Dimy Doresca, a university professor at the University of Iowa, recently engaged with Cuban entrepreneurs during a seminar in Cuba. The seminar focused on entrepreneurship and corporate social responsibility, highlighting the importance of businesses contributing to the well-being of society [6fe02800].
Michelle Solorzano, a graduate student at Indiana University, is pursuing a Masters of Fine Arts in ceramics. Originally from Santo Domingo, the capital of the Dominican Republic, Solorzano discovered her passion for ceramics during her sophomore year at State University of New York Potsdam. Her thesis project features masks representing the economy of her hometown and the traditional costumes worn in the Dominican Republic's carnival [22f3c321].
Both Dimy Doresca and Michelle Solorzano exemplify the theme of cultural exploration and expression through their respective fields of entrepreneurship and art. They both contribute to the advancement of their cultures and foster a sense of responsibility and pride in their communities.
In the realm of multicultural marketing, a business evolution agency led by Tatiana Orozco has created a system to attract and nurture Hispanic consumers and guide businesses to evolve and grow in the U.S. market. The agency's three-pillar system focuses on marketing, coaching, and e-learning to promote diversity and inclusivity in business. During Hispanic Heritage Month, the agency aims to celebrate by connecting with brands and guiding Hispanic business owners to thrive and prosper in the U.S. economy. The agency emphasizes the importance of leadership, education, and cultural understanding in marketing strategies, believing that businesses should aim for true sustainability by considering social, environmental, and economic factors [f36f2b3c].
Gabi Saper, a social media marketer, turned her side hustle into a multimillion-dollar business called CMY Cubes. The idea for CMY Cubes came during COVID lockdowns when Gabi asked her fiancé, Lorenzo Gonzalez, about how color theory worked. With Lorenzo's engineering background, he created the prototype of the CMY Cube, a cube made up of primary colors cyan, magenta, and yellow that creates an ever-changing spectrum of color. Gabi and Lorenzo spent six months prototyping the product and launched their business on TikTok in January 2021, gaining three million views and thousands of pre-orders in the first month [d8641853].
Since then, CMY Cube has become a multimillion-dollar business with a team of 10. Gabi shares lessons she learned about running a mid-sized business, including the importance of getting the right help at the right time, choosing reliable tech, keeping in touch with the team, and making a daily proactive list [d8641853].
Nina Briance, Founder and CEO of Cult Mia, discusses how creative thinking has led her to become the head of a fast-growing online fashion marketplace [b6f3b32d]. Briance explains that the catalyst for launching Cult Mia was the realization that the traditional model for online luxury fashion was losing steam and that independent designers needed a platform to showcase their work. Cult Mia connects independent fashion designers with global luxury shoppers who value sustainability and unique designs. Briance emphasizes the importance of thinking outside the box as an entrepreneur and highlights the success of Cult Mia's data-driven and customer-centric approach to curation. In terms of sales in the Middle East, dresses and evening wear are the top-performing categories for Cult Mia, with a preference for long sleeve maxi dresses and gowns in black, gold, red/burgundy, and beige. Briance explains that the selection process for independent talent and great pieces involves a combination of data-backed criteria and instinctive taste. She also discusses the importance of balancing the creative and commercial sides of the business and encourages creativity within her team and company culture. Briance shares her personal favorite up-and-coming brands for the upcoming season and defines creativity in the context of Cult Mia as inspiring the team, innovative problem-solving, and discovering untapped opportunities.
Isabella Mastrodicasa, a producer, founder, and social media celebrity manager, discusses being an entrepreneur in the digital age. She emphasizes the daily challenges and adaptability required in the ever-changing digital space. Mastrodicasa highlights the importance of constantly learning, embracing new creativity, technologies, and opportunities. She finds the freedom to experiment and grow professionally and personally more interesting than a stable but redundant career. Mastrodicasa is motivated by her team and clients who trust her vision and work towards common goals. She is dedicated to empowering female content creators and contributing to social change. Her future plans include expanding her digital roster of talent, developing IPs for US studios, and growing her presence in all media that creators use to express themselves. Mastrodicasa utilizes AI assistants to simplify tasks and improve efficiency. Her advice for aspiring entrepreneurs is to commit to their vision, find likeminded people to rely on, study daily to become a better version of themselves, and use discipline to move closer to their goals. She believes that career-defining moments are the darkest and most challenging ones that prove one's strength and resilience. The best advice she has received is to never settle and keep looking for one's mission in life. Mastrodicasa defines success as achieving personal goals, growing stronger from struggles, and sharing achievements with passionate and positive individuals while maintaining a balanced lifestyle.
Michaline Tomich, Founder and President of mixdesign, is a leading figure in the world of branding and experience design. Based in Hebron, Indiana, mixdesign is a company that specializes in helping clients develop their brands, grow their stories, and plan projects effectively. Tomich leads a creative brand experience team and has worked with various industries, including edutainment, municipalities, non-profit organizations, and agriculture. mixdesign has established partnerships with notable organizations such as Undeniably Dairy, Dairy Management Inc, The Creamery of Beaver Utah, Texas Farm Bureau, Dairy Max, Inc, Indiana State Fair, and Fair Oaks Farms. In addition to her work at mixdesign, Tomich is also the host and creative lead of The Design Barn, an experience and event venue in Hebron. She is currently working on a children's book titled 'There's a farm in your fridge' to educate readers about agriculture. Tomich resides on a hobby farm with her husband Jared and their two boys, where they raise Scottish Highland beef cattle and other animals [4f7409b3].
Tara DiMilia is the founder, managing director, and CEO of Strategies, a life science communications agency. She has over 30 years of experience in healthcare public relations and has played key roles in starting and restructuring three companies before founding TellMed. DiMilia is inspired by her colleagues and their enthusiasm, drive, and creativity. She believes that the value of communications is being recognized more than ever, especially with the rise of social media. DiMilia cannot live without Outlook, as it keeps her connected and allows for work-life balance. The most challenging part of her job is also the most rewarding, as everyday feels like a puzzle that needs solving. She is constantly seeking better ways to achieve clients' goals and is concerned about challenging and supporting the growth of her employees. DiMilia loves what she does and is excited for these challenges.
Vishal Vyas, CMO of TTK Healthcare, believes that marketing professionals should remain students for life due to the dynamic changes in consumer behavior and the media environment. He emphasizes the importance of continuous learning and staying updated with digital avenues like social media. Vyas follows influencers and experts in the sexual wellness space, such as Dr. Prateek Makwana, and consumes marketing-related content through a marketing books podcast and Harvard Business Review case studies. To avoid burnout, Vyas advises his team to love their job and find purpose in their career. He also practices walking and yoga for fitness and prioritizes spending time with family on weekends. Vyas believes that marketing is about changing lives and that it is crucial to remain a student for life in order to navigate the evolving landscape of marketing successfully.