Hi, Mayra! Please share a brief introduction about yourself and your business:
Hello everyone, I'm Mayra (my-rah) Founder and CEO of Cultural Visionaries - a copywriting and marketing strategy and a Latina-run company. I write for BIPOC business owners—and anyone who shares my values and vision—wanting to create a meaningful impact on other people’s lives. My goal is to create a long-term solution to the lack of diverse talent within the industry, especially in leadership roles. Once industry representation mirrors that of the public, marketers will paint more insightful and accurate pictures of these audiences. I’m proud of the culturally relevant copy I contribute because it’s a skill needed in the marketing world, especially because the BIPOC community makes up 41% of the U.S. (U.S. Census Bureau 2023). That’s 41% of consumers who need culturally relevant marketing where they feel accurately represented. I'm excited to keep learning, growing, and networking with impactful thought leaders in the business world!
We love that mission! What excites you about being an Entreprenista League member?
I'm excited to be surrounded by thought leaders and change-makers striving to make a positive impact on others.
What made you take the leap to start your own business?
The brink of my suffering mental health was the tipping point to me moving fully into my copywriting business. My previous job was draining me to the point that I would have panic attacks and cry almost daily. I got to the point where I needed to take antidepressants due to my foggy brain. I couldn't let myself continue on that dark path so I finally took the leap and turned my side hustle into my full-time job...and I'll never look back. I love what I do now. I have so much passion and energy partnering with people who are fierce and incredibly smart and kind. I can't wait to see the great things that come out of my copywriting services and the change makers I work with.
You've overcome so much! What was your background prior to starting your own business?
Before running my copywriting business, I was an elementary teacher. I taught first grade for nine years. While I loved my students dearly, the other parts of teaching—parents, admin, policies, etc.—made the job feel impossible. Leaving the profession was one of the hardest things I did because my initial thoughts were that I failed. The loans—still pending—are my loans for grad school in teaching and the financial aspect made me feel like my investment was a waste. It wasn't until months of mindset work— which I'm still doing daily—that I realized I don't need to feel stuck in something that doesn't bring me joy. The funds will sort themselves out and my happiness is the priority. I spent years putting others before me. Today I choose to put myself first.
We're incredibly proud of you, Mayra! Did you always know you wanted to be an entrepreneur?
No! I actually never thought I'd be an entrepreneur. I've always made myself small - letting others have the spotlight. I was quiet and never wanted to stir the pot. However, I'm ready to be my unapologetic self and show the world what I have to offer.
Take us back to when you first launched your business, what was your marketing strategy to get the word out and did it go as planned?
The first thing I did was create my LLC. I wanted to be sure my business was official before anything else. I figured that once I started reaching out to clients, they'd want to see if I was legit - and I don't blame them. I'd probably check out someone out myself if I was investing money into something. After creating my LLC, I wrote the copy for my website and had it officially published with a paid domain. Then, I created a business Instagram account and started posting! It wasn't until I had completed all of those tasks that I started reaching out to potential clients. The part that didn't go as planned was my social media content strategy. I'm a copywriter, not a graphic designer/social media guru, but I have the will to learn, so I'd like to say my social media content has improved. Once my business is at a place to outsource, I'd love to have a pro take that on for me. :)
Such an inspirational story and a great game plan! What is the biggest challenge you have encountered along the way and what did you learn from it?
The biggest challenge was my own mind. It was hard to tell myself that I was a business owner because teaching was all I knew. I've been learning to improve my mindset by surrounding myself with other founders, my writing community, and taking time to listen in on inspirational podcasts. I learned that if I put resources and tools in front of me—all that serve to improve my mindset—I can do hard things.
What is the accomplishment you are the most proud of to date?
Just taking the leap as a full-time business owner! These past few months have been so refreshing. I feel happy again and right now, that's what I'm most proud of.
Do you believe in work/life balance? What are some of your best tips?
I 100% believe in work/life balance. Life is too short to live and breathe only work. What's helped me keep a healthy balance is the way I organize my days. I like using the "task" section of Google Calendar to write in the attainable goals I'd like to accomplish for the day and week. When I create those tasks, I space them out so I have breaks in between. Then I get to mark them as "complete." If I didn't get to something, I just click and drag to a date that works for me. I don't get hung up if I don't meet everything because I know I did my best for that day.
What's a piece of advice you can share that you wish you'd known when you first started your Entreprenista journey?
You don't have to do everything perfectly. If you try to be perfect, you won't make any moves. Just take the first step—no matter how small it may feel—and you will be moving. Plus, people connect with others who are genuine and imperfect! Consistent learning and the desire to improve is key.
What have you achieved recently that you'd like to celebrate with our community?
I created a brand voice style guide and website copy for a new Colombian coffee brand, Cunaluna. I'm so happy I got to partner with one of the founders, Juan Palacio, because I got to learn about Colombian culture and the need for quality, culturally relevant, coffee.
What's next for your business? What can we expect to see over the next few years?
Cultural Visionaries continues to grow with clients wanting to change the narrative on the BIPOC community. We're creating words that are truthful, impactful, and real. My goal is to change marketing, so that—what will be the majority of U.S. conscious consumers—are accurately reflected in brands.
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