Today we’d like to introduce you to Nayeli Gallegos-Abundis.
Hi Nayeli, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born and raised in Mexico. In 2002, at the age of 19, I married my High School sweetheart and moved to Austin. He had been recruited by the St. Edward’s University tennis team, so with the support of our families, I made the move to this city and I got transferred to the McComb’s School of Business at the University of Texas at Austin. In 2004, I graduated with Honors and got my first job along with my first work visa at the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, where I became Director of Economic Development and passionate about helping entrepreneurs and small business owners. Following my passion for entrepreneurship, in 2011, I went to work at the Economic Growth Business Incubator (EGBI), and I was blessed to be able to obtain my green card through them. So the first 11 years of my professional background are on entrepreneurship and small business development, which led me to get a Master’s Degree on Entrepreneurship from CEPADE at Universidad Politecnica de Madrid. Throughout my career, I have also been a spokesperson for various non-profit organizations helping them with outreach through the Spanish media outlets in Austin, as well as a freelance writer for some Spanish publications. In 2013, while still working at EGBI, my husband Luis, his brother Mitch and I co-founded Red Carpet Productions, a brand management agency that provides promotional and marketing services to liquor companies wanting to launch new brands or reinforce their brand presence.
In 2015, I left EGBI to focus 100% on our business. Through our agency, I continue to fulfill my passion of helping other businesses succeed. We are a company committed to our mission of creating synergy with our clients to enrich their customers experience by capitalizing on every interaction with their product. As a woman, and proud mother of two girls, Andrea & Ximena, I am also committed to women empowerment and to creating awareness of the value women bring to the industry. 90% of my brand ambassadors are women, and I am constantly looking for opportunities to showcase the talent and knowledge base within my team. Aside from customer service, our talent base is our best asset, and I personally make sure everyone who works for us feels appreciated. In 2019, I was recognized as the Hispanic Businesswoman of the Year by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, which was a great honor for me. As immigrants in this country, we don’t take anything for granted, we work hard, we are productive, we care for others, and we give back to this country by creating jobs and serving others in our community. 2020 was a tough year for everyone, the promotional industry was severely impacted by the pandemic. However, not everything was so bad, yes we’ve had to reinvent ourselves and adapt to the new needs of our clients, but I also got time to get Red Carpet Productions certified as a Women-Owned Business, which had been on my to-do list for a while. I am grateful for the clients who stuck with us, for the support provided to small business owners during these tough times, and I have definitely treasured the extra family time we have been able to enjoy. I am looking forward to 2021, which has already started to look brighter.
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
Honestly, I can’t complaint, I’ve had a good life, but I can’t say that it has been easy either. Starting with the fact that at a young age I left my family and life-long friends to start a new life away from everything I knew. My husband and I have learned to grow together and overcome the struggles that come with getting married so young. Navigating through the immigration process has not been easy. We went from student visas, to several work visas, to the green card, and we’re finally on the process of obtaining citizenship. It’s been an 18-year long process for us, dealing with immigration law changes and visa and attorney’s fees. Starting up a business comes with its challenges as well, how to ensure you are running a profitable business in a seasonal industry is not an easy task. There is a lot of competition, so creating loyalty with customers and brand ambassadors is key for our agency. The biggest challenge we faced was last year, when the industry was shut down. With no massive events, restaurants and bars shutting down, and retail operating at limited capacity, the core of our services became “irrelevant” for the new needs of the businesses we were serving. Finally, at the personal level, being able to run a successful business while keeping my family as my number one priority has not been an easy task. My girls know that mommy works hard, but they also know that work never comes before them, and they see that I also find time to do the things that make ME happy. Finding that “balance” is a goal that I try accomplish on a daily basis.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
We are a brand management agency, we do events, promotions, tastings and other brand ambassador services in the liquor industry. We have teams all over Texas and Tennessee, and this year we opened Florida and Nevada and we’re in the process of opening a few other markets. Customer service is key, from our communication with clients, our response to their needs, our commitment to results and to providing the resources and data our clients need to grow their business. We are passionate about what we do, we strive to provide high quality services by building teams with excellent human capital. We nurture our brand ambassadors, we make them feel valuable, and we want them to be happy, because they are the face of our clients and our agency when they are interacting with the public.
What do you like and dislike about the city?
There are many things I love about Austin: its entrepreneurial spirit and educational opportunities, its many lakes and running tracks, its great spots for foodies like my husband and me, and of course its live music and bar scene. It is a great place to raise a family and to own a business. What I like the least about our city is the economic disparities and opportunities within the different communities in Austin. They are a lot of great resources available, but there’s still a lot to be done.
Contact Info:
- Email: nayeli@redcarpet-productions.com
- Website: www.redcarpet-productions.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/redcarpetproductions/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RedCarpetProductions
- Twitter: https://twitter.com/RedCarpetTX
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC2JPZgUD5sx5By2sQEeTuIg
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