We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Ruby Herrera a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Ruby, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Earning a full time living from one’s creative career can be incredibly difficult. Have you been able to do so and if so, can you share some of the key parts of your journey and any important advice or lessons that might help creatives who haven’t been able to yet?

It was 2010 when I realized that I had a passion for entrepreneurship. I’ve always known that I wanted to run my own business, but I never knew when that would happen. So, I did what I knew best – I went to work and built my business at night. For years, I worked hard and tirelessly, juggling my 9-5 job during the day and pouring my heart and soul into my business at night. It wasn’t always easy, but I knew that if I kept working towards my dream of becoming a full-time entrepreneur, eventually, I would be one. I remember staying up late at night, working on my business plans and perfecting my strategies. It was tough, but it was worth it. Over the years, I held many positions that had nothing to do with design. But I never lost sight of my dream. Every day, I worked harder than the day before, building character and growing my skillset. I was determined to succeed, no matter what. As I continued on this journey, I realized that my true calling was in graphic design. I knew that in order to obtain a corporate position in this field, I needed to work even harder and never give up. And so, I poured myself into my passion for design and worked relentlessly towards my goal. Now, in 2023, I am proud to say that I have achieved my dream. I am a successful entrepreneur, running my own design company. I may have taken a longer path to get here, but every step of the way was worth it. My journey has taught me to never give up on my dreams and to always work hard, no matter what challenges come my way.

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 interest in art began at age eight, but it wasn’t until I learned about computers that I combined my two passions and found a career as a graphic designer. One of the major attractions to becoming a graphic designer was having the flexibility to spend time with my family whenever I wanted. I knew that the only way I could do what I love and still have time for myself was to become a graphic designer. Seeing a need for marketing and business branding in my community, I started working with non-profit organizations on event design as well as entrepreneurs on illustration projects—all of which would eventually lead me back home. I’m proud that I never gave up on my dream, even when my family and friends didn’t understand it. I knew what I wanted to do, so that was enough for me to keep going. I strive to bring people together through the work I create, not just by designing but also in engaging with a community.

How did you put together the initial capital you needed to start your business?

Starting a business from scratch is not for the faint of heart and then you add the factor of funding your business it becomes that much harder. My goal was to one day become a full-time business owner and today I am proud to have reached my goal but it didn’t start that way. After graduating with my bachelors in graphic design, I applied to positions in the corporate industry and landed a job as the graphic designer of a mortgage company. For the next 6 years, my life would be divided between my 9-5 and the business I was growing. My corporate job would then help me fund my dreams for the time-being, until I was ready to become a full-time entrepreneur.

How did you build your audience on social media?

At first it was a very rocky journey when starting my business social media presence, it wasn’t until I hired a Virtual Assistant that helped give more direction on what I should be doing to grow my audience. After numerous meetings and strategy planning, we developed a plan that would help my social media grow. I’d advise anyone who’s trying to grow that consistency and knowing your audience is key, there are no short-cuts! Thanks to networking with other business owners and staying consistent while following the strategy that applies to my business, I was able to build my business presence.

Contact Info:

• Website: www.rubycreativeco.com
• Instagram: www.instagram.com/rubycreative_co
• Facebook: www.facebook.com/rubycreativeco
• Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/company/rubycreativeco