Young Pro Corner: Maria Reyes, Strategic Advisory Coordinator, MediaLink

In high school, I aspired to be a director. I wanted to study journalism and filmmaking and pursue a career creating art and entertainment through film.

My high school experience was split between the Dominican Republic and the United States. I moved back to the U.S. when I was a senior in high school, and while I had excellent grades, the credits I accumulated across different schools didn’t add up to many college and university requirements. This made it challenging to find the schools that I could apply to with the fields of study that aligned with my directing aspirations. I realized that I needed a broader field of study to focus on after graduating from high school.

Inspired by my entrepreneurial mom, I decided to major in business and found inspiration in marketing courses, so much so that I founded my own business, a full-service creative marketing agency and learning platform named HOLA MAR, focused on supporting Latinx entrepreneurs. Watching my mom’s work as a professional coach, I noticed that many of her clients had great business ideas, but didn’t know how to market them. I identified an opportunity to help people in similar situations and used my experience studying business in college to educate people with online marketing courses and guide them through their marketing needs.

My company required me to further my education to better help my clients and attract new ones, so I continued my education after college with a Master of Science in Integrated Marketing at NYU. This degree furthered my passion for marketing and advertising.

 

What’s the most valuable lesson you’ve learned that’s helped you in your career?

Bet on yourself. You’re your greatest asset and the best investment you’ll ever make.

It’s something I’ve had to remind myself of time and time again because, as women and in Dominican culture, we’re taught to be humble and not show off, but it’s important to trust in your skills and abilities and know that you can achieve your goals.

Fend off imposter syndrome, self-doubt and any fears you may have to make the best choices for yourself. When I considered applying to graduate school, I experienced self doubt and questioned whether the investment would be worth it. But I knew I needed a broader perspective and greater access to the advertising industry, and continuing my education would invite opportunities that I wouldn’t have otherwise. Looking back, it was the best decision for me at the time.

 

How has community-building and networking helped you in your career? Any tips for new grads? 

It’s a big part of how I’ve gotten to where I am in my career. I was an undergraduate during COVID, which made it very challenging to build community, but growing HOLA MAR wouldn’t be possible without a strong network. It’s also a crucial part of graduate school, so I created connections as much as possible. Doing so led me to land my job at MediaLink, and I built a rapport with one of my professors who introduced me to his connection at the company. As with many industries, community is central to success in advertising.

As a young professional or recent graduate, it can be intimidating to grow your network. Coming out of your shell can build the foundation for your success. Have the confidence to introduce yourself and be present when you meet new people. Trust in your ability to build relationships and always be open to making new connections. You never know when a new connection can bring new opportunities, but don’t focus on transactional opportunities. Focus on building community with people who have similar ambitions. It’s important to be open to mentorship, too. I’ve always actively sought mentorship from those around me, peers and people who have more experience can be great resources.

 

What’s the best industry resource you live by (besides the Ad Club )?

Your community can be your best resource. At MediaLink, the power of connections is foundational to learning about the industry. I’ve taken that philosophy to heart and uphold it outside of my day-to-day work.

LinkedIn is excellent, with the push to video content on the platform, you can learn a lot of information in an easily digestible format.

I’m a huge fan of Adweek and Ad Age as well as various marketing substacks, including Zaria Parvez’s Make it Go Viral [zariaparvez.substack.com] and Dakota Rae Lowe’s Recreation [dakota.substack.com].