We recently connected with Camila Rodriguez and have shared our conversation below.

Camila, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Being a business owner can be really hard sometimes. It’s rewarding, but most business owners we’ve spoken sometimes think about what it would have been like to have had a regular job instead. Have you ever wondered that yourself? Maybe you can talk to us about a time when you felt this way?

Short answer—yes, I’m definitely happier as a business owner. I love being able to call something mine. Saying “this is my brand” means everything to me. It’s not just work—it’s something I pour my love, thought, and energy into. I care deeply about every detail, because this business is a reflection of who I am.

Even before I owned my business, I was always the type of employee who went above and beyond. I’ve always been a bit of a perfectionist—I like doing things well. Now that I own a business, that same energy is magnified—but so is the responsibility. Running a business means that everything depends on you. You have to be constantly thinking ahead, planning, troubleshooting, and making sure things run smoothly—even when you’re not physically there.

For example, this past Memorial Day weekend, I went on a camping trip. Before leaving, I had to make sure inventory was stocked, my team was trained and clear on their responsibilities, and the business was prepped to stay open without me. I even had to plan financially to cover someone to work while I was away. My employees helped run the shop, and even though they’ve worked with me before, they still had questions and called me a few times. It wasn’t frustrating—it’s just part of what comes with this role. As a business owner, you don’t fully clock out. But I’ve learned that this is a responsibility you accept when you choose this path.

And as much as I appreciate the structure and reliability of a traditional job, for me personally, I know I’m where I’m meant to be. I don’t say that to take away from anyone who works a regular job—I truly respect and value all types of work. I worked at a restaurant before this and that made me realize that I love to provide good customer service (which is what I do on a daily basis), but I’ve realized that I thrive in an environment where I get to make decisions, connect deeply with my clients, and create the kind of experience I believe in. I’ve worked jobs where I had to follow a strict system or be told how to do things, even when I felt I could offer more—and that just didn’t feel aligned with the kind of person I am.

What I love most about being a business owner is the relationships I’ve built. My clients aren’t just customers—they’re like a second family to me. They come in, day after day, not just for the smoothies and teas, but to talk, share, and support me—and I genuinely treasure that. I’m a people person through and through, and being able to create those connections, to brighten someone’s day, to feel their trust—that’s the most rewarding part of what I do. That’s why I chose this path, and why I wouldn’t trade it for anything.

Camila, before we move on to more of these sorts of questions, can you take some time to bring our readers up to speed on you and what you do?

Hi, I’m Camila Rodriguez, founder of Roca Nutrition—a smoothie-bar-style nutrition club based in Miami.
At Roca, we serve fast, nutrient-packed products like high-protein meal replacement smoothies, clean energy drinks, pre- and post-workout options, and protein snacks. We also provide nutrition coaching and personalized guidance for VIP members who want to improve their health and hit their goals.

I’ve always been passionate about fitness—growing up, I did ballet, volleyball, danced professionally for a while, and now I do CrossFit. But everything changed when I started working with a personal trainer and realized just how crucial nutrition was—not just for results, but for how you feel. That led me to switch my college major from business to nutrition and dietetics, and eventually, Roca was born from that passion.

My goal has always been to make good nutrition more accessible, especially in a fast-paced city like Miami, where everyone’s always on the go. People don’t always have time to cook or meal prep, and even so-called “healthy” food outside often doesn’t meet their needs. That’s where Roca comes in—we offer reliable, quick, and truly healthy options that people can trust. I even teach clients how to make our smoothies at home, so it becomes part of their daily lifestyle, like it has for me over the past three years.

I believe in what we sell because I’ve lived it—and I’ve seen it work. Both in my own wellness journey and in my family’s. My two little sisters are type 1 diabetics, and these smoothies have been a game-changer for them. They’re low-glycemic, help calm their sweet cravings, and give them real nutrition without spiking their blood sugar levels. That’s why I say: it’s not just a product—it’s proven.

But what truly makes Roca special is the energy and the community. It’s not just a place to grab a smoothie—it’s a space to disconnect from the fast pace of Miami, recharge, and connect with others. A lot of our clients are entrepreneurs, professionals, or people deep into wellness, and the energy here is magnetic. People network, build friendships, and leave feeling better than when they walked in. That’s always been my goal: to give every single person who walks through our door the best version of me—the most positive, high-vibe, hyper, loud, energetic version. That’s just who I am, and that’s the energy I bring to Roca every single day.

One of my clients—he’s been coming for about two months—once told me something that stuck with me. He works in stocks and numbers, and one day he said, “Camila, I’ve probably been here over 20 times by now. And based on probability alone, I should have seen you tired or in a bad mood at least once. But you’re always positive, happy, full of energy, smiling. That energy—you can’t fake it. It sells.” That meant so much to me, because even on the days I’m going through something, I still give my all. And I think that is what sets Roca apart. We’re not just nourishing bodies—we’re feeding souls, too.

Looking ahead, my dream is to continue growing and expanding Roca Nutrition into more locations—creating more spaces that fuel, energize, and connect communities through good nutrition. I especially want to help people who come into Roca and already have that wellness mindset—those who are passionate about fitness and health, and who also see themselves as future business owners. I love mentoring others and showing them what’s possible. My goal is to guide them step-by-step in building a successful smoothie bar of their own, so they can make an impact in their city just like I’m doing in mine. I believe Roca can become a movement—one that spreads wellness, good vibes, and opportunity all at once.

What’s been the best source of new clients for you?

My top three sources of new clients have definitely been word of mouth, pop-up events, and Google.
Word of mouth is huge for us—so many of my current clients bring in their friends, siblings, or even their parents to try our smoothies or energy drinks. That kind of organic growth means a lot to me, because it shows that people believe in the product and the experience enough to share it with the people they care about.

Another major source is pop-up events. I love setting up at local gyms, wellness events, and bazaar-style markets where I can connect with people face-to-face and introduce them to the brand. I always make sure to get new followers on Instagram while I’m there to keep that connection going and build visibility for Roca.

And lastly—Google has been a game-changer. I actively encourage my clients to leave reviews, and right now we have over 125 five-star ratings. That’s helped a lot of new clients discover Roca. I’ve had plenty of people walk in and say, “I found you on Google, and your reviews were amazing, so I had to try it.” Between that and our local presence, we’ve been able to grow consistently and reach new people every week.

We’d love to hear about how you keep in touch with clients.

I keep in touch with my clients by being extremely intentional and personal with every relationship.
Roca is located inside two gyms—a CrossFit gym and an MMA/martial arts gym—so I get to interact with a lot of our members face-to-face. Even if they’re not walking directly into the smoothie bar, I’ll go out to the gym floor, greet them, and check in. That connection matters, and I make it a point to always say hi, smile, and create moments of familiarity that build trust.

For clients who come from outside the gyms—like those who work in nearby hospitals or clinics, or who live in surrounding neighborhoods—I stay in touch through social media and direct messages. I’m always doing follow-ups, especially for clients who buy products to make their smoothies at home. If I haven’t seen someone in a while, I’ll reach out and send a quick “miss you!” message or a coupon to let them know I’m thinking of them. I also interact with a lot of clients through Instagram stories, DMs, or even WhatsApp if they prefer that—whatever makes it easiest for them to stay connected.

With new clients, I always follow up to ask how they felt after trying their smoothie—whether they felt energized, full, or satisfied. That feedback helps me keep improving, but it also lets my clients know I genuinely care about how their body responds to what they’re putting into it.

To keep things exciting and build loyalty, I love surprising clients with secret menu items or custom flavors I come up with just for them. Even if it’s not on the official menu, I might say, “Hey, want to try something new I just created?” It makes the experience feel special—and personal. At the end of the day, I want my clients to feel like they’re part of something that’s theirs, not just a random smoothie stop.
One thing I recently started doing to build deeper brand loyalty and community is launching events called Roca Socials. We did our first one on Mother’s Day, and it was such a beautiful experience. We hosted a yoga class followed by smoothies, and it was filled with moms, daughters, sons—everyone bonding, connecting, and prioritizing wellness together. Events like these allow me to bring people together in a fun, relaxed setting while still highlighting what Roca is all about: good nutrition, good energy, and strong community. Moving forward, I’d love to make these events a recurring thing and continue creating spaces where people can feel good, connect, and be part of something meaningful.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @roca.nutrition
• Other: personal instagram: @camilaa.rodriiguez