I am of Mexican origin, I have been living in the Austin Tx area for some years, I am the wife of Mr Jorge Soto and mother of 2 children Jorgito and Samantha Soto. We have 2 dogs that are part of our family Covid and Sky. Personally, I like walking in nature, reading and meeting new people. I am part of the work team of S & G Builds, a company dedicated to remodeling and construction, my role at this moment is to take charge of the numbers (Bookkeeping) and thanks to the support of EGBI I am learning more about this activity.
What is your favorite part of what you do in your business?
My favorite part is that I’m learning something different.
What has been the most difficult moment for you in your profession?
A difficult part was at the beginning where there were not many clients and the income was not very stable.
How has EGBI helped you?
EGBI has helped me train and continue learning about how a business is structured in the United States.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself
Something fun about me is that people can like me.
If you had the opportunity, would you change anything about what you have achieved?
I wouldn’t change anything that I have experienced, because I believe that this is the process that I had to go through in order to get to where I am today.
If you could do it all over again, would you still join EGBI? Why yes or why not?
I would definitely join EGBI because they are a very complete organization that has everything necessary to support and train people who have decided to start a business.
EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. If you would like to know more about EGBI’s business coaching, visit https://egbi.org/coach/ Spanish-(https://egbi.org/es/coach-2/).
I was born in an ejido in Coahuila Mexico, and when I came to the United States at a very young age, I went to public schools here in Austin. I have 4 adult children and 5 grandchildren which I am raising 3 of them aged 4, 3 and 7 months. So I started creating again. From a very young age, I saw the need for our people to understand another language or have someone translate for them. I say this because my own experience since I was a child was doing it for the people I knew. I translated conferences, documents, legal documents, and also made them, whether it was filling out immigration documents, appeals, income applications, and even lawsuits that people had and did not understand. After high school I took a paralegal course, and was working in different branches of law, family law, workers compensation, immigration and international oil companies in administration. The moment my older children entered college I decided to return to college and obtained my bachelor’s degree in business. I did this for almost 25 years. I am now a graduate of Concordia University. Throughout this journey my favorite job was being a Mary Kay consultant.Now that I am at home and raising my grandchildren (children) as they know me, I decided to open the doors to what I have always done, people administration and from there (ALVAREZ ALCANTAR CONSULTING FIRM), LLC has been born.
Tell me what inspired you to start your business?
What inspired me to initiate my business was the injustice many of the minorities face due to the lack of understanding policies, and procedures, or when the community is taken advantage of because of services they need, i.e. in translation, notary, or simply reading a document in their native language.
Why did you decide to join EGBI?
I decided to join EGBI because I believe in their cause of helping the community and having many networking outlets to get your business off the ground and be successful.
Did you encounter any obstacles along the way? If so, how did you overcome them?
Yes, I was my own obstacle, I do not know how to ask for help, despite the fact that I know I need it, I only know how to lend a hand. I overcame that by remembering what one of the directors of EGBI (also a friend), stated to me, “it’s great for you to help out others, however you’re going to drive a bus through your heart if you don’t do it for yourself” Larrisa Davila.
How does your business differ from others?
My business differs from others because I try to understand the clients needs and make certain I can deliver the service they are needing without adding more stress to their situation. I’m blunt and transparent, if I can help I will if I cannot I let them know.
Tell us a fun fact about yourself
A fun fact about myself is that I like to collect souvenir spoons from everyplace I visit, and also prefer actual photos other than digital. (those 2 fun facts)
Are you happy with what you have achieved?
Absolutely, I am very happy with what I have achieved.
How has EGBI helped you?
EGBI has helped me in my confidence and has opened many doors and windows to more opportunities in gaining more clients.
EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. If you would like to know more about EGBI’s business coaching, visit https://egbi.org/coach/ Spanish-(https://egbi.org/es/coach-2/).
Eileen Wu is a rising junior in High School. At school she enjoys being a part of the Band as a clarinet player and section leader! In her free time, she likes riding her bike and drawing. She doesn’t really know what she wants to do in the future, but something to make an impact on people’s lives and be able to travel with her family and friends all over the world.
What is a fun fact about you?
My favorite foods are watermelon and tomato and egg noodles. I have a four year old cactus named Eve.
How did you first get involved with EGBI?
I didn’t know about the internship programs that assign students to EGBI, so I was looking for business related non profits and then just applied through EGBI’a website.
Why do you intern for EGBI?
Because I am uncertain about what I want to do in the future, I decided experiencing the everyday activities of running a business at EGBI would help me figure out if this was really something I wanted to do. EGBI’s services and mission align with my own interests in business and supporting local businesses. I enjoy knowing that the work I do here could help aspiring business owners reach their dreams.
How has your experience with EGBI helped you grow professionally and personally?
I haven’t really been at EGBI for that long, so I haven’t gathered many experiences, but I have been able to observe all the aspects of running a small business, and the resources available to help. Personally, I’ve met a lot of really cool people and learned about their journeys, which has really broadened up my perspective about my future. I hope I continue to contribute here and do what I can to help clients, as well as learn more everyday!
Lucero Valle is the passionate force behind Lucero Creative Business, a certified women- and minority-owned photography studio in Austin, Texas. Growing up in her family’s photography studio, she developed a lifelong love for capturing moments and telling stories through her lens. Lucero specializes in Commercial and Advertising Photography, Corporate Headshots, Product and Lifestyle Branding, and Personal Branding Photography, serving a diverse clientele that includes business owners, community leaders, influencers, corporations, and government agencies.
What was one of your most recent accomplishments that your business has achieved?
One of Lucero Creative Business’s recent milestones has been expanding our service offerings to include personalized image and style consulting services. This new addition allows us to assist clients in translating their unique style, personality, and professional strengths into their business and personal image. By helping them align their visual identity with their brand values, we empower them to make a lasting impression in their respective fields.
How has EGBI helped your business grow?
EGBI has been an invaluable partner in my entrepreneurial journey with Lucero Creative Business over the past 12 years. Their dedicated business coaching and unwavering support have been instrumental in guiding me through crucial decisions, refining our business strategy, and fostering a strong network of peers and mentors. With EGBI’s help, we’ve not only grown our client base but also strengthened our operational efficiency, ensuring we deliver exceptional service with every project.
What were some obstacles that you had to face?
Running Lucero Creative Business as a single mom and entrepreneur has been a journey filled with challenges and moments of growth. Balancing the immediate demands of daily operations with the long-term vision for growth requires careful planning and perseverance.
One of the significant hurdles has been navigating financial constraints and learning the intricacies of accounting. Accessing funding and understanding financial management were daunting tasks initially. However, with determination and support from resources like EGBI, I’ve gained confidence in managing finances effectively to sustain and expand our services.
Marketing has also presented its share of challenges. Adapting to the ever-changing market needs and embracing new marketing strategies has been essential. It’s about staying agile, experimenting with innovative approaches, and staying connected with our clients’ evolving preferences.
What keeps me motivated is the opportunity to learn and grow through every obstacle. Being accountable to both the immediate tasks and the broader business goals has been crucial. As a single mom and entrepreneur, I’ve learned the importance of resilience and persistence, qualities that drive my passion for photography and helping clients express their unique stories through visual storytelling.
What kept you inspired to keep working on your business?
What inspires me to continually push forward with Lucero Creative Business is the profound impact our work has on our clients and the community. Every photograph we capture and every consulting session we conduct is an opportunity to empower individuals to authentically showcase their identity and expertise. Witnessing our clients’ transformation and success stories fuels my passion for photography and strategic consulting, motivating me to elevate our services and expand our community outreach efforts.
What’s a fun fact about you?
I’m a total creative enthusiast. I love diving into crafts and have even dabbled in jewelry making—a perfect blend of artistry and intricate design. Beyond that, I’m a bit of a tech geek too, rocking out as a website and graphic designer when I’m not behind the camera. Creativity fuels my soul, whether it’s through capturing moments with my lens or crafting visually stunning websites and designs that tell stories in their own right.
I’m Avaneesh, a junior high school student with a passion for music and anime. In my free time, I love immersing myself in the latest tunes and exploring captivating anime series. With a curious mind and a love for entertainment, I’m always on the lookout for new and exciting experiences.
1. How has being an intern at Egbi helped you?
EGBI has helped me through my journey by teaching me how to interact with people older and younger than me in the workplace and how to properly dress, communicate, and work in the office to maximize my results.
2. What are three ways to succeed?
Three ways I think makes anyone successful are 1. Communicate with your superiors to gain the best understanding of the situation 2. Be consistent with how you do your assignments 3. Keep a positive mindset during your work days.
3. What are some things you like doing outside of work?
I enjoy working out and blasting music in my room at night.
4. After working with EGBI what are some things you would like to work on?
I would like to work on more Customer Relationship Management (CRM) software and understand what all the different modules mean.
5. What is the future career path you would like to take after working with EGBI?
I would like to pursue pre-med but let’s see how far that goes.
6. After being an intern with EGBI would you actually commit to this job?
If not for pre-med, I would like to commit to this job since I enjoy helping those around me, and doing it for free is even better.
Jorge Soto was born in Guanajuato, Mexico, in a community near San MIguel de Allende on July 2, 1986. One of his passions is his family, his beautiful wife Yesenia and his kids, Jorge Alexander and Samantha Victoria Soto. He also really likes to read books about personal growth, playing soccer, and running. A significant moment to him was when he came to this country in the year 2004.
What is your favorite part in what you do?
“See the client happy with the final result!!”
What has been the hardest moment?
“The hardest moment was when we had no clients and we were about to give up!!”
How has EGBI helped you?
“They are a blessing, when I found them I realized they help you overcome obstacles and meet new business owners they also help you to not give up!!”
Tell us a fun fact about yourself
“Honestly I’m not sure, but something that I have fun in, is playing with the kids, going out to run, and playing soccer!!”
If you had the chance, would you change anything about what you have achieved?
“I wouldn’t change anything, I think the process that we have passed, was necessary to be where we are at now!!”
If you could do everything again, would you join EGBI?
“Of course, it’s a great organization and it counts with many tools so that we can do things the right way and have a real business!!”
What do you like about EGBI?
I like the way they greet you when you get there, they don’t discriminate, and they focus on helping you and connecting with the right people!!”
EGBI provides training, coaching, and support to aspiring and existing business owners who face barriers to growing a successful business. If you would like to know more about EGBI’s business coaching, visit https://egbi.org/coach/ Spanish-(https://egbi.org/es/coach-2/).
