Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to MARCO GONZALEZ. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Alright, MARCO thanks for taking the time to share your stories and insights with us today. Almost all entrepreneurs have had to decide whether to start now or later? There are always pros and cons for waiting and so we’d love to hear what you think about your decision in retrospect. If you could go back in time, would you have started your business sooner, later or at the exact time you started?

Had I known earlier in my PR career that going solo was the way to go, I would have definitely done this a lot sooner. I actually started my own business as a result of a career transition that left me unemployed in 2021. It was one of those things, as they usually are, that came from left field and I was completely blindsided by the unexpected events that ensued after leaving a very comfy corporate job in the Hispanic media space. After rigorously interviewing for months and getting to be the first runner-up for various executive corporate communications positions, I decided it was time to move on and follow my colleague’s and friends’ advice of starting my own practice and going off on my own. So, after 20 years of being a corporate guy, I decided that it was time to work for myself and take the risk of being an independent public relations consultant. Fear has always been my biggest hurdle and my own worst inner saboteur… after a year of working on my own, I realize that the possibilities are endless, the future is bright, and the perceived limitations we see are merely a mirage that stops us from accomplishing our dreams and goals

MARCO, 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?

I bring 20+ years of public relations experience and proven success in entertainment publicity and executive/corporate communications with a strong track record in the delivery of high-impact media results in both the general and Hispanic media markets. My last corporate gig was as VP of Public Relations and Corporate Affairs at Estrella Media, a multiplatform Hispanic media company. In this role, I founded the company’s PR division and spearheaded all corporate communications, publicity campaigns, crisis management, employee communications, and community relations efforts for the company’s television network, radio, and digital properties. Currently, I also serve as Board Member of the Latino Equality Alliance, a social justice and Latinx LGBTQ+ advocacy nonprofit in Boyle Heights.

I am an international, multilingual, and versatile communications executive with an extensive background and expertise in the Hispanic market and a successful track record in international publicity, issues management, employee communications, corporate social responsibility, entertainment publicity, press campaign development, and strategic communications in the U.S. and Latin America. I previously served in various communications capacities at companies such as Herbalife Nutrition, Univision Music Group, and The United Way of Greater Los Angeles.

Most recently, I received the PR News Award for “Person of the Year Award- The New Entrepreneurs on the Block” 2023.

MaGO! PR is a 360°, full-service multicultural public relations and communications firm that focuses on entertainment publicity, talent relations, comprehensive corporate communications strategies, and media relations & diversity training in both general and Hispanic markets in the U.S.

Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?

A transformative book that has left a mark in my way of thinking and my way of operating is Don Miguel Ruiz’s The Four Agreements. I live my life by these Four Agreements: Being impeccable with my words, not taking anything personally, not making assumptions, and always doing my very best. But I’ve also added a fifth agreement of my own and that’s to always be frank and upfront with people because that’s what I expect in return. These guiding principles are not only valuable in my personal life but have come to be the true compass of my practice and my business.

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

The best source of new clients for MaGO PR has definitely been referrals from friends and colleagues. I started small by doing work for some of my dear colleagues in PR like Claudia Santa Cruz, Brenda Herrera, Bog Gold, and Dr. Shawna Charles, who were instrumental in helping me build my business by subcontracting me to assist them with some of their client workload. I am extremely grateful to them for the vote of confidence and for sending work my way when I was just taking off as a solo practitioner. I am also grateful to old friends who have reached out to me and referred me to their friends for potential work. Referrals have been my primary source of new clients, and also good referrals from previous clients and former coworkers.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.magopr.com
• Instagram: @marco_a_gonzalez
• Facebook: Marco Gonzalez
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/marcogonzalez2021
• Twitter: @MarcoGonzales70

Image Credits
Marco Gonzalez