We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Paty Sesma a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Paty, thanks for taking the time to share your stories with us today Parents can play a significant role in affecting how our lives and careers turn out – and so we think it’s important to look back and have conversations about what our parents did that affected us positive (or negatively) so that we can learn from the billions of experiences in each generation. What’s something you feel your parents did right that impacted you positively.
This is a question I should answer while swaying on my porch swing with a warm cup of coffee in my hand. Where do I even begin? My parents are the most wonderful people I’ve ever met. They were fully invested, and a high-quality education was always a top priority for them when we were younger.
I was born and raised in Monterrey, Mexico, a city I liken to the Titanic; your social status is as important as your last name and where you live. I was incredibly lucky to be a second-class passenger who spent my mornings with first-class passengers and my afternoons with third-class passengers. Simply put, my family was middle-class, but I attended private school from kindergarten to college, while also hanging out with friends (who I consider family) who attended public school and had limited financial resources, as well as little interest in pursuing higher education. Yes, education was a major topic in my family, and now that I look back, I see why.
My parents met while working at a television station in Monterrey, Mexico. My parents agreed when they married in the 1970s that my father would be the provider for the family and my mother would be in charge of raising me and my siblings. I am, by the way, the middle child. And because school and its associated costs were so high, my father ended up working three jobs. And I need to highlight that one of them was an executive position, the other as a professor, and the last one as a business owner.
They made countless significant sacrifices to ensure we earned good grades. I recall my mother staying up late with me to help me study Mexican history for my exams. She’d read the chapters we were supposed to be studying and turned them into a series of 100 questions. It took a lot of effort to do that in a couple of hours just to make it easier for me to memorize them. Many other nights, when my father got home, and I wasn’t finished with my algebra equations, he stayed up until 3 a.m. helping me understand math concepts that, honestly, are still difficult for me to grasp.
To return to the original question, what did my parents do right? The short answer is everything! They meticulously planned our lives to the point where I am now a Mexican immigrant and a naturalized American who wakes up every morning feeling deeply grateful for my bilingualism and the opportunities it provides. They gave me the possibility to learn from the best of both worlds, high-class and middle-to-low-class, and this has kept me grounded in every environment I have developed. Today, I am a proud third-class Titanic passenger in the U.S., with the mastery of a second-class passenger and the culture of a first-class passenger. Having this bundle as a whole has given me so many abiding experiences that I would never trade for anything.
For reference, third-class passengers on the Titanic were primarily immigrants moving to the United States; second-class passengers included professors, authors, and tourists; and first-class passengers included, among other groups, businessmen.
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 Paty Sesma. I am originally from Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico. I tend to describe myself as a Mexican Latina who is naturally American. I have a Bachelor’s degree in Information and Communication Sciences (LCIC) from the Universidad de Monterrey (UDEM).
In 2010, I joined Univision as a Regional Digital Editor for three Texas regions. This opportunity changed my life and career because I was able to learn about and thrive in the corporate world. During my tenure, I met some fantastic people, and this company also provided me with wonderful opportunities to interact with the community. This is when I discovered my passion for non-profit work.
After three years, I decided to join the Google Business View program and become a Google Trusted Photographer. I had no idea how meaningful this decision would be for me, as it was at this time that I co-founded Panorama by Paty Sesma, a side-hustle or small business that would later evolve into Places by Paty Sesma.
Places by Paty Sesma is dedicated to assisting small and medium-sized businesses in establishing a distinct online presence. We make certain that our organic posts and ad campaigns go far beyond than simply posting nice photos of specialty dishes, cool signature cocktails, products, or services. With every post we publish, we find a way to engage with customers and stand out. But, most importantly, we want our posts to be remembered.
Tints by Paty Sesma is a division of our company that specializes in the printing of promotional materials for sale in physical stores…or places. Our marketing efforts, which include t-shirts, stickers, caps, and other items, extend beyond the physical walls of the companies we work with and the mobile screens of the customers we reach. We create one-of-a-kind designs to engage the community. We are committed to community empowerment, pride, and support, as well as having fun and making our clients smile when they see our creations.
The greatest part of Places by Paty Sesma is People by Paty Sesma, a branch that showcases the most inspiring interviews with the people behind the businesses. This is related to my passion for non-profit work and working with and for the community. We’ve learned over the years that everyone has a story to tell, and these stories can inspire anyone to take risks.
Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?
I have always believed that any human being or technology must renew itself on a continuous basis or it will perish. This is my mantra. You want to know about a time in my business, career, or life when I had to pivot? The short answer is every day and every time.
I majored in Communications and Information Sciences because I wanted to be a TV host. Never in a million years would I have imagined social networks (otherwise I would have invented them, of course). Facebook came into my life after I fell in love with My Space, and it became a growing concept in my career when I worked at the Explore God global network and discovered that an entertaining tool was now being used to grow a business. Social media has quickly shifted to adjust to generational preferences and needs, and I am personally committed to continuing to evolve alongside them. This is something I learned from my father as well.
Another significant turning point in my career occurred during the pandemic, when we all had to help one another during this difficult time. Many of our clients contacted us in despair, pleading for help in quickly creating a Facebook profile so they could safely interact with their customers through social platforms. This is when “Panorama by Paty Sesma” became “Places by Paty Sesma,” and managing social media accounts took precedence over putting businesses on Google Maps through virtual tours. It was a very rewarding experience.
When it comes to continuous transformation, age is another factor. The more you know, the more you want to learn. It’s true! Curiosity is sparked even more when you realize how far you can go. I’ve recently been exploring the possibility of giving motivational talks to younger generations, and I’ve discovered that writing a book will help me achieve this goal. Despite my journalism background, I am nervous about embarking on this venture. But, to be honest, it’s also quite exciting.
Do you have any insights you can share related to maintaining high team morale?
Managing a team at work is simple; keeping a happy team at work can be challenging. To me, the secret formula is being a good listener and encouraging professional development, as well as a fresh recognition habit that never gets old. I am convinced that a motivated and well-paid employee will always have the best interests of the company in mind.
I used to have a manager who was constantly watching YouTube videos and writing music during work hours. Although the company was very laid back—which, to me as a Gen X, a laid back environment should not replace work ethic, honesty, and loyalty—he was unavailable for me to ask questions or do team work. There were so many missed opportunities for me to thrive, and every day was a hardship because I had to deal with a lack of support on the job and my work and accomplishments were not being recognized. When I got brave and asked about a promotion, he said, “Promoting you will entail promotion for me, and I don’t want to be promoted.” That was disheartening! However, on the bright side, I learned what a “not-so-good” manager looked like and made it a point to be the polar opposite.
So, the short answer to your question is, “treat others as you would like to be treated.” This is extremely rewarding for the employees, for the company, and for your own sense of achievement.
“Paty, try to discover something new every day, learn a new word every day, and make a new friend every day,” my lovely mother used to advise. I keep that advice close to my heart and, in some ways, pass it down to my subordinates. Every mistake in a task, in my opinion, is a learning opportunity. I have no objections to reviewing their work and meeting with them to provide feedback. This is encouraging for them because it shows that their efforts are being noticed and that there are always opportunities for growth—even in our mistakes.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.placesbypatysesma.com/
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/placesbypatysesma
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/placesbypatysesma
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/placesbypatysesma/
Image Credits
Photos by Paty Sesma