Building a business as a Latino entrepreneur

Claudia Ramos, graphic designer and illustrator from North Hollywood, California, dreams of turning her side business, Claudia Ramos Designs, into a full-time gig. Her dreams are specific: She’d like to see her work and that of other Latina artists sold in her very own shop. Ramos, who was born in El Salvador, currently works for Hasbro as a fashion graphic designer by day and (after her seven-year-old daughter goes to bed) on her side business by night.

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Elaine del Valle > www.delvalleproductions.com

Elaine del Valle, Actress, Producer, Director and Writer, Interviewed by Laura Rosado

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

I had a strong desire to pursue my passion seriously and the notion that I could achieve my goals.

What inspired you to start your business?

I started Del Valle Productions after writing a pilot. It was over 16 years ago. I wanted to shoot it and I wanted the protections and benefits that were offered by a corporate status.

How did you finance it?

I filed the corporation documents myself. The fees were minimal. I used my savings accrued from working as a commercial actress to fund my projects.

Does being Hispanic/Latina have any influence on your business?

I find being Latina has more and more of an impact on my business as time goes by. I didn’t begin my journey with a mission to create Latino work and represent the culture, my mission was more personal…but as a Latina I found that representing myself became symbolic of my culture and gender.  My industry quickly told me the need for Latina leadership…I used all of my strengths to find a niche. For me that was the understanding of my own culture, my industry and the Spanish language. 

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to drive ahead?

I remember where I came from and how far I have come. I remember that every opportunity is a gift and that no matter what the outcome— a learning experience exists within every scenario. Your critics might make you upset, but once you get over that, you can look at their critiques more objectively and that ends up helping your process, much more than hurting it. I use rejection as incentive to better myself.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Each part of my business has its own challenges.

When it comes to casting and production the biggest challenge is getting through the door, getting new clients to use my casting and or production services. I find it easy to maintain clients because I pride myself on delivering the best experience at competitive prices.

With production, the biggest challenge was handed to me when a producer I teamed with failed to meet their responsibilities…It set me back many months in revenue as I felt that I had to compensate for their failure—I would not let the Del Valle Productions name be associated with failure to compensate its independent contractors in a timely manner. I learned lots from that experience—perhaps most that I need to control the finances and hiring when it comes to production.

If you could change one thing about your business. What would it be?

There’s nothing I could think to change that I am not actively working toward.

What was your childhood ambition?

My childhood ambition was to be a lawyer. I wanted to be defending the right side, making an impact on my community.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire.

Oprah Winfrey because she built an empire, is an absolute female FORCE and continues to help others to grow.

My husband, Al Eskanazy because I watched him grow his business and always do what was right for the company and its employees. He leads with pragmatism, kindness and intelligence. He writes everything down, keeping a diary of every conversation so his recollection of meetings and the fulfillment of specific goals is impeccable.

Elisabeth Kleinhans, the owner of 59E59 Theaters because late in life she fell in love with theater and decided to dedicate her life to helping stage plays be off Broadway. 59E59 Theaters is the best 501c3 theater company I have known…it does so much for playwrights and artists.

For business meetings, which do you prefer: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

It’s not the time of day that matters to me, but rather the place. I prefer to meet at my Private Arts Club in Manhattan. It's a beautiful private arts club (with membership offered to people in the arts and entertainment industry) housed within a Manhattan townhouse. The club has a fantastic ambiance, mission, staff, owner and chef. It's comfortable, hospitable, relaxed, quiet and impressive. I find it a conducive environment to building long lasting relationships.

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become successful in your business? 

For me, the biggest sacrifice is time with my family…I am always working. I love my work and so I don’t suffer from it but my family does. I try to pick up the phone every time my daughter calls but I find I am always in the middle of something and can’t focus on her needs as much as I would like to. I was never the Mom who coddles. I feel it has made my daughter self sufficient and shown her that she too can accomplish anything within her vision. She is now a college graduate who owns her own business.

All of my prep is done from my home office but when I am on site during a production or casting, I am the first one in and the last one out…my husband understands that but is happy when the production is complete. I make sure not to fill my calendars in the days that follow that, so I can make more time for my family and home responsibilities as a wife and homemaker.  When I give myself the day off, I say “Today I am Mrs.”. It is a life that I enjoy and appreciate.

What is your favorite quote?

It’s from Margaret Thatcher “Look at a day when you are supremely satisfied at the end. It's not a day when you lounge around doing nothing; it's a day you've had everything to do and you've done it.”

Is it difficult to be unconventional? 

I have never thought of myself as conventional or unconventional. I grew up as a Latina in Brownsville Brooklyn. I never fit in, ANYWHERE. My mother was one of 11 children, they were each unique, yet similar, and acted as a very strong UNIT. As a result of that, I am able to adapt to any setting and feel comfortable and strong in my own skin. I have learned that I can trust my gut, and adapt without losing myself. I know my presence is strong.

Biggest mistake made?

Too many to mention. Personal and professional. One of the biggest was never finishing college. I didn’t know enough to believe in myself. Where I was raised graduating High School was a big deal and so my bar was set too low. I work hard to raise the bar for myself, my family and community now. There is no limit to what we can accomplish.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

No. My colleagues treat me as if I am an innovator, but I feel that I am an example of a regular person working to meet their own potential. I hope that when people look at my accomplishments they see them as possible and probable and that they, too, can accomplish their dreams. One foot in front of another. Begin and never stop…no matter where you get, you are further along than where you started.

About the Company: 

Del Valle Productions Inc. is a full service, bilingual film production and casting company that offers services from concept to delivery. Our mission is to infuse entertainment with Female and/or Latino driven truths, insights and perspective, through original programming and its use of talent in front of and behind the camera.

We cast and or produce commercials, theater, print, voice over, web series, live events and film.

Web:
www.delvalleproductions.com
www.delvallecasting.com

Social
Twitter @brownsvillebred
Instagram @delvalleproductions
Facebook @Del Valle Productions and Casting

La Placita offers testing ground for Hispanic entrepreneurs

The maker movement is on the rise in Cleveland, and a new effort aims to capture that entrepreneurial spirit in the Hispanic community clustered in the Clark-Fulton neighborhood.

Last month, La Placita at West 25th and Clark premiered its first-ever open-air market, showcasing 30 eclectic local makers and food purveyors. Hundreds came out to experience the blend of rich culture and unique businesses.

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Andre Hidalgo > www.2StrongMusic.com

Andre Hidalgo, Owner, 2 Strong Music

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Passion, Hustle perseverance cause with out those it will never happen.

What inspired you to start your business?
My love for Bachata Music & after launching Aventura's career I just had to keep going.

How did you finance it?
At first it just worked my regular 9 to 5 and payed everything my self then as time went by the music started paying for itself.

Does being Hispanic/Latina have any influence on your business?
Yes of course as I run a mainly Latin based Record Label.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to drive ahead?
Sheer will power and inspiration from my own work and what I had already accomplished.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The greed of others in the industry which in turn brings disloyalty, hate & opportunities blocked. 

If you could change one thing about your business. What would it be?
I would make the industry more united & honest.

What was your childhood ambition?
Funny but my childhood ambition was to have beautiful big family, marriage, kids & house was all I needed.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire.
Steve Jobs, P Diddy and Pitbull.

For business meetings, which do you prefer: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
I prefer lunch or dinner.

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become successful in your business?
My biggest sacrifice was having less time with my kids & of course never sleeping.

What is your favorite quote?
"I'd rather die on my feet than live on my knees" ; "Love & Loyalty" which are words i live by. The second one I'm not sure if its a quote that out there but its a quote that I always use.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
It is at times because most people dont understand or get the genius behind some unconventional ideas & a lot of the times these are the ones that make history or change the world.

Biggest mistake made?
Trusting people too much, believing in there honor, morals or dignity that is usually not there.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes I do. Mainly because I think outside the box; I usually see what most don't. I never just follow the crowd; I'm not afraid to try the new different things that i know can work.  Its just a shame not everyone realizes that ....haha.

About the Company
2 Strong Music is a Latin indie Record Label it was founded in 2001 By Andres (DRE) Hidalgo CEO, Producer and owner. A visionary in the Latin Urban Music world Andres has solid experience discovering, producing, developing & managing artists into award winning overnight success stories! Such as Aventura, Xtreme and Prince Royce.
Website: Sitio Web: www.2StrongMusic.com

Leticia Moreinis Schwartz >www.chefleticia.com

Leticia Moreinos Schwartz, Founder,  Chef Leticia

What inspired you to start your business?

A desire to communicate my passion for cooking and writing about Latin culture.

How did you finance it?

I am in the process of working with sponsors.

Does being Hispanic/Latina have any influence on your business?

Absolutely!! My business is based on sharing the love for Latin culture!

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to drive ahead?

I will use Martin Luther King’s words to answer this question:

“If you can’t fly, then run

If you can’t run, then walk

If you can’t walk, then crawl,

But whatever you do,

You have to keep moving forward.”

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

As any start up, the beginning is always hard.

If you could change one thing about your business. What would it be?

I would like to take it to the next level.

What was your childhood ambition?

At what age? The things I wanted at 10, were not the same I wanted at 12, and not the same when I was 16. Somewhere along those years, I wanted to own a restaurant. But then, when I actually worked in restaurants, I decided to find another dream.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire.

Jorge Paulo Lehmann, Brazilian investor;

Sophia Vergara, Colombian actress capitalizing on Latin culture;

Rachel Ray, making a fortune on all things cooking/media.

For business meetings, which do you prefer: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?

I prefer lunch.

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become successful in your business?

I have to say no to a lot of things in order to focus on my business.

What is your favorite quote?

"There are two ways to live your life. One is as though nothing is a miracle. The other is as though everything is a miracle."

--Albert Einstein

Is it difficult to be unconventional?

Not at all, I was born this way.

Biggest mistake made?

Mistakes are evaluated by its margin of error. When I was in my 20’s and early 30’s I could afford them. I said yes to many wrong things and no to many right things. I could recover because time was on my side. Now, mistakes are almost shameful. I have another quote for that: “ When you repeat a mistake, it’s not a mistake anymore. It’s a decision”. Paulo Coelho

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Yes, I am trying to create something that doesn’t exist yet.

Description of the company:

Teacher. Author. Spokesperson. Personality.

Leticia Moreinos Schwartz has built a career on the passion for Latin cuisine. She was born and raised in Brazil, received a BA in economics and worked in finances. She moved to NYC and studied Culinary and Pastry Arts at the French Culinary Institute. She continued her training at legendary restaurants like Le Cirque 2000, La Grenouille, La Caravelle and Payard Patisserie and Bistro.

She then studied Journalism and started a food blog. Her first cookbook The Brazilian Kitchen was published in 2010 and won the World Gourmand Cookbook Awards for Best Latin Cookbook. Her second cookbook, My Rio de Janeiro: A Cookbook was published in 2013 to raving reviews.

She is the spokesperson to Merck’s diabetes campaign Desafiando La Diabetes, with interviews in Spanish, English, and Portuguese. Among her tasks, Leticia develops diabetic-friendly recipes for the campaign. She was as a featured guest on Sara’s Weeknight Meals, and has appeared on several TV shows including The Today Show. Leticia’s main goal is to bridge business and promotional interests between Brazil and Latin America with the rest of the world. She is working on a cooking show about Latin Cuisine.

Leticia Moreinos Schwartz
Author of The Brazilian Kitchen & My Rio de Janeiro: A Cookbook.
Web: www.chefleticia.com
Blog: blog.chefleticia.com

What It's Like to Be a Latino Entrepreneur in Silicon Valley

November 24, 2014 SAN JOSE, Caif.—Alex Murillo leans forward in his seat, sipping coffee from a shot glass and waving his hands as he talks. He points to the screen of his MacBook Pro, explaining the genius behind Audive, the mobile application he is developing that allows users to record cover songs and mix tracks with music enthusiasts around the world.

"This is the secret sauce," says Murillo, hitting a key on his computer that fills the air with the sound of a man singing in Italian. "You can bring in vocals from a guy in Italy or you can bring in the flamenco guitar from Spain."

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Hispanic expo to focus on entrepreneurs

A 28-year-old artist and entrepreneur, Rene Soto characterizes his ventures as young, small and gaining in recognition. His wedding and events publication, Glamorous Magazine, is bilingual and less than a year old. Rene Soto Art & Photography is less than two years old.

In his small office on Stamford's Main Street, Soto says Hispanic businesses often fly under the radar, and he's hoping for a boost from the upcoming fifth annual Business Expo, sponsored by the Greater Stamford Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

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Diego Prusky>www.Inpulsedm.com

Diego Prusky, Founder & CEO, Inpulse Digital

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Thick skin, creativity and passion. Thick skin in order to still be creative throughout the hurdles of running a business. Creativity is absolutely essential to create new services and products, new processes, and to imagine something that doesn’t yet exist. And without passion for your business, you can’t spend the endless hours that it takes to run it successfully.

What inspired you to start your business?
My parents, although I didn’t know it initially. My father and my grandfather were entrepreneurs. I enjoy the challenge of building something. It is a huge source of energy for me (which my team has to cope with). At some point I realized why my dad had done some things that as a kid I didn’t understand (I was the youngest). I know now that he was strategizing.

How did you finance it?
With my own savings, I have been saving all my life. We had a ranch in Uruguay. When I was about 10, I bought a sheep, which had twins. About six years later, my dad made me sell everything because between me and my brother we had grown a herd. While finishing college I also spent some time in software consulting for Y2K projects and that allowed me to save money too. 

Does being Hispanic/Latino have any influence on your business?
We are all about understanding our client’s consumers. What really helps is having lived, travelled, studied, and analyzed different cultures. We are focused on the Hispanic market because we feel very comfortable and passionate about it.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to drive ahead?
Experience helps. After making a few mistakes, you learn that adversity and economic downturns are all opportunities if you are prepared.
I love my work, I believe we are the best Hispanic social media agency around; we thrive on Intel’s principle of destroy your business or others will. We are always evolving.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
In the early stages, going from a single large client to multiple clients in the middle of a crisis was tough. We needed to build up and grow our infrastructure while dealing with the uncertainty of the market. Music was our first industry and they’ve been ahead of the curve, which helped us a lot.

If you could change one thing about your business. What would it be?
I’m constantly changing things. We are always developing new services, testing new approaches. We started a social video lab just in time for Facebook’s auto-play video launch. We also created a social media research department this year. There’s a lot more we need to do.

What was your childhood ambition?
According to my mom I would say I wanted to be the boss like my dad. I used to read a lot about animals, especially African wildlife and I wanted to help save these amazing animals. I still hope I can help. I talk to my kids about it. Fortunately kids today know about Polar bears being close to extinction, and water preservation, all things that I had to learn on my own. Right now the White Rhino is about to go into extinction, there are about 5 left. I think we can take better care of our home.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire.
In general I don’t admire people by the size of what they’ve built, but by how they did it, the teams they’ve assembled around them, and the challenges they’ve faced. I admire friends who have been able to keep a balance between work and life, while maintaining a low profile. I’m also very intrigued about what Amazon’s Jeff Bezos’s endeavors will look like 10-15 years from now. He has been spending on growth and expansion, and the stock has tripled in 5 years. I admire entrepreneurs that give back to the community. I think they can really save the world by showing the rest of us mortals a better balance in life.

For business meetings, which do you prefer: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Usually lunch, I try to have breakfast with my kids when I’m in town.

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become successful in your business?
My wife probably has a long list! Being away from home, working long hours, not taking enough vacation, and probably the biggest challenge is, as an entrepreneur you are always thinking about the business. It’s a 24x7x365 job.

What is your favorite quote?
“El diablo sabe por diablo pero más sabe por viejo” My mom used to tell me this when I challenged some of her responses as a kid. It reminds me that we can always learn new things and that experience is very important.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Not if you trust yourself and why you are doing it. I meet hundreds of people per year and some are way more unconventional and successful, and that gives me courage and inspiration.

Biggest mistake made?
Not taking more risks. Since we are self-funded, and have gone through the dot com bust, 9-11 and the Great Recession, I’ve tended to be conservative, but we’ve probably lost some growth opportunities because of it .

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
I’m a Chemical Engineer, then I got into software development in the late 90s with Y2K projects. I then went on to launch the hosting & digital arm of the company I was working for and then launched InPulse as a social media agency. I like change, I like constantly thinking about and understanding how technology is changing our habits, how we communicate and what we expect from brands and entertainers.

Description of the company
InPulse Digital works for the most demanding clients at the forefront of digital: media & entertainment. InPulse Digital manages over 40 million social connections and is continually innovating and adapting to changing digital platforms and social media landscapes.  As a leading Hispanic marketing social media agency, InPulse Digital has executed hundreds of projects in over 20 countries for clients such as Universal Music, Warner Music, Sony Pictures Television, MTV, Univisión, E! Online Latino, as well as various celebrities and athletes.http://inpulsemd.com

Earlene Cruz >www.Kitchenconnection.org

Earlene Cruz, Founder, Kitchen Connection

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?

Above all, you need passion and that passion will help you draw in the people and the resources that you don’t have on your own to make your project a success. 

What inspired you to start your business? 

A serendipitous moment of what I call ‘good fortune’, losing all of my money before going to Ghana inspired my business idea. In short, good people in a moment of desperation opened my eyes to the beauty of human connection and the opportunities surrounding that beauty.

How did you Finance it? 

Bootstrapping: a combination of my savings, my wonderful mother’s support, and a private investor. 

Does being Hispanic/Latina have any influence on your business?

Absolutely – I always say that my first language was ‘Spanglish’, speaking a combination of Spanish and English among my network of family and friends. This innately became the root of my curiosity for other languages and other cultures. This curiosity led me to travel to over 40 countries before the age of 21 and to want to continue exploring other cultures through food: hence the premise for KitchenConnection.org. 

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to drive ahead?

I write things down; I make a plan. It’s the closest thing I find to dealing with roadblocks – it brings the abstract problems in my mind down to something concrete that I can visualize, and sometimes seeing it on paper makes me realize that the situation isn’t actually as bad as I’m making it seem in my head. 

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?

Leveraging resources – we live in a land, (in a world) of opportunity, but that doesn’t always mean that we know how and when to best take advantage of those opportunities. Timing is key, but it’s not like every venture or project has a definitive schedule that tells you what to do what and with what, so it’s really a matter of iterating and discovering as you go. Every business is different, and although there are guidelines, Google doesn’t always have the answers – trust me. 

If you could change one thing about your business. What would it be?

I would change how limiting my business can be. KitchenConnection.org is an online business that aims to connect people all over the world, but the truth is that not everyone has a computer, not everyone can access the internet, and all of these things seriously impede the ultimate mission of the project. I hope that Mark Zuckerberg’s plan to connect the entire world to the internet really works out! 

What was your childhood ambition? 

My ultimate dream was to be Judge Judy. 

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire.
My mother, Mark Zuckerberg, Denise M. Morrison 

For business meetings, which do you prefer: breakfast, lunch, or dinner? 

Lunch 

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become successful in your business?

I had to leverage a mother growing ill, end a prior commitment to teach English in France, and learn to balance relationships during the many weeks I spent waking up at 4am – seriously not living during the hours the rest of my friends and family did. 

What is your favorite quote?

"Change the way you look at things, and the things you look at change" 

Is it difficult to be unconventional? 

I think we’re all ‘unconventional’ in ways; none of us are made to be ‘conventional’; it’s displaying that unconventionality publically and being true to that nature that’s truly difficult. 

Biggest mistake made?

Not prioritizing: saying ‘yes’ when I knew in my heart that it was a ‘no’. 

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?

Except for a pretty solid dog bark (even my dog gets confused), I don’t consider myself to be overly talented or creative. I am, however, determined, and when I think of a plan or an idea, I really try my hardest to execute it. Nothing seems too ludicrous or extravagant in my mind. I’m aware of the many possibilities in the world, and that leads me to innovate and take advantage of the resources around me. We all have ideas; we’re all innovators. It all comes down to execution. 

Description of the company:

KitchenConnection.org is a platform that virtually connects individuals by two common interests: food and cooking. This happens through a live, video session. A portion of the funds contributed to the Cheffies for their time goes toward the alleviation of global hunger through our international partner, Action Against Hunger, whose mission is to save lives by eliminating hunger through the prevention, detection and treatment of malnutrition, especially during and after emergency situations of conflict, war and natural disaster. Our partners, chefs and culinary schools alike, are all over the world, but Kitchen Connection is not only for the professionals. It’s for culinary enthusiasts everywhere. Why not share the meals we share with each other with the rest of the world? Discover a new recipe—discover a new culture. 

KitchenConnection.org: You’re eating-I’m eating- and because we’re eating together, someone else is eating too. 

Twitter: KitchenConnOrg

Instagram: KitchenConnection

Facebook: Facebook.com/KitchenConnection.org

Google +: Google +

LinkedIn: linkedin.com

Latino Entrepreneurs To Students: Ask Questions, Be Ready For Anything

HARTFORD — Leticia Colon de Mejias gave a swift rundown of her life in the Bulkeley High School auditorium Thursday.

"I'm a mother of six children, I own four companies, last year I made over a million dollars and I'm under 40 years old," said Colon, who founded Energy Efficiencies Solutions, a Windsor energy conservation firm, four years ago with a $25,000 loan.

The longer version? It involved seeing every job as an opportunity, researching ideas and being ready for anything, she told students. "None of the doors will open until you start asking the questions," she said.

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Laura Perez > www.bylaurapr.com

Laura Perez, Founder, By Laura PR 

Being Hispanic…Does it have any influence on your business?
Yes, it does influence my business. It sets me apart from many fashion publicists. Due to the fact that I'm a Mexican American fashion publicist, I'm bilingual, I'm fluent in both English and Spanish, nothing will be lost in translation when communicating with mainstream media in the U.S., Hispanic media and the media in Mexico.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to keep going?
Of course having a business is difficult, but I work hard everyday to provide a unique service to my clients. I've always visualized myself being a business owner and now that I am one, I continue being persistent and consistent to reach my goals as a business owner and as a publicist.

What is the biggest challenge you have faced?
I'm sure just like any other PR agency, I also struggle to find great clients to collaborate with.

If you could change one thing about your life, what would it be?
I wouldn't change anything because the challenges and the success I've had so far, have gotten me to where I am today.

What was your childhood ambition?
My childhood ambition was to encourage others to follow their dreams, I thought about being a teacher. This childhood ambition translated to wanting to be apart of the fashion PR industry and assist brands obtain exposure and achieve their goals.

Tell us about three people that you admire?
My adoring twin sister Lourdes, founder of My Coordinates My Compass, she always finds humor in the most difficult situations and encourages me to keep going. 
Crosby Noricks, founder of PR Couture. Crosby has been there since the beginning of my career, she has given me many opportunities to grow as a publicist. 
Jennifer Berson, founder and owner of Jeneration PR. Jen has been the most amazing mentor, she has been extremely supportive and encouraging, I have truly learned a lot about the industry because of her!

For meetings: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch, because it not too early, not too late and you can really carry on a conversation.

What sacrifices on your personal life did you have to make in order to become a business success?
Having to go from having a full time job with a steady income, to taking the leap to the unknown. In the end, it was worth taking the leap, because if you never try, you will never know.

What is your favorite quote?
"She was unstoppable, not because she did not have failures or doubts, but because she continued on despite them." -Beau Taplin 

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
Somewhat, being that my agency is Hispanic, digital and focused on fashion. It seems as if potential clients question how I can possibly complete my work and obtain results due to not being located in a big city and all my work is completed online.

Biggest mistake made?
Not taking the leap to start my own agency sooner.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes, I consider myself an innovator. I've always considered myself a leader, not a follower. I knew I wanted to have my own business and once I was drawn into the fashion PR industry, I knew I wanted to provide a service unlike any other. I wanted to use my Hispanic background to set me apart from my competition, and I wanted to provide my PR services to both national and international brands, being digital allows me to travel and work remotely at a moments notice.

About the Company:
By Laura PR is a Hispanic digital PR agency. We specialize in the growth of Fashion, Accessories and Jewelry brands. Being a digital agency means, "Instant PR at your fingertips."

Website: bylaurapr.com

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/bylaurapr

Twitter: twitter.com/bylaurapr

Facebook: www.facebook.com/bylaurapr

Instagram: instagram.com/bylaurapr

Pinterest: www.pinterest.com/bylaurapr/

Jessica Alba Talks Latina Identity, Complexities Of Race In New Generation

Jessica Alba feels Latina thanks to her father’s Mexican roots, but she knows that topics of race and identity won’t be so clear cut for her children.

The “Sin City” star is the face of Glam Belleza Latina’s Fall issue and spoke to the magazine about her heritage and why race becomes a more complicated for her daughters’ generation.

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Rosie García >www.IconMediaAgency.com.

Rosie García, CEO & Founder, Icon Media Agency

What do you need to be an entrepreneur?
Loyalty, Respect, Dedication and Love.

What inspired you to start your business?
The ability to be as creative and flexible to meet the needs of my clients with no rules or regulations or politics.

How did you finance it?
Through independent contracts with individually chosen clientele.

Does being Hispanic/Latina have any influence on your business?
Yes. Being an experienced Latina in the industry grabs the attention of mainstream clients that want to target the Hispanic market as well as the existing participants that want to expand to the Latino market.

In the face of adversity, how do you decide to drive ahead?
I'm very observant.  I stay open minded and work with the wisdom and knowledge I've been blessed with everyday.

What is the biggest challenge your business has faced?
The biggest challenge is knowing how to reveal at first sight the receivers versus the believers.

If you could change one thing about your business. What would it be?
I don't know.

What was your childhood ambition?
To show the world the value of humbleness and the passion of the ambition of fulfilling a dream.

Tell us about three entrepreneurs that you admire.
Sofia Vergara, Oprah, and Jennifer Lopez

For business meetings, which do you prefer: breakfast, lunch, or dinner?
Lunch. It's brief and right to the point.

What sacrifices in your personal life did you have to make in order to become successful in your business?
I haven't been able to have a personal relationship.

What is your favorite quote?
Neo: What are you trying to tell me? That I can dodge bullets?
Morpheus: No, Neo. I’m trying to tell you that when you’re ready, you won’t have to.

Is it difficult to be unconventional?
No as long as you remain focus on your goal based on your own experience and instinct. It's always good to have the two mentors in two different divisions of your field of business, in my case the accountant and the creative. Not more then two. 

Biggest mistake made?
Not starting my own company sooner.

Do you consider yourself an innovator? Why?
Yes. Because I believe in the impossible. 

About the Company: 
Icon Media Agency caters to celebrity talent bookings on major TV networks and nationally syndicated radio segments. "The Luis Jimenez Show", Univision, Telemundo, Viacom, SBS, Music Choice etc. We hold the key to developing and cultivating the careers within the mainstream, Latin and Urban artists. Specializing in consistently generating a diverse fan base via social media, TV, radio and print promotion. From the management of press junkets for concerts, conferences and client events to implementing strategic market tactics to engage clients through exposure of cultural diversity. Icon Media Agency is the voice for todays entrepreneurs and tomorrows entertainers.