We were lucky to catch up with Maria Del Hoyo recently and have shared our conversation below.
Maria, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. One of the things we most admire about small businesses is their ability to diverge from the corporate/industry standard. Is there something that you or your brand do that differs from the industry standard? We’d love to hear about it as well as any stories you might have that illustrate how or why this difference matters.
Not just my brand STEM FASHION, but the overall way in which I move through my life and business’s is by creating and mostly collaborating with other brands, small businesses, and movements. Everything I do is community based or with the purpose of service to others. The saying “teamwork makes the dream work” would be the biggest understatement ever spoken, the power of word of mouth and relationships can build wealth and knowledge for generations to come.
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.
Oh wow, where to start. You all did a really great article regarding my journey in Voyage Baltimore, I would definitely recommend tuning into that article for a more in-depth understanding of my journey. I am in the Modeling, Fashion, and entertainment industries. I currently own STEM FASHION a brand focused on community inclusion and culture (all women owned and black owned and operated). I am the Executive Vice President for Record Label Rare Gold Music Group. I am a Co-Owner , Director and videographer for Made By Bae Productions and last but not least I am a Published runway, print and commercial Model and actress. With all of these titles I can attest to a strong routine of discipline and focus, everything is designated a time. This allows me to provide equal focus to all businesses and make sure that I am giving each business a consistent productivity rate each day. Each of my task lists, checklist and order of operations are very similar. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel, just apply the wheels to the entire car. Having a consistent goal, structure, and performance standard is key for any successful business.
Are there any books, videos, essays or other resources that have significantly impacted your management and entrepreneurial thinking and philosophy?
I honestly have a lot of inspirational mentors and people who have helped me either spiritually or motivated me to “perfect” your craft, ONLY1 THEORY my beautiful, multifaceted, creative and intelligent wife has been such an inspiration. She started Rare Gold Music Group (the label discussed above) and her sheer consistency, passion, work ethic, determination and dedication were so motivating for me, “it takes 10,000 hours to perfect you craft, do not give those 10,000 hours to another company when you can be building your own”. Marlin “Krucial” Goodwin has also been a huge inspiration for me, from cinema advice to just watching the sheer consistency and level of professionalism and perfection he instills into his company “Krucifix Productions” based out of Charlotte, North Carolina. Lastly but most certainly not least. My grandmother Debbie Washington with her unwavering love, support and understanding for my vision and providing me the strength to continue no matter the circumstances. I also have to say my grandfather or Papa Carl as I call him lol. From a young age I always watched, learned, and expanded upon the knowledge that was given to me from him. His being a business owner and consistently perfecting his craft either by attending school and earning so many different degrees, or just sheer real world experience inspired me at a young age to know that I was capable of accomplishing anything with the right work and dedication. Life is truly about being a student when needed and a teacher when someone needs it, but to have the balance and openness to still LEARN and grow, adapt to changes. That’s how your business will sustain, unwavering faith in something that you may can’t physically see but inherently feel a strong since of purpose and passion for.
Final thoughts on this. No matter what anyone tells you, what mentors you have, how much you think you know, life experience is always the best teacher, the information given just allows you to apply it quicker to any given situation and to learn from different perspectives.
We’d love to hear the story of how you built up your social media audience?
WORD OF MOUTH, this is by far one of the most underrated and underrepresented ways of promoting, think about the last time someone told you how good or bad something was, did that impact you opinion? Did you still look at this brand, person, or item the same way? Always move in a divine way with people. this world is smaller than you know and how you treat people, carry yourself, and brand yourself will have a major impact your business. Also be intentional, purposeful and creative. There is no such thing as a stupid idea with business, just refined and unrefined. Refine your brand, focus, and consistency to such a level people SEEK what you have to offer.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.officialstem.com
- Instagram: @Marleymadd
- Linkedin: Maria Del Hoyo (RGMG)
Image Credits
Photographer Rainbow Pride Picture: Todd Youngblood (Charlotte, NC) Photographer: Ciara Kelley (Greensboro, NC) Runway: The model experience New York Fashion Week 2023