Meet Karla Paguaga | Founder of The Social Meets

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

Hi Karla, can you tell us about an impactful book you’ve read and why you liked it or what impact it had on you?
“When Bad Things Happen to Good People” by Harold S. Kushner. Last year, I was going through a tough situation and one of my best friends recommended the book. As human beings we question things that happen to us, “I am a good person, so why me?” “Why is life unfair?”

It is a good book with real life experiences that the author goes through which makes it incredibly relatable, doubts in God’s goodness, questioning everything we have been taught and feeling lost. All of these feelings are valid and part of being human. He focuses on theology and the fact that even though God is good, he does not control everything as he does gives us space to allow us to be human, make mistakes, suffer and live life.

Life has hardships, no one is safe from going through difficult times but it’s all about how we react to these. It opened my eyes to see things in a different perspective, no matter what we go through in life, we should move forward finding strength and meaning.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Creating unique events experiences for my friends has always been a passion of mine. Whether it be an annual Galentine’s Day, Charm Party or themed birthdays, I’ve always enjoyed creating an inviting space for us to have fun and connect. The Social Meets is a platform that allows me to leverage my passion for event planning and creating connections by bringing together a unique set of vendors to showcase their products and services while helping them expand their talents into the community.

Like any small business, starting The Social Meets involved a lot of risk. For one, I had never managed events at a professional level, and it was very different from my background in finance. My formal career track of finance is a black and white world of numbers with little room for creativity which likely has something to do with my passion for event planning. I enjoy bringing ideas to life, brainstorming for posts and reels to promote events, vendor spotlights, giveaways for the community as well as coming up with themes that will make our events engaging and fun for all! I am very proud to be able to say that the risk has been very rewarding, allowing me to connect with many amazing local small business owners and the community in a way I otherwise wouldn’t have been able to.

I feel like the most important factor behind The Social Meets success is that we focus on creating a positive experience for attendees which starts by creating a positive experience for our amazing vendors. We curate a unique collection of vendors for each event ensuring our attendees will be exposed to a wide range of products and services. We emphasize on our vendors feeling valued, included throughout the planning process and taken care of from start to finish. Our goal is for both vendors and attendees to leave our events excited to participate again. Overall, our partnerships go beyond a business transaction, we aim to build a relationship with our vendors and a beautiful community of support and networking.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I am fortunate enough to live in Miami, a beautiful City where we can enjoy beaches, cultural experience, adventures, art, great diverse food and fun nightlife. A week is really not long enough to be able to appreciate everything our beautiful City has to offer, but here are some ideas:

• My go to quick cafe breakfast is going to Don Pan, a Venezuelan Bakery for some cafesito with a pan de bono or a tequeno.

• La Fritanga is another stop you cannot miss in Miami, having delicious Nicaraguan food. Carne asada with gallopinto, tajadas and queso frito is a must!

• Going to South Beach early in the morning to relax and unwind, soak up some sun before the crowd rush hour. If it gets too hot, you can go in the water for a swim until you’re ready for some good food. There are definitely too many options to choose from, whether it’s going to Havana 1957 to enjoy a delicious Pork sandwich with extra mojo sauce or going a bit more upscale to Mila restaurant which is one of my favorites! Mila is a fun rooftop with amazing food, great ambiance and always good time.
• The Everglades is perfect for whoever is looking for a little adventure to ride an airboat, bicycling or kayak tour and enjoy the scenery of a diverse number of species including different birds, crocodiles and alligators. It’s always an enjoyable time for me and a different experience every time I have gone.
• Wynwood is another must stop, a lot to do! From enjoying a stroll around Wynwood walls to admire the creative murals painted all over the neighborhood to visiting La Cerveceria Tropical for some Cuban beers and some delicious appetizers.
Although a short drive from Wynwood, I would definitely suggest going to Red Rooster. I was actually there last weekend for the first time and definitely understand all the buzz about it! My favorite plate was the Guyanese Oxtail Pepper Pot and for dessert order the cookie with dulce de leche ice cream, do yourself a favor a try them!

And of course, come shop local at one of The Social Meets market events!

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 am fortunate enough to have an incredible support system including my husband, family and friends. No matter what crazy idea I bring to them, they encourage and push me to always follow my heart. Their unwavering support since day one has given me the confidence I needed to not only start The Social Meets but to continue working hard towards my dreams of creating events and helping others which is what brings me genuine joy.

Extra special shoutout to my mom! I grew up watching her manage and grow her own business successfully. I was able to learn from how she embraced challenges, how she empowered other women in the industry, and the respect she gave to everyone she worked with. Her business provided opportunities for our family to attend many events which definitely sparked my love for them.

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