advocate for survivors of domestic violence, sex trafficking and related forms of gender violence. Every year, they empower thousands of adults and children to move from fear and abuse to safety and stability, transforming lives through a range of comprehensive services and advocacy.

I have met wonderful people at Sanctuary for families (Sffny) They are so dedicated to helping families who struggled after these traumatic experiences. A friend of mine mentioned Sanctuary a few years ago and since I have been part of this great organization. 

I am a mother, daughter, friend and coworker. I feel the responsibility to make a difference and to help other women and children. Everyone deserves to be happy, succeed and more importantly have freedom. 

“Growing up in Honduras, I often saw poverty, hunger, violence, and corruption; It helped me understand that sometimes we need to make a difference, we need to let people know they matter.”

FWM: Share your thoughts about Human-Trafficking. What are some of the challenges you see? 

It Is a tough subject. It is inhuman and still happening. We need people to be aware, get educated and look for signs or red flags. 

Human trafficking can happen anywhere; clubs, dating apps, spas, countries were marriages are arranged, etc. People who faced this situation are deceived, they believe in all the promises and dreams than to be turned into a nightmare. It can affect anyone at any age.

Some of the challenges that survivors face in the U.S are with legal or immigration laws which is common when they are brought from other countries. Lawyers need to work closely with them to seek asylum, work permits and housing/shelter which is an option, but not for many. Most people who reside in shelters are either U.S residents and citizens or with dependents that have these requirements – they are able to access aid from the government and qualify for welfare. Survivors from other countries can’t benefit from it, making it difficult.

FWM: What is Sanctuary for Families doing to help women and their families that some other agencies may not be doing as well? 

All of the non-profits in the city are doing a fantastic job, they all come up with great ideas to achieve a common goal. 

Sanctuary for Families has a team of experts dedicated to help survivors. They have elite professionals that provide top services from counseling for adults and children, legal, immigration lawyers, shelter, etc…

Sanctuary for Families had an innovative and life-changing idea. A career readiness program called Economic Empowering program (EEP). EEP seeks to help participants avoid low-wage, low-skill employment. They provide clients with literacy skills, professional development, and the advanced IT training that employers seek, so they can find living-wage, career track work. F

FWM: How did volunteering for this non-profit lead you to film? 

I was inspired by these women. They are strong, bold, courageous. Even with different adversities that run across their path, they are determined to succeed. 

We often don’t know about what really happens after domestic abuse, gender violence or Human-Trafficking. We could say, it is invisible. We know the meaning behind it, but there is more depth to this.

That’s how the idea of Invisible Women as a film was created. Sharing that voice that is not heard, to give people hope and for women with their children who are still facing this to know there are opportunities after experiencing these traumatizing events.

To create awareness, validation, and education for all.

FWM: Share your experience with your film, Invisible Women. 

Invisible women will start as a short film and then a feature film/series as a long term. We are planning to film the short by the end of September 2020.

Just like any startup company, we will start small. Attending festivals in NYC and raising funds for the long-term goal as a feature film/series. We will be incorporating a diverse team to make Invisible Women memorable, humanizing and empowering.

The film will be based on research, true stories of survivors and the heroes who helped them through this journey. Combining empathy, a sense of humanity, love, struggle, life, and opportunities. 

To learn more about Invisible women, visit our Instagram page or email us. 

To stay tuned with Invisible Women, visit or write to us:

IG: @invisiblewo.men

Email: Info@invisiblewomen.org 

To know more about the non-profit visit 

IG: @sffny

Email: Www.Sanctuaryforfamilies.org