Meet EGBI Client: Lucero Valle Archuleta

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.

Find the Spanish version here

Meet EGBI Intern: Avaneesh

By: Alana Lewis

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.

Find the Spanish version here.

If you would like to learn more about volunteer opportunities at EGBI please email hello@egbi.org.

How To Use Hashtags on Social Media

By Shamitha Ramanan

Hashtags have become an integral part of social media and are a powerful tool for categorizing content, increasing visibility, and engaging with a broader audience. This article will help you navigate hashtags on different social media to maximize your social media presence.

How to Use Hashtags Effectively

1. Do Your Research:

  •  Trending Hashtags: Check platforms like Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn for trending hashtags related to your content.
  • Industry-Specific Hashtags: Use hashtags that are popular within your industry to reach a targeted audience.

2. Use a Mix of Popular and Niche Hashtags:

   – Popular hashtags (#Travel, #Food) have a broad reach but high competition.

   – Niche hashtags (#MinimalistLifestyle, #VeganRecipes) target a specific audience with less competition, increasing the likelihood of engagement.

3. Create Branded Hashtags:

   – Unique to your brand or campaign, these hashtags can help build a community and encourage user-generated content.

4. Limit the Number of Hashtags:

   – Instagram allows up to 30 hashtags per post, but engagement drops after 5-10 hashtags.

   – Twitter’s character limit suggests 1-2 hashtags per tweet for optimal engagement.

   – LinkedIn and Facebook are effective with 3-5 hashtags per post.

5. Place Hashtags Strategically:

   – On Instagram, hashtags can go in the caption or the first comment.

   – On Twitter, integrate hashtags naturally within your tweet.

   – On LinkedIn, place hashtags at the end of your post for better readability.

Find the Spanish version here.

Meet EGBI Volunteer: Gala Vergara

By Avaneesh Katappagari

Born on November 21st of 2000 in Mexico City, Mexico, I come from a short family full of engineers and people good at Maths. I on the other hand was never good at such skills so I discovered my passion for languages and linguistics in high school. I have a younger sister called Dania, and I enjoy spending time with my family. I completed a major in Translation at Instituto Superior de Intérpretes y Traductores. I have one dog named Moka, and I love her even though she is a little devil. 

Share a fun fact about yourself

I’m passionate about dances from India and the Middle East, and I have studied them since I was 12 years old. I did a dance certification in Mexico on Middle East dances last year. 

Why did you first get involved with EGBI?

I was looking for a translating job online, and I saw EGBIS’s post on a volunteering website. I thought it would be a good opportunity to gain experience while helping the community, and I just went for it. 

How has your experience with EGBI helped you grow professionally and personally?

Even though I started volunteering a few months ago, translating for EGBI is helping me a lot in terms of practice. Working with a very specific locale (the linguistic and cultural variation of a language that exists in a country, as it is called in Translation), in this case, U.S. Spanish. This opportunity has allowed me to take risks, think critically in translation decisions, and investigate topics I am not familiar with. This helped me to grow as a professional translator. On a personal level, I enjoy helping others and meeting people from all around the world! I would love to go to Texas one of these days and meet all the local office people there! 

What part of EGBI’s mission resonates most with you?

I really love what EGBI does. I consider training and coaching is a great way to help a growing community that clearly supports the economy and local entrepreneurs. 

What was the most rewarding moment you had while volunteering for EGBI?

So far, I love being part of the team and I really appreciate the time you and the organization are taking to officially include me in the group of volunteers. At the same time, I love to see my work posted on the website. Knowing that my translation will help someone to be informed is completely gratifying. 

Why do you think others should volunteer or support EGBI?

Because that is absolutely cool! The people at EGBI are amazingly kind and understanding. I am allowed to do my work without any pressure, and if you are looking for the opportunity to gain experience in a very recognized organization, this is the chance to go for it. I am sure that would look amazing on your CV. However, the most important thing is for the sake of helping others! 

Do you also want to help communities around you? Then volunteer for EGBI and contact us at Hello@egbi.org.

Find the Spanish version here

Meet EGBI Volunteer:  Josué Palacios

Josué is a dedicated freelance translator with a passion for making information accessible to a wider audience. Specializing in translations from English and Italian to Spanish, he focuses on areas such as media and journalism, mindfulness and wellness, and IT. Outside of his professional work, Josué volunteers his translation skills to help organizations like EGBI, ensuring that valuable resources are available in Spanish. When he’s not translating, Josué enjoys spending time reading manga, watching movies, and exploring new ways to expand his linguistic skills.

Share a fun fact with us

I don’t know if this qualifies as a fun fact, but when I watch movies, I often turn on the Spanish subtitles to compare how the original dialogue was translated. It’s a habit that stems from my curiosity about language nuances. Sometimes, though, it can be distracting, so I end up turning them off since I’m fluent in English. However, my curiosity usually gets the best of me, leading to a cycle of turning subtitles on and off to analyze the translation. In short, I might not be the best movie-watching companion (haha).

Why did you first get involved with EGBI?

I first got involved with EGBI because I was looking for volunteer opportunities where I could use my translation skills. I love making information accessible to a wider audience, and translating for EGBI allows me to contribute to their mission by ensuring that resources are available in Spanish.

How has your collaboration with EGBI helped you grow professionally and personally?

Professionally, it has allowed me to refine my translation skills, especially in business-related documents. Personally, volunteering for EGBI has been fulfilling, knowing that my work directly helps entrepreneurs and small businesses in a positive way.

What part of EGBI’s mission resonates most with you?

The part of EGBI’s mission that resonates most with me is its commitment to empowering entrepreneurs and small businesses. I believe that providing the right resources and support can make a significant difference in helping individuals achieve their dreams and contribute to their communities.

What was the most rewarding experience you had while working as a translator at EGBI?

The most rewarding experience for me was the opportunity to translate content into Spanish. I strongly believe in making information accessible in as many languages as possible to promote inclusivity and equal opportunities. Additionally, I gained valuable knowledge from the content I translated.

Why do you think others should volunteer, translate, or support EGBI?

I think that by volunteering with EGBI, you’re directly contributing to the success of aspiring and existing business owners, which in turn strengthens local economies and fosters community development. Additionally, it’s a fantastic opportunity to use your skills and expertise to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others. Whether you’re passionate about entrepreneurship, language, or community development, EGBI offers a platform to channel your energy and resources toward positive change.

Find the Spanish version here

If you would like to volunteer with EGBI please reach out to the organization by sending an email to hello@egbi.org