Cynthia Romero

I define success as creating something I'm proud of and watching it grow beyond what I imagined. Every step forward surprises me, but I keep going because it's not just about me. It's about the people. I want to be able to provide jobs, gigs, opportunities, and fun things to do for people. I think I really do it for the people, because everyone's always asking me too, like, when's the next one? Can you give me work? Put me on the next event. And it's like, I wish I had more consistency to be able to do that for them. I think that's what gets me going. I can't give up, people need to eat.

The best career advice I received came from a celebrity I asked years ago about how to maintain balance. I was struggling because I felt like I was working 24-7 and didn't give myself enough time for sleep, working out, or doing anything for myself. She told me to work until the sun goes down. When the sun goes down, then you can close your laptop, close your books, close everything, then take the time out for food, family, friends, whatever it is that you need to do. But as soon as that sun sets, you're done. As soon as it rises, you're up and get going. There's enough hours in your day to do what you need to do. Rest is important. I liked what she said, and I still do that to this day. The other piece of advice that has shaped me is to dream big and don't conform to society if you're not meant to. Your dreams are yours for a reason, and you shouldn't let anyone convince you to play small or fit into boxes that don't match who you are.

Always dream big. Like, don't stop dreaming big. Don't listen to all the naysayers, because... just, I don't know, just keep going, just keep doing it. Don't feel discouraged. You'll have moments of discouragement, but just keep going, because you never know what next opportunity can turn into another. One door opens another, and sometimes the smallest step forward becomes the turning point. So ignore the naysayers, trust your vision, and never stop dreaming big.

The biggest challenge right now is finding real people and authenticity. With AI, ChatGPT, and all these made-up resumes that make people sound better than what they really are in the field, it's become harder to spot genuine talent. People submit AI-generated profile pictures with filters, and what's on paper doesn't match who shows up in person. I don't buy it, I don't fall for it, especially as somebody who's been in the field themselves and can still see through it. That's why we personally vet every brand ambassador we hire. We either work with them in the field before, or we personally interview them face-to-face, so that we know their energy, we know what they're putting out there, we know if they're AI or not. A lot of agencies are just doing, oh, they look good, click here, send a body to the event, and they don't know what you're gonna get. That's the frustrating part that has always pushed me into providing real people that I know, or my team knows, who they are. In a landscape full of illusions, authenticity is your edge.

Balance is 100% the most important value to me. You have to be able to still have a personal life and handle and take care of yourself and your other priorities, even though business is a priority as a business owner. But you can't forget about yourself, your health, the people that really matter in your life. Be there for people. Continue making memories, you know, focus on work as well when you have to. I used to struggle with this because I felt like I was working 24-7 and didn't give myself enough time for sleep, working out, or doing anything for myself. Then I received advice that changed everything: work until the sun goes down, and when the sun goes down, close your laptop, close your books, close everything, then take the time out for food, family, friends, whatever you need to do. As soon as that sun sets, you're done. As soon as it rises, you're up and get going. There's enough hours in your day to do what you need to do. Rest is important. That simple shift reminded me that balance isn't just a luxury, it's a necessity for longevity, clarity, and joy.