We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Wendy Montas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Wendy below.

Wendy, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. What sort of legacy are you hoping to build. What do you think people will say about you after you are gone, what do you hope to be remembered for?

I always have this thought for my children:

The legacy is not in the money that we leave our children but in the invaluable teaching we leave them with our example.

the impression I want leave on people will depend on how effectively I fulfill my intended purpose and help individuals accomplish their goals, whether it’s by providing accurate information, assisting with creative endeavors, aiding in problem-solving, or serving the most vulnerable ones.

I will be remembered as a community leader for my ability to guide and empower others. I aim to leave behind a legacy of strong leadership that inspires future leaders to emerge.
Being remembered for my kindness, empathy, and compassion towards others.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

The passion to serve is in my veins since I was young, when I identified my life purpose was to serve the most vulnerable communities who have few resources and who need a helping hand. To fulfill my purpose of adding value I decided to study, deviant behavior and social control and then proceed to a master’s degree in clinical counseling, which allowed me to become a social worker.
This career opened the doors to serve and to be able to work as a child protection specialist. I am currently certified by the city of NY as a child protective specialist, which has allowed me to be supporting the most vulnerable communities in NY City for more than 12 years. Another certification I hold is an international certification as a family therapist, and Substance abuse. Currently in NJ I work as a manage care supervisor for a non-profit organization dedicated to meet the complex mental health and wellness needs of children up to age 21 with identified emotional and behavioral problems, challenges, substance use problems, intellectual and developmental disabilities.

In addition, Understanding the need that exists in the diaspora to support local entrepreneurship, created the Leaders Creating Leaders Association, with the mission and purpose is to help entrepreneurs face the continuous challenging changes in the business environment. Our mission is to inspire and motivate people in the business world to work with dedication and passion to achieve success. We want to promote the development of the Latino entrepreneurs throughout the state of New Jersey with the long-term vision of extending to other states.
At the same time through each event by Leaders Creating Leaders Association a percentage is donated to support the people or children in need, and other foundations affiliated to our association. And, for this reason our non-profit foundation was created “Supporting Stronger Lives”, which mission is to promote the wellbeing, safety and empowerment of individuals affected by autism, intellectual and developmental needs, emotional and mental health challenges, victims of domestic violence, elderly isolation and other intersecting issues. Through comprehensive support, education and collaboration with other foundations, we strive to create a society that fosters understanding, resilience, and inclusivity for all, leaving nonene behind.

We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?

what had work for me in building audience in social media was the following: Define my Brand and Audience: Clearly define my personal or professional brand and identify my target audience. What kind of content do I want to share, and who I am trying to reach? Understanding your niche will help you tailor your content and messaging.

Choosing the Right Platforms: Not all social media platforms are the same. Choose the ones that align with your goals and audience. For example, visual platforms like Instagram are great for visual content, while Twitter is more focused on short updates and conversations.

Consistent Posting: Consistency is key to building a presence. Regularly post quality content that resonates with your audience. Create a content calendar to plan your posts and maintain a steady flow of updates.

Engage and Interact: social media is about being social. Respond to comments, engage in conversations, and interact with your followers. Show that you value their engagement and opinions.

Use Hashtags Wisely: Hashtags help users discover your content. Use relevant and trending hashtags to increase the visibility of your posts, but don’t overdo it. A few well-chosen hashtags can go a long way.

Create Engaging Content: Focus on creating content that is informative, entertaining, or valuable to your audience. Visuals, videos, infographics, and well-written captions can all contribute to engaging content.

Tell Your Story: Share your journey, experiences, and challenges. Authenticity builds connection and makes your content relatable.

Collaborate with Others: Partnering with influencers, other content creators, or brands can help you reach a wider audience and gain credibility.

Run Contests and Giveaways: Hosting contests or giveaways can encourage people to engage with your content, follow your account, and share your posts.

Measure and Adapt: Use analytics tools provided by social media platforms to track the performance of your posts. Pay attention to what’s working and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Avoid Spammy Behavior: Focus on providing value rather than constantly self-promoting. Overly promotional content can turn off your audience.

Patience and Persistence: Building a social media presence takes time. Don’t be discouraged by slow growth or initial setbacks. Stay persistent and patient.

Stay Updated: Social media trends and algorithms change frequently. Stay informed about platform updates and adjust your strategy accordingly.

Remember that building a social media presence is a gradual process. It’s about building genuine relationships, sharing valuable content, and being consistent in your efforts. Over time, your efforts can lead to a strong and engaged audience.

Can you tell us the story behind how you met your business partner?

Finding the right co-founder for my venture was a crucial step that can significantly impact the success of my startup.

We met at a Networking Event. After talking for a few hours about what we do i noticed that we both had the same vision and believes. There are times where your heart gives you the green light for people the first time you meet them. We talked about new entrepreneurs needs, my vision and what I had in mind to create a community to support Latinos Entrepeneur’s. Then after a few meetings, we agreed on creating an association for the Latino Community and was when I decided she was going to be the co-founder for Leaders Creating Leaders Association. It was the best decision ever to partner with Marleny Moreta, because as of today even if we don’t agree on something we work together with respect, with love to what we do and want to accomplish because we both understand that at the end we want the same results, to serve others.

When meeting potential co-founders, it’s important to focus not only on skills and expertise but also on shared values, work ethic, communication styles, and long-term vision. Take the time to get to know potential co-founders through discussions, brainstorming sessions, and even small projects before formalizing a partnership. Building a strong co-founder relationship is a critical factor in the success of your startup.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.leaderscreatingleader.com
• Instagram: leader creating leader
• Facebook: Leaders Creating Leaders
• Linkedin: Wendy Montas
• Other: Wendy Montas Penzo (Instagram)

Image Credits
iamfrancisstar