Meet Janie Flores: Social Entrepreneur & Super Connector

We had the good fortune of connecting with Janie Flores and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Janie, what do you attribute your success to?
I have always known that my purpose is to empower, elevate and educate people. Everywhere I have lived and worked, serving and giving back to the community has been a priority. This experience prepared me to quickly mobilize and meet the extraordinary demands 2020 placed on Buena Vida Media to help the most vulnerable in our community impacted by COVID-19, despite losing over fifty percent of our clients because of the pandemic. Our commitment to social entrepreneurship was put to the test, and even with the decline in business we provided over $25,000 of pro bono media support to over forty nonprofits and companies working on COVID-19 initiatives on our flagship radio and podcast show, “Janie Flores Live”. We “snapped!”

Alright, so for those in our community who might not be familiar with your business, can you tell us more?
Integrity in business has been one of the key factors of growing Buena Vida Media and remaining relevant, even during a pandemic. Placing people first is one of our core values and we have demonstrated our firm commitment to our clients and our community even though it may have caused us loss in the short term. Strategically harnessing the power of media, public relations and marketing for our small business clients is the formula we apply to catapult them to success. Buena Vida Media takes to heart the adage, “To whom much has been given much is required,” and part of our social responsibility over the past five years has been to equip thousands of Spanish speaking entrepreneurs with digital skills to close the digital gap that is prevalent in the Hispanic community. The pandemic has demonstrated that our “Future of Work” initiative is even more crucial than we realized. During the pandemic only 16% of the Hispanic labor force in the US has been able to work from home. This directly translates to the staggering number of COVID-19 deaths in the Hispanic population because our people are frontline workers and are often exposed the most. Buena Vida Media is even more committed to changing this reality. Our reputation for giving back and being highly vested in the community has made us a trusted and respected partner, and businesses have turned to us to lead difficult conversations on racial and social justice, diversity and inclusion, health inequities, divisiveness in politics, and other topics which deeply impacted our communities in 2020. Buena Vida Media is grateful to those clients that believe in us and have remained with us through thick and thin, and we continue our mission to harness the power of media to transform the world around us.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love this question! When I first moved to Miami 15 years ago, I quickly learned that there are many cities and towns that make up Greater Miami and each one is unique. I would stay in the Doral area because it is close to Miami International Airport, all the major highways, and has an increasing number of affordable hotels to choose from. I would start with the weekend breakfast buffet at La Carreta in Doral. Sip on the best café con leche and sample the iconic pan Cubano, croquetas, and pastelitos, as well as typical breakfast items for those not as adventurous. If you do not speak Spanish you may struggle a bit, but the servers are friendly and accommodating, Since we are in Doral, after a leisurely breakfast, drive over to Dolphin Mall and walk it off as you peruse the outlet stores in the outdoor mall. You will start to acclimate yourself to hearing Spanish all around you and expect to be addressed in Spanish in all the stores you enter. Finish off the day at the beautiful City Place and have dinner al fresco at any one of the great restaurants at the outdoor plaza. Now you are ready to dive in and visit areas like Calle Ocho, Wynwood, Little Haiti and Homestead. If you want to do the touristy thing then head over to Bayfront Park and then on to South Beach, but be ready to pay exorbitant fees for parking and food. Miami has something for everyone: food, music, art, sports, beach, and more!

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would have to say that my family overall has been foundational to my success. My husband is my number one fan and cheerleader who supports all my “larger than life” ideas. My wonderful parents who imparted the faith, integrity and confidence which have been the bedrock to my success in life. My son and granddaughter inspire me to fight for the fierce legacy of service I want to leave them. The love and respect of my four brothers who are all exceptional. My nieces and nephews who represent the next generation of our family in America. I write about my parents and my family as a contributing author in the new book released in 2020, Hispanic Stars Rising: The New Face of Power.

Website: https://www.buenavidamedia.com
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/buenavidamedia/
Linkedin: www.linkedin.com › company › buena-vida-media
Twitter: https://twitter.com/buenavidamedia
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/buenavidamedia/
Other: Janie Flores Live Podcast https://soundcloud.com/janiefloreslive

Image Credits
Janie Flores