ROUND #5: The Social Chica Women-Owned Businesses
Say hello to some of the incredible women-owned businesses powering The Social Chica’s latest pop-up experience in Dallas.
In honor of Women’s History Month, Her Texas is thrilled to partner again with The Social Chica to shine a light on female entrepreneurs of color in North Texas.
DASHLY BY ASHLEE
Founder: Ashlee Aldrete
My Inspiration: My husband and kids. My husband has been behind me one hundred percent and encourages me every single day. My kids love to come with me to events when I am able to take them.
What’s Next: I would like to see my marketing get better. That’s a major focus. I would also love to do a DIY door mat class and or party.
PAWL’S K-9ERY
Founder: Marisela Gutierrez-Meyer
What’s Next: Expand into caring for prize show dogs and providing more nutritious and beneficial products for all fur babies.
GG’S DECOR AND MORE
Founders: Gabby Nixon
Our City: Dallas
My Inspiration: My mother and grandmother; two amazing sting women who worked tirelessly to give their children everything.
ESTEPHANIA DESIGNS LLC
Founders: Estephania Garcia
Our City: Dallas
Art has always been my way of expression. Growing up, I would dream about being a fashion designer, but when I got to high school I decided to pursue a career in graphic design. After those four years, I decided I wanted to continue to grow in this field in college, but to also expand within the creative industry. I sold my first logo at the age of 18 as a freshman in college, but it wasn’t until my junior year that I decided to launch my own brand and promote my services online. At first, it was just freelancing to help me pay my way through college, but deep inside, I always knew I didn’t want to depend on a 9-5 job for the rest of my life after I completed my degree. A full-time job was never something I would get excited for as it was always a feeling of working for someone else’s dream instead of my own.
Freelancing as a college student allowed me to build my creative portfolio and opened many doors for me before graduating. I was offered many internship opportunities, mostly all paid. During my senior year of college, I had my first full time job as a graphic designer and it was terrible. My mental and physical health were damaged. My work was never fully valued and the environment was not human at all. This was when I was completely disappointed in corporate America and decided it was time to take the risk and dedicate myself full time to my dream so I could grow and expand my audience. I have not looked back since then. I now work with my ideal clients and get to help my Latin community do the same. Helping my clients develop the brand of their dreams and attract their ideal clients, while increasing profits makes me feel overwhelmed with happiness and encourages me to keep going.
Our Inspiration: I get inspired by all of the other Latina women thriving to make a name for themselves in this country and make a living doing what they love.
What’s Next: I plan to launch my digital shop this year where women entrepreneurs will be able to find many useful resources, templates and more to save them time and help with their business. I also plan to get more involved with my Hispanic community so I can be a resource to them without being afraid of language barriers, budget, etc.
NEW YORK LIFE & NYLIFE SECURITIES LLC
Founder: Vivian Ong
I am a native Los Angeles girl who went to business school in Atlanta and ended up as a high school math teacher in Dallas. When I was a teacher, I always took one day a week where I would teach my students about financial literacy; the topics ranged from budgeting, saving, investing, credit scores, to paying off debt. Although I did not want to leave the classroom (I loved my students dearly), my students were actually the ones who encouraged me to start my financial planning business. They told me that the information I was teaching them was incredibly valuable and needed and that I had to do this as a living to help as many people as I could. Thus, I left the classroom to become a financial planner.
My Inspiration: My mother. From a very young age she taught me the importance of financial literacy and how to save, invest, budget, and build wealth in a sustainable way. So much knowledge and so many financial decisions are made by men in society, but my mother told me it is equally important that I have the same amount of financial knowledge as most men do, if not more. Knowledge is power, and in the world of financial planning, we want as much knowledge as we can get!
What’s Next: I want to empower 100 new individuals and families with concrete financial knowledge and plans, especially women, in 2022. Whether that is young women/families building wealth, or older families looking to have a sustainable retirement, I want to empower as many people as I can with knowledge.
CENTRO DE CONSEJERIA FAMILIAR
Founder: Norma Elizabeth Garcia
My Inspiration: My family inspires me. When I was younger, I wish that my family had known about counseling services. I created my business to remove the stigma and educate our community about what outpatient mental health really means. God placed the desire in my heart to help people in our Latin community. Through this inspiration, I believe they should have to equal access to mental health services no matter what medical insurance they may or may not have.
What’s Next: I would like to see my business grow so that we cab serve more people with counseling services. I also want my business to become a social media awareness platform for mental health. There is only one of me, but if I can reach more people through social media and be helpful to them, I would consider myself successful in reaching that goal.
NETWORKING OPPORTUNITY
Join Her Texas on 3/14 for our monthly networking event, Network The State, to connect and meet with other Texas-based entrepreneurs and business professionals.
