In the ever-evolving world of marketing and branding, few names stand out as boldly as Yolanda Villegas. With over 30 years of corporate experience in marketing, communications, and advertising, she has successfully carved out a space of her own as the founder of Villegas Marketing. But her journey to entrepreneurship wasn’t without challenges.

“Everybody needs a brand and everyone has a brand, but it’s how you make it impactful,” Yolanda emphasizes. And if there’s one thing she knows, it’s impact. Over the years, she’s been at the forefront of branding and advertising, helping organizations refine their identities and establish their presence in competitive markets.

“I helped to rebrand organizations and polish them up,” she recalls. Her expertise even led her to become an international brand and advertising manager, overseeing global campaigns. But in 2020, just a week before Christmas, she was laid off.

“It really devastated me because I had never been laid off and I was having the best year of my career,” she shares.

Like many professionals faced with sudden job loss, Yolanda found herself grappling with uncertainty. But instead of staying in that dark place, she made a choice: she would rebuild.

“I picked myself up after a very long, sad period of time. I joined every single club I could. I had the mentality of, ‘I just need to get out there and start networking like crazy,’” she says.

It wasn’t easy. For years, Yolanda had prioritized her child over networking and career-building outside of her corporate role. “It was scary because I hadn’t been networking or any of that because I had a kid and he was my priority. But I got back out there and that’s how I started building my brand and my business.”

While navigating the job market, she found herself consulting on the side. “People would say, ‘You’re really good at it, let me pay you.’ So I decided to set up a business.” That decision led to the birth of Villegas Marketing, a company dedicated to helping small to medium-sized businesses establish strong brands through strategy, social media, and advertising.

Despite her impressive resume, Yolanda faced a harsh reality many seasoned professionals encounter. “Trying to find a full-time job is a full-time job,” she notes. “I’m also in my 50s, so I find that companies look at your experience and they’re like, ‘Wow.’ My titles were Vice President and all of these great, commendable things that I earned, but it also was a hindrance because it’s like, ‘Oh, she’s probably too expensive’ or ‘She’s probably too old.’ There’s a lot of unseen bias.”

Upon experiencing a toxic and unhealthy work environment, Yolanda made a pivotal decision. “I was like, you know what, I’m gonna do my own thing, find my own clients, and make my own schedule.”

Two years into running Villegas Marketing, she has built a business rooted in resilience, expertise, and empowerment. But even as a seasoned marketer, she acknowledges the struggles of entrepreneurship.

“We all go through imposter syndrome, especially when you’re just starting out. The clients may not start coming in at first like you were hoping. That begins to weigh on your brain,” she admits. “You have to quickly refocus and say, ‘No, you’ve got this. You’ve got all of this experience. You’ve got all of these big brands you’ve worked on. You know your stuff.’”

One way she stays grounded? Surrounding herself with like-minded women entrepreneurs. “We talk about it every time I go to a networking event. That challenge is with all women entrepreneurs, and my solution to that is to just pick yourself up, remind yourself who you are and what you’re worth, and surround yourself with people who do the same.”

Beyond her marketing business, Yolanda also works as a part-time recruiter at LandAJob, helping individuals secure meaningful employment. Through this role, she has gained deeper insight into the hiring process, interview strategies, and the power of a well-structured LinkedIn profile.

Her passion for mentorship extends beyond recruiting. Recently, she gave a presentation at UMKC, where a Latina student approached her afterward. “I didn’t think anyone was paying attention because some were on their phones and whatever, but I just kept going. At the end, this Latina girl came up to me and said, ‘I just wanna say you’re inspiring, and I would love if you would take 10 minutes with me over coffee and learn more about you and how you got where you are.’”

That moment reinforced her belief that representation is critical. “If you can touch one person with your story, then it’s all worth it.”

Yolanda takes pride in paving the way for others, especially women of color in marketing. “A big part of my personal brand is giving back. I like to ensure that if there’s a way to do mentoring for Black and Brown girls who want to be involved, I do it.”

The advertising and marketing industry still has significant diversity gaps, and Yolanda is committed to helping change that. “We need to continue the fight because, unfortunately, marketing and advertising are not very diverse. We are privileged to be in the seat that we’re in, so let’s pass the torch.”

For anyone contemplating a leap into entrepreneurship, Yolanda offers a message of hope. “I’m hopeful someone on the fence about starting their own business sees that it’s doable and tangible. Especially for me as a Latina—many of our traditional family members don’t understand entrepreneurship because they’ve never had that in front of them.”

Breaking barriers isn’t easy, but Yolanda Villegas has proven that with resilience, a strong personal brand, and an unwavering commitment to community, success is within reach.

Check out her website here: http://www.villegasmarketing.com/