Today we’d like to introduce you to Lydia Martinez.
Hi Lydia, it’s an honor to have you on the platform. Thanks for taking the time to share your story with us – to start maybe you can share some of your backstory with our readers?
I always had a knack for storytelling—not the kind you find in textbooks, but the kind that builds communities, sparks ideas, and makes people feel like they belong. Early in my career, she honed that talent in the world of food, hospitality, and brand building, helping companies craft experiences that truly resonated.
But the more I succeeded, the more I realized I was chasing someone else’s definition of success. One day, while sitting in a corporate office, I was offered a major promotion—a bigger title, a bigger paycheck, and a clear path up the ladder. Most people would have said yes without blinking. but I said no.
In that moment, she made a decision: she would stop building dreams for other people and start building her own.
I walked away from my safe, stable job and launched Elle Marketing and Events, a company named after my sibling’s childhood nickname for her—”Elle”—a reminder to stay true to myself. From day one, Elle Marketing was built with intention: a woman-owned, story-driven agency focused on helping brands connect with real people through authenticity, creativity, and heart.
It wasn’t always easy. There were late nights, tough clients, and plenty of moments where the safety net felt very far away. But with each project, I tried to build not just a company, but a community—one where good stories, good people, and good strategy come together to create something unforgettable.
Today, Elle Marketing and Events is known for turning brands into movements and campaigns into experiences. And at the heart of it all is our team—still leading with heart, still telling stories that matter, and still proving that sometimes, the biggest leap leads to the best chapters.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Honestly, there were a lot of struggles early on—and they didn’t always look like what I expected.
First, there was the loneliness. When you start your own business, especially in the early days, it can feel incredibly isolating. You’re making all the decisions, carrying all the weight, and there’s no handbook for how to do it right. I went from working with big teams and constant collaboration to sitting alone at my kitchen table, wondering if I’d made a huge mistake.
Then there was the imposter syndrome—the voice in the back of my head asking, “Who do you think you are to run a business?” Even though I had all this experience, it felt very different when it was my name on the door and my reputation on the line. Every new client win felt like a huge validation, but every challenge hit twice as hard because it felt personal.
And of course, like so many business owners, COVID-19 was a major test. Almost overnight, I lost 90% of my clients. It was terrifying. I remember thinking, “How am I going to survive this?” But I also knew I had a choice: give up, or figure out how to pivot. So I doubled down. I helped my clients pivot too. And through a lot of hard work, coffee, and a little bit of stubbornness, we not only survived—we grew. Within a year, Elle Marketing and Events had grown over 400%. Which honestly, presented some serious growing pains.
Looking back, the struggles shaped me just as much as the successes did. They made me more resilient, more creative, and honestly, more connected to my clients—because I know firsthand what it’s like to fight for something you believe in.
As you know, we’re big fans of Elle Marketing and Events. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
We’re a full-service marketing agency that’s really built around storytelling — but not just storytelling for the sake of it. It’s about using story to connect brands to real people in meaningful ways.
We specialize in brand strategy, marketing campaigns, social media management, PR, content creation, SEO, and event marketing — really the whole ecosystem that businesses need to grow and thrive. What sets us apart is that we don’t believe in one-size-fits-all marketing. Everything we do is customized. We spend a lot of time getting to know our clients—their values, their voice, their audience—so that every campaign actually feels like them, not like it was pulled from a template.
A lot of agencies separate creativity and strategy into different departments. At Elle Marketing, they live side-by-side. Everything creative we do is strategic, and everything strategic we do is deeply creative. I think that’s a big part of why we’ve been able to help brands really stand out instead of just checking boxes.
Brand-wise, what I’m most proud of is the reputation we’ve built for being genuinely invested in our clients’ success. We don’t just deliver marketing services; we build relationships. We celebrate our clients’ wins like they’re our own. And when things get tough — because, let’s be real, business is tough sometimes — we show up and stay in it with them.
If there’s one thing I want people to know about Elle Marketing and Events, it’s that we’re here to help you tell your story in a way that’s real, strategic, and makes people want to be part of it. Whether that’s through a big campaign, an event, a brand launch, or an ongoing marketing partnership — we’re in it for the long haul, and we care deeply about the brands we work with.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I’m a huge believer in mentorship and investing in your own growth—whether that’s through time, money, or relationships.
One thing that’s worked really well for me is having what I call an official or unofficial board of directors—basically a handful of mentors, peers, and coaches I can go to for advice, gut checks, or perspective. Some of them are formal relationships, like a paid coach or mastermind group. Others are more casual — people I really trust who’ve been there, built businesses, and are willing to share their wisdom with me.
I also think it’s important not to be afraid to pay for mentorship or coaching. Some of the biggest growth jumps I’ve had in my business came after I invested in working with people who had already done it bigger, better, or smarter than me. It’s not always an instant return—you don’t usually see results overnight—but every time I’ve put time or money into the right kind of support, I’ve grown. Not just a little, but faster and further than I would have on my own.
And for networking in general, I try to show up genuinely curious. I’m not going into a conversation thinking, ‘What can I get?’ I’m thinking, ‘What can I learn?’ or ‘Who can I connect with that might need each other?’ Building relationships that way has opened more doors than any traditional networking ever could.”
Pricing:
- Results Action Plan – Full service analytics and strategy that dissects your business and helps you get where you want to be. Starting at $3500
- Retainers for Full Service Support – Starting at $1500 / month
- Basic Marketing Consulting: Starting at $500
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.ellemarketingandevents.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ellemarketingandevents/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ElleMarketingAndEvents
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/elle-marketing-and-events
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCmjxN3l33hC6a_J00HzFL6g
- Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@elle_marketing
