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

Hi Monica, how do you think about risk?
I honestly would not have the life I have now without taking risks. I have never held back on opportunity or decision in my life and all have come with a risk and the fear of the unknown. I grew up in El Paso Texas, since I was a young kid, I would never let fear of the unknown or people talk me out of doing the something that I felt compelled to try. For example, when I was in the 5th grade, I was determined to make the choir without being able to carry a tune (did not make it) I entered a speech competition in the 7th grade won 1st place for a monologue I delivered and realized I loved public speaking, and now my career is in public speaking. Many other times I just went for what I wanted to do and had some losses and some wins along the way, but in the end, I tried and that is the most important part of taking risks…trying.

The game-changer for me was in 2005 after graduating from Arizona State University, I took a risk after college by moving to Chile to live and work as an English teacher, learning about other cultures and meeting people around the world. After about a year and half of living in Chile and traveling to places like Brazil and Argentina, I took another risk to drive across county and move to Miami to start a new life. In 2009, after working in Miami for a couple of years, I took a leap of faith (others said it was a risk) to start my own company with clear vision for bigger and better things for myself. I left a stable job as a government consultant, was alone in Miami and only had about $200 in my bank account. It was a risk, but I was determined to start and keep going, and 14 years later I am still in business, supporting a staff of 12 people with their own children and families and we are continuing to grow every day.

Personally, I took a risk by allowing a guy, who I was talking to on a dating app, pick me up at the airport after arriving home from a trip. That guy is now my husband and we have two beautiful boys. I made the ultimate risky decision and asked him to quit his corporate job and come work for my company before my first son was born. It has been four years since; he launched a whole new line of video production services for us and we are growing stronger every day personally and professionally. Many say they would or could never work with their spouse and we make it work!

Risk for me is a common theme in my life and business and it starts with every choice I make and the intention behind those choices. As a business owner I wear many hats from overseeing and running the company, hiring the right employee, going after a contract, investing in tools for the company, communicating with clients and employees and everything in between. There are situations that come up where I have to communicate or make a decision and they are not always the easiest, but I face them directly and with the best intention. I either come out ahead or learn from the temporary defeat and keep it moving. Risk is just another word for taking a chance at a better outcome!

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
My business Infinite Source Communications Group (ISC) was founded in 2009. We are a full service Public Relations and Marketing firm. We bring a unique mix of adaptability, creativity and expertise providing communication services to various industries from corporate and government clients to brick and motor businesses and non-profits. We work with clients to deliver a message or educate the masses on safety and health initiatives, improvements to their community, promote a product or service, and also how to improve their internal business structure.

ISC has earned a solid reputation for providing high quality support to our clients in South Florida and nationwide. Some of our key clients include City of Miami Beach, Department of Transportation, Modani Furniture, City Miami, Tamayo Cosentino Racing and numerous global engineering firms such as AECOM, Stantec, Adkins and Jacobs Engineering.

I like to call us a one-stop-shop because over the years we have really expanded our capabilities and offer a variety of in-house services including public relations, community engagement, crisis PR, media relations and public speaking coaching, event planning, marketing and branding, advertising, audiovisual production, graphics and web design.

Our dedication to excellence in communications and to helping businesses succeed is founded on Team Work, Forward Thinking and Customer Service. We strive to represent each client with the best of our abilities, serving as an extension of their staff, brand and message.

We’d love to hear what sets you apart from others,
Some unique things about our firm that sets us part from others is our multicultural team. We have staff positioned across the US and almost all of us are bilingual, representing many different cultures and nationalities, we offer our services not only in English, but Spanish, Haitian Creole, Portuguese and French. Another important quality is our commitment to customer service, this is the essence of our company culture. We treat everyone with respect internally and externally. I am a stickler for the little details and going above and beyond to make a client happy and most importantly to make our co-workers happy. Happiness fuels positive production and quality work for our clients. And lastly, our biggest rule at the company is FAMILY FIRST! We work hard and play harder; it is so important for my team to know that family and health is the most important thing in life. My team puts in the hours, but I make sure to facilitate the work/life balance in many ways and this in turn makes everyone enjoy and appreciate the work we do and the lives we live.

what you are most proud of or excited about.
I am most excited about the future of the company. We are taking our skills to new heights though our corporate events and conference services, live streaming and audiovisual production capabilities. We have entered into a new era of creating unique experiences for every project and campaign both in-person and digitally. The company is investing in new technologies, AI platforms and other digital software to help us adapt to the future. I am also advising clients on communication strategies internally and externally, helping them tell their story and build a unique company culture. It is exciting to see the corporate world embrace community and compassion.

I am proud to see our accomplishments in the government sector as a small business. We have been able to secure multimillion-dollar accounts though government contracting, which helped us sustain a full staff through the Covid-19 pandemic and provides a sense of stability in the midst of a possible recession. We are recognized on state and federal levels as a certified small business holding certifications as a Federal 8a company, Disadvantaged Business Enterprise, Minority/Woman-owned Business Enterprise and Small Business Enterprise. This means, as a small business, we are given opportunities to showcase our work on a national and federal level, to support a variety of government agencies and communities that need our services.

How did you get to where you are today business-wise.
I got to where I am today by being a workaholic and having a nothing to lose attitude. I always strive to remember how it was when I first started and bring back that “nothing to lose” attitude. I worked long hours and gave it my all, I continue to do this. I do what it takes to get the job done not matter what. If an employee is sick or cannot do something, I roll up my sleeves and do it, no matter the task. Nothing is too big or too small for me. My company begins and ends with me, and I love the work we do, so for me it’s not hard and I enjoy it.

Was it easy?
Easy, HECK NO! I started with a nothing to lose attitude, knocking on doors and getting turned down, but I never gave up. It was not easy, but I have a fire for what I do, passion, so it was not hard for me to keep pushing to make things happen.

If not, how did you overcome the challenges?
The biggest challenge for me was getting taken seriously. I started the company when I was 25 years-old. I was also marketing to an industry where the majority of the decision-makers were men. It was a challenge to be taken seriously, but with all my strength I held my ground, stuck to my pitch and “faked it until I made it”. When someone asked me if I could provide a service, I said yes and made it happen one way or another. This led to more opportunities when clients saw I was serious and could offer solutions and a good product.

What are the lessons you’ve learned along the way.
Do not focus on the “How, Just do”. When I have an idea and try to learn how to implement something, it never happens because I’m focused on doing something perfect. Rather than focusing on the “how” I just start my way. I have learned that my way might not be the correct or best way, and this can lead to mistakes, but it also leads to learning and growing.

As a business owner, I have learned that it is my job to inspire and help others achieve their goals and be selfless. So many people helped me achieve mine and it’s my duty to help mentor and guide my staff, other industry professionals, our youth to be the best version of themselves. Sometimes, I receive messages from ex-employees who have moved on to other positions and they have thanked me for what they learned at ISC. This is a great reward.

And the biggest lesson is I am not managing a company, I am managing people. From clients to the public we interface with, to the company staff, everyone retains information differently. One cannot communicate the exact same way with everyone. We have to adapt our approach and communication style with everyone we collaborate with and remember that words matter, so use them wisely and with good intentions.

Focus on the fix, if something wrong happens it’s too late to get upset, or punish, just focus on the fix and learn.

What do you want the world to know about you or your brand and story?
Based on the lessons I mentioned earlier, I want the world to know that my brand values action, adaptability, learning, and helping others. As a business owner, I prioritize inspiring and guiding my staff, industry professionals, and young people towards success, and I find great reward in seeing those I’ve worked with achieve their goals. Furthermore, I believe that effective communication and finding solutions are essential to managing people and navigating crisis situations. Overall, I want the world to know that ISCPR Group, is a reliable and effective partner for businesses and organizations seeking expertise in crisis management, creative messaging, public relations, and that we are committed to helping our clients and collaborators achieve their goals.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
Miami for the week! Arrival Friday night – We would have dinner at Joey’s Italian in Wynwood (Chef’s choice pizza is the best) and check out the murals and shops in the neighborhood, people watch and feel the vibe. Low-key night to rest up for a beach day.

Saturday – Get ready for a South Beach (SOBE) beach day at my favorite place to chill, the Surfcomber off Collins Ave and 17 Street. I love renting the cabana on the beach and hanging out there for lunch and some frozen drinks. At the end of a long day on the water, we pack up and head to their pool area for an appetizer cool off before heading back home. Because I am a mama, we would prob make dinner and chill. But if I was peer pressured to go out (does not take much…), it would be the Anderson off 79 street! Close to home and a great place to dance to come classics.

Sunday – Another sunny day! We would head over to meet my husband at the Miami Rowing Club for some paddling on our outrigger canoe. It’s amazing. We would paddle around the basin, maybe to Brickell key and watch all of the Sunday party boats head out. Any other weekend I would say lets go to Whiskey Joe’s for lunch but, since my friend is in town, we must dress to impress and hit up Joia Beach for brunch and live entertainment. Everything on their menu is delicious and their margaritas are the best!

Monday – Standard Hotel and Spa. They have the best massage treatments and hammam. This is an all-day affair. We arrive at 10 a.m. and stay into the evening. This includes a massage, hanging in the hammam, lounging by the pool, dinner at The Lido Bayside Grill and enjoying the fire pits before heading home.

Tuesday – If we are feeling motivated I would maybe try to convince my bestie to take hot yoga at Agni Miami Yoga studio, then we would get ready to shop at Brickell City Centre. Tacology is a great lunch spot.

Wednesday – Wake up early, walk over to Cream Parlor on 83rd and Biscayne for some breakfast and if my friend wanted to taste one of their exotic ice creams for breakfast, I would not judge (Unicorn Poop is one!) Head to Vizcaya Museum & Gardens and embrace the history of this amazing palace. Take some selfies in the garden and head over to Monty’s for some raw bar appetizers and happy hour!

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
There are so many people who deserve a shoutout and it begins with my family. My husband Andre does not let me get out of bed without making me yell, “I am amazing, today is going to be a good day!” and he helps me to keep a strong mindset, to keep pushing. My two amazing little boys motivate me to be a better human, I live for them. My mother is my biggest cheerleader and supports me no matter what. My father, who passed away in 2018 called me three times a day to make sure I was “getting after it” pushing me to be fearless. My brother Mike and sister Christina always giving me encouragement to keep going and coming to me for business advice, this has inspired all three of us to continue to take risks.

I cannot do what I do without my amazing ISC family, my team (Roman, Maria, Walna, Veronica, Xander, Alex, Sean, Norwing, Yaisel, Graham, and Cynthia). We work together as ONE and they genuinely want to do good for the company and for the mission to be the best of the best.

Who else deserves a little credit and recognition in your story?
The friends of the past who helped me build what I have built from day one, the clients who support me no matter what and remain loyal to me. The business partners who believe in me and help me get to a higher place and everyone who stops to give me an opportunity. Ability is nothing without opportunity and so many people give me a chance. It’s amazing how good things happen when someone wants to see a person succeed!

I am truly grateful and blessed to have so many people in my corner.

Website: www.iscprgroup.com

Instagram: isc_pr

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monica-diaz-634a2516/

Twitter: ISC_PR

Facebook: /iscpr.group

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