Lauryl Gonzalez
A graduate of California State University, Monterey Bay with a B.S. in Business Administration and concentrations in Marketing and Spanish Language & Culture, Lauryl has built a career rooted in community impact and experiential storytelling. She has led and supported high‑visibility events including health and community initiatives with Salinas Valley Health, Community Human Services, WeatherTech Raceway Laguna Seca’s street festivals, and the Walk to End Alzheimer’s and Relay for Life in Monterey County. She has also developed on‑site engagement experiences for destinations such as Gilroy Gardens and the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, and has executed enrollment‑driven initiatives for local community colleges, from orientation programs to campus visitation days designed to connect students with educational pathways.
Her expertise spans brand identity development, content systems, social media strategy, and event planning and execution, with campaigns tailored across Instagram, Facebook, TikTok, LinkedIn, and YouTube to ensure cohesive, audience‑centered storytelling.
Deeply connected to her family’s agricultural roots, Lauryl brings a lived understanding of the communities she serves and the industries she uplifts.
Beyond her media leadership, Lauryl serves as a Marketing Communications and Branding Specialist with From Farms to Incubators, a nonprofit amplifying women innovators in agrifoodtech, agtech, and sustainable food systems. Through interviews, blog writing, and digital storytelling, she elevates the voices of female entrepreneurs shaping climate resilience and agricultural innovation. Building on this work as the organization’s representative in Denmark, she engaged with global researchers, academics, and policymakers to explore bioeconomy models that could inform California’s agricultural future. She also supports the promotion of complex academic research on almond irrigation with professors and students from the University of California, Merced, whose work provides insights for small‑scale farmers and the public on developing more drought‑resilient water systems. Lauryl contributes to this initiative by supervising mentees, creating news stories, press releases, video, and photography, and visiting the UC Merced campus and the Kearney Agricultural Research and Extension Center to collaborate with the research and faculty team.
Lauryl is driven by purpose, choosing work that uplifts communities, honors labor, and creates lasting, meaningful impact.
• Scuba Certified
• California State University, Monterey Bay
• Sorority (philanthropy focused on women's issues)
• Salinas Valley Chamber of Commerce
• Santa Cruz County Chamber of Commerce
• Monterey Rape Crisis Center
• Community Human Services
• Relay for Life
• Alzheimer's Association
• Rancho Cielo
What do you attribute your success to?
I’d say my success comes from the way I was raised. My parents have guided me my entire life, and I was shaped just as much by my extended family and the mentors, advocates, professors, and teachers who poured into me along the way. Even as a kid, I was always volunteering and finding ways to stay connected to my community.
Growing up in Sacramento also played a huge role. It is a diverse place, but it is one where you are exposed early to the realities of substance abuse, violence, homelessness, and the challenges families face. I saw all of that at school and in the neighborhoods around me, and it grounded me. Those experiences taught me empathy, responsibility, and the importance of showing up for others.
I love giving back to the community, and that is what truly drives me. At the end of the day, I attribute my success to the people who raised me, the community that shaped me, and the values they instilled: resilience, service, and a commitment to uplifting others while building something meaningful for myself.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I’ve ever received has come from the people who know me best — my family and the mentors who’ve guided me throughout my life. They’ve always encouraged me to choose work that makes me happy and not to hold myself back just because something feels new or intimidating. You learn by doing, and every step forward teaches you something.
I was also taught to stay connected: reach out to former professors, leaders, or professionals you admire, because you never know who might support you — or who you might be able to help.
But the advice that has stayed with me the most came from my tío, who was also one of my bosses. He always reminds me to trust myself, stay curious, and never doubt what I’m capable of.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice is to go big and be bold. Try things before you feel ready, say yes to opportunities that stretch you, and let yourself learn through doing. Curiosity and courage will take you far in any industry — and the courage you need often shows up once you start. There will be challenges, but every step builds momentum, and you’ll be surprised by how far you can go when you don’t limit yourself.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
A major challenge right now is that people simply do not have the patience for long‑form content or long attention spans. Most audiences will not read a full article or e‑blast, and they often tune out before an on‑air promotion finishes. Everything has to be quick, clear, and instantly relevant.
But I also see a big opportunity in that shift. Because digital attention is so limited, in‑person interaction has become even more powerful. One thing I love about my work at iHeart is that we still show up in the community. When you talk to people face‑to‑face, you get their full attention, and that connection is something digital content cannot replace.
I also see this in my work with From Farms to Incubators, where we regularly interact with the women, founders, and partners invested in the organization.
Locations
iHeartMedia/From Farms to Incubators
Marina, CA 93933