Meet Valerie Diaz | Digital Creator & Multi-Passionate Entrepreneur

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

Hi Valerie, is there something that you feel is most responsible for your success?
Ever since I was a little girl I always knew that I wanted to become an entrepreneur. My entrepreneurial journey began when I was around 8 years old. I started doing nails around my neighborhood and charging $15 – $25 Dominican Pesos. After a few days, my team grew and eventually, it was not just me doing nails – It was me and my crew: Las Tres Mariposas (The Three Butterflies) rocking our business around the “barrio”. My purpose grew and at that point, I was not only doing it for me – but for my “Amigas”, I was doing it for my friends and I. Now reflecting back to those endless sunny days in the motherland, Dominican Republic, I fully understand that the biggest factor behind the success of the two businesses I co-run with my sister in law – Gelsandra Guzman, Posh Palma Styles, and Raices Media, is that I am not just putting in the work for myself, but also for my people, for my ancestors, for generations to come, for women and for those young girls that never thought it was possible to successfully run a profitable business. The major success behind the work I get to do every day is that I am walking the walk along with my community. My heart lies in the social impact behind my grind and hustle. Our community is what sustains our brand, is what calls us to wake up every single day with a purpose to go chase our dreams. Our community is everything; it is the soul and core of the business. Every day I strived to continue to plant seeds, seeds that I am positive will flourish and bloom into incredible versions. As the @thejefacreator – I am committed to creating spaces digitally for other dope #jefascreators and to uplifting brands digitally to ensure that they gain visibility to continue to multiply their impact. My heart lies with my community. My heart lies with you. Everything I do isn’t just for me, but for you and for yours too.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Circling back to March 2020, towards the beginning of COVID, I was living my best life in Mexico City, working for a company that specialized in investing in women-led businesses. I was spending my weekends in Xochimilco with my friends drinking micheladas and enjoying what Mexico City had to offer. Little did I know that my days were coming to an end and that because of COVID I had to exit Mexico since all the borders were closing. After coming back to Miami to be with my family, I had no choice but to readjust my lens and start over in the midst of the pandemic. During this time, is where Posh Palma Styles and Raices Media went from a simple idea to actual businesses. Posh Palma Styles is a Latinx lifestyle brand and community that aims to create spaces for women to gain confidence and break through the many norms and Raices Media is a marketing collective that is here to uplift you digitally. For my sister in law – Gelsandra Guzman (gelsandra_guzman) and me these businesses became an escape from what was actually happening around us. We placed most of our energy in learning new ways, taking courses, and building business plans. At this point in life, I had the major realization that we are ALL students of LIFE. You never know when you have to re-write your story and start all over. The many changes that we have to undergo through life come with a series of obstacles and struggles, but nothing worth having ever is easy. Right now, fast-forwarding to a year after, I wake up every day and I get to CREATE. I am called to be CREATIVE and to transform things via my marketing background. Through Posh Palma Styles and Raices Media – I am fulfilling my dream every day. You can find me building marketing strategies, creating content, and turning businesses around. Our day, I am hoping to elevate this into an even bigger vision but for now, I am taking baby steps with people I love and I wouldn’t have it any other way.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Allow me to take you through a magical tour around the city that stole my heart. Miami is that perfect fusion of latin vibrancy and Caribbean sazón. To get started – I will take this friend of mine to eat one of my favorite meals on the entire planet: Mangú Con Los Tres Golpes in Alapara. I carry very close to my heart this delicious traditional Dominican breakfast that includes smash plantains, onions, salami, eggs and so much more. Then I will take her for a walk to Wynwood – to gather some inspos and create some cool content with the amazing art and graffiti. We walk by the graffiti museum and then grab a cucumber mojito from the Mojito Bar. Then we will grab some yummy tacos from Tacomiendo and have some deep conversations about astrology, love and so much more and eventually wrap up our day at Key Biscayne Beach to watch the sunset and reflect on how blessed we are here to be in paradise.

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?
What I love the most about this question is that it is inspiring me to go back on time and reflect on all the incredible souls that have crossed my path over my life trajectory. Today I am thankful to so many incredible individuals starting from mi abuelo, who is no longer here with us. A man that taught me to love deeply, to care with all my heart, and to always give back with an open heart. I want to take this opportunity to honor two incredible women that have served as a great source of inspiration for me. Kicking off with Ada Rojas – Founder of Vecina Couture and All Things Ada. I have been following this jefa for many years on social media, and although we have not met in person yet, because of her I have learned about the importance of walking with confidence and taking up space. She has inspired me to honor the work I do on a daily basis and most importantly love myself a bit more. Another jefa that has transformed my perspective about the entrepreneurial journey is Carolina Contreras – Founder of Miss Rizos Salon. Today, I thank her for being so open about the struggle behind running a business and the importance of cultivating and nurturing your audience. She is a daily source of motivation for me and to be honest, because of women like her, giving up does not seem to be an option. The final but not least shoutout is to one of my favorite communities – Las Comadres: An Inclusive community that inspires women to reclaim sisterhood, & uplift each other. Through Las Comadres, I have met incredible souls such as Leisis Stevens, Gina Valconi, Lauren Marsicano and so many more. This one goes for you too Mami Fatima, Mami Claris, Mama Hilda, and my Siblings.

Website: https://www.raicesmediaco.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thejefacreator/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/valeriediazprofile/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ValerieDiaz17/

Image Credits
Image Credits IG: @joyinwonder IG: @shesadrianab IG: @gelsandra_guzman