Cindy Garcia

I credit my success to a few incredible mentors, who may never know how special they really are to me. The first was my boss at State Farm, Lona Mauk. Fresh out of high school, working at Office Depot. Lona happened to go in for some envelopes and really loved my energy and smile. Although I had no clue what a deductible or a claim was, she took me under her wing and taught me a lot of the soft skills I know. Thanks to the 4 and a half years I spent with her, it helped me obtain other high-level jobs in other industries.

The second mentor is Bill, aka "Bill from Brazil". He was the regional manager at Texas de Brazil, where I was a part time host, while attending UT Tyler. He like my energy and work ethic and nicknamed me Dynamo! Bill saw something in me that I didn't know I had. He trained me as a server, bartender, and even as a gaucho prepping and cutting the meats! He motivated me to apply for Assistant Manager, and within 6 months I was the General Manager. Me. The girl who never had a serving job in her life before this! For this opportunity, I will forever hold Bill very dear to my heart.

The third mentor I am proud to know, is Misty Wages, Director of Sales at KLTV. Ever since I was a little girl, it's been my dream to work at a news station, didn't matter what position! When the opportunity came to be part of the sales team at KLTV, there was a lot of doubt in my mind that I would get the position. The level of experience, talent, and dedication in this group is remarkable - and Misty has been a leader in this industry for decades. To be accepted into such an accomplished team has been both humbling and motivating. Every day I'm grateful to learn and work alongside such incredible colleagues.

"Always let your work speak for itself." This is the mentality I was raised with by my dad. You don't have to be the loudest person in the room, just the most prepared. My dad has taught me that credibility isn't about volume, it's about knowledge and consistency. Treat absolutely everyone with respect, because you can learn something from everyone - from executives to laborers.

Another advice was from Lona, "You can never redo a first impression".

I would encourage them to speak up and share their ideas. Sometimes women feel like they need to be 100% ready before raising their hand, but in reality, growth happens when you step out of your comfort zone. Don't be afraid to start networking! Remember to be transparent in everything that you do. Transparency and integrity go hand in hand.

Businesses have more marketing options than ever before- TV, streaming audio, streaming TV, social media, digital billboards, gaming ads, targeted ads, digital platforms -- and that can be overwhelming.

Once of the biggest challenges in marketing today is that anyone can claim to be a marketing expert. Boosting a social media post or creating a flyer doesn't equal a marketing strategy. The digital space is so crowded, and the brands that success are the one with thoughtful and long-term approach that focuses on reaching the right audience with consistent and meaningful messaging.

Marketing isn't about doing more tactics - it's about doing the right ones, strategically.

Integrity is the value that guides everything I do. Trust is built through honesty and consistency.

Community is another important value. A big part of my work involves connecting businesses with audiences and supporting local initiatives. Seeing businesses grow and communities thrive is incredibly rewarding.

Finally, I value continuos growth. We should always be learning - whether it's about our industries, our communities, or ourselves.