We were lucky to catch up with Hermina Lezama recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hermina, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Are you happier as a business owner? Do you sometimes think about what it would be like to just have a regular job?

Being a business owner brings me a deep sense of fulfillment, but it’s not always easy. There are moments when I wonder what it would be like to have a “regular job” with predictable hours, a steady paycheck, and clear boundaries between work and personal life.

The last time I had that thought was during a particularly overwhelming week. I juggled multiple projects: finalizing a marketing strategy for a client, handling inventory for Coffee Island Inc., and preparing for a workshop for Kreative Results. Emails were piling up, deadlines were closing in, and I felt pulled in several directions.

One night, as I sat at my desk with my laptop open and a half-empty coffee cup beside me, I thought, wouldn’t it be easier to clock in, do my work, and clock out? No chasing invoices, late-night brainstorming sessions, or wearing a dozen hats.

But then, I reminded myself why I chose this path. Yes, the pressure is real, but so is the freedom. The ability to build something that reflects my vision, work on projects I genuinely care about, and impact businesses and individuals in meaningful ways is priceless. I get to shape my success, even on the most challenging days, that outweighs the comfort of predictability.

So, while the thought crosses my mind now and then, I always come back to the same conclusion: I wouldn’t trade this journey for anything. The challenges make the wins even sweeter, and at the end of the day, I know I’m exactly where I’m meant to be.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

My name is Hermina Lezama, and I’m an entrepreneur, marketing strategist, and storyteller at heart. I’ve always been passionate about building brands, connecting with people, and creating lasting experiences. My journey into the industry wasn’t a straight path, but every step, every challenge, and every lesson led me to where I am today.

How I Got Into This Industry
I started my career in business and marketing, earning a Bachelor’s in Business Management and a Master’s in Digital Marketing. Over the years, I worked in various marketing roles, helping businesses refine their brand identity, grow their audience, and create meaningful engagement. But I always knew I wanted to do more, something that allowed me to combine strategy with creativity and help brands truly stand out. That’s why I launched Kreative Results by KR, a marketing consultancy that empowers businesses with branding, social media strategy, content marketing, and digital advertising.

Along the way, my love for coffee and Caribbean culture inspired me to create Coffee Island Inc., a specialty coffee brand that brings a taste of the islands to coffee lovers everywhere. With rich, ethically sourced blends, Coffee Island Inc. is more than just coffee; it celebrates culture, community, and the stories that make us who we are.

What I Offer & The Problems I Solve
Through Kreative Results by KR, I provide:
Marketing Strategy & Consulting: Helping businesses develop clear, actionable strategies to grow their brand.
Branding & Storytelling: Creating authentic brand narratives that connect with audiences on a deeper level.
Social Media & Digital Marketing: Crafting campaigns that drive engagement and conversions.
Workshops & Training: Educating small business owners and entrepreneurs on effectively navigating digital marketing.

Through Coffee Island Inc., I offer:
Premium Caribbean-Inspired Coffee: Carefully selected, high-quality beans that bring the warmth and richness of island flavors.
Curated Gift Bundles: Thoughtfully designed coffee sets perfect for personal indulgence or gifting.
A Lifestyle Brand: More than just coffee, it’s about embracing the Caribbean spirit, no matter where you are in the world.

What Sets Me Apart
What makes me different is my commitment to authenticity and connection. I don’t believe in one-size-fits-all strategies. Every business, brand, and person has a unique story; my mission is to bring those stories to life. I approach marketing as a service and a partnership. I invest in my clients’ success as if it were my own.

What sets Coffee Island Inc. apart is its focus on culture and quality. We don’t just sell coffee; we share an experience, a memory, and a feeling of home, especially for those in the Caribbean diaspora who long for a taste of their roots.

What I’m Most Proud Of
I’m proud of the brands I’ve built and the impact I’ve made. Seeing small businesses thrive because of the strategies I’ve helped implement or hearing from a customer who says my coffee reminds them of home are the moments that make all the hard work worth it.

What I Want You to Know
For potential clients, followers, and supporters, whether you’re a business owner looking for strategic marketing guidance or a coffee lover seeking a rich, flavorful brew, my work is built on passion, creativity, and a deep desire to make a difference. I believe in the power of storytelling, the importance of community, and the magic that happens when we bring our whole selves to the table.

My goal is simple: to help businesses grow, share Caribbean culture’s beauty, and create experiences that matter.

Do you sell on your site, or do you use a platform like Amazon, Etsy, Cratejoy, etc?

For Coffee Island Inc., Shopify is my eCommerce platform of choice. When I started selling coffee, I knew I wanted complete control over my brand, customer experience, and marketing, which made Shopify the best fit.

Why Shopify?
Shopify offers a customizable storefront, integrated payment processing, and powerful marketing tools all in one place. It allows me to create a branded shopping experience that reflects the essence of Coffee Island Inc. while giving me the flexibility to scale as the business grows.

Pros of Using Shopify:
Complete Control Over Branding: Unlike marketplaces like Amazon or Etsy, Shopify lets me design the entire customer journey, from homepage to checkout.
Built-in Marketing Tools: Shopify seamlessly integrates with email marketing, social media, and SEO tools to help drive traffic and sales.
Subscription & Bundle Options: I can easily create curated coffee gift sets, subscriptions, and special promotions without restrictions.
Direct Customer Relationships: I own my customer data with Shopify, allowing me to build strong relationships through email marketing and retargeting.

Cons of Using Shopify:
Traffic Generation is on Me: Unlike Amazon or Etsy, where shoppers are already browsing, I have to drive my traffic through ads, SEO, and social media.
Monthly Fees: Shopify isn’t free, and the costs can increase due to platform fees, transaction fees (if not using Shopify Payments), and apps.
Logistics & Fulfillment: Managing inventory, shipping, and fulfillment is entirely on me, unlike Amazon FBA, which handles it for you.

For Coffee Island Inc., the ability to control the brand experience and build a direct relationship with my customers outweighs the convenience of selling on a third-party marketplace. While it takes more effort to drive traffic and handle logistics, owning my platform means owning my success, and that’s worth it.

Learning and unlearning are both critical parts of growth – can you share a story of a time when you had to unlearn a lesson?

One of the biggest lessons I had to unlearn was the idea that success follows a linear path and that if you do everything “right,” things will unfold exactly as planned.

For years, I believed that success would naturally follow if I worked hard, got the right degrees, and followed a structured career path. But reality had other plans. I started in traditional marketing roles, working for different companies, but I always felt something was missing. I wanted more creativity, more ownership, and more impact. Even when I transitioned into consulting and eventually launched Kreative Results by KR and Coffee Island Inc., I still believed that business growth would follow a predictable roadmap.

That belief was shattered when I faced unexpected hurdles, such as campaigns that didn’t perform as planned, partnerships that fell through, and moments of self-doubt that made me question everything. I realized that success isn’t linear; it’s messy, unpredictable, and full of detours. And that’s okay.

The moment I embraced this, I started pivoting confidently instead of seeing setbacks as failures. I became more open to experimenting, trusting the process, and leaning into opportunities I hadn’t considered. Unlearning the idea of a straight path freed me to build a career and businesses that truly align with my passions and strengths.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://kreativeresults.com/ | https://coffeeislandinc.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/kreativerbykr | https://www.instagram.com/coffeeislandinc
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kreativerbykr | https://www.facebook.com/coffeeislandinc
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/kreative-results |https://www.linkedin.com/company/coffee-island-inc
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@CoffeeIslandInc