Martha Cardenas
Martha Cardenas is an emerging marketing leader, student advocate, and community builder currently pursuing her degree in marketing at Utah Valley University. As President of the university’s Marketing Association, she provides strategic direction, leads campus initiatives, and fosters meaningful connections between students, faculty, and industry professionals. Known for her energy and initiative, Martha has also served as a Marketing Department Representative and intern, working closely with university leadership to promote programs, support student voices, and execute impactful campaigns.
With hands-on experience across internships and leadership roles, Martha has built a strong foundation in digital marketing, content creation, and brand strategy. She has contributed to marketing efforts for organizations such as Utah Community Credit Union, where she supported student outreach and membership growth, and gained practical experience in storytelling and analytics through her work with Home Pros Home Services. Her participation in initiatives like the UX Design for Social Impact competition reflects her ability to apply creative problem-solving and design thinking to real-world challenges, blending business strategy with purpose-driven innovation.
Beyond her academic and professional work, Martha is deeply committed to building authentic community and creating opportunities for others. As co-founder and marketing director of Her Impact Co., she is helping cultivate a space for women focused on connection, personal growth, and service. Inspired by early exposure to the marketing world and shaped by meaningful campus experiences, she is driven to use her skills not just for business success, but for positive social impact. With a strong blend of leadership, creativity, and heart, Martha represents the next generation of marketers focused on both results and meaningful change.
• UVU (Utah Valley University) - Marketing
• Her Impact Co (Co-Founder)
• Her Impact Co - Women's Service Group
• Clothing Drive for Women's Shelter
• Stand Up to Cancer Fun Run Partnership
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Authenticity is incredibly important to me - I can't stand when things feel fake or forced, especially in the Utah community where so much feels like it's done for clout or social media rather than genuine connection. When we started Her Impact Co, we wanted to focus on what really matters, which is serving people authentically without cameras around or content being filmed constantly. During the Charlie Kirk incident at my university, I had to take myself out of the business role and focus on what was most important - the students, not what looked best marketing-wise or what PR thing we could do. We took all of that off the board and focused on the main reason we're here, which is the students. With our non-profit, our three pillars are cultivating friendships, inspiring growth, and making a difference, because I believe in building genuine community where people feel like there's actually a place for them. AI can't take authenticity, and that's what we want to focus on. I want the work I'm doing to show that somebody else can literally do what I'm doing - it's not about personal attention for me, it's about making a real impact.
Locations
Utah Valley University
Austin, TX 78717