From an early age, female founders Harmony Vallejo Her passion for creating a better future for the world was her driving force. She has a long-standing background in communications and marketing that inspired her to found her own company, Universal Events Inc. The company’s mission is to help nonprofits and ethical businesses contribute to their communities.
To achieve this goal, Harmony leads a passionate team of professionals in social media, communications, copywriting, accounting and administration, all working together in a collaborative environment.
Harmony earned a bachelor’s degree in communications from Youngstown State University, where she worked for the school newspaper and was a national volleyball player. In this interview, she explores who Harmony is and her journey from communication to becoming a female founder and CEO.
What made you want to become an entrepreneur?
Harmony Vallejo: Part of it is wanting to have the ability to help others while filling a gap in the market. Many nonprofits don’t have the expertise to actually build a brand image and marketing campaign. Many work with hopeful and kind volunteers, but they may not have the know-how to stand out from other organizations. Of course, it’s not their fault, but that’s why I developed Universal Events Inc. Our team has experience providing truly useful support to nonprofits. We can take on tasks that are likely to be delegated to a small (perhaps overwhelmed) team that could really help. That is our ultimate goal. For me, it simply made sense to create a company that caters to these needs. This is something I have been passionate about for a long time. Besides, who wouldn’t want to be their own boss?
What challenges (if any) do you feel you have faced as a female entrepreneur?
Harmony Vallejo: That’s a natural question. Luckily, the industry I work in is very diverse and has the most empathetic people, many of whom work closely with minorities, so I have faced direct discrimination. not much. However, I think female entrepreneurs often feel that she has to prove herself compared to male entrepreneurs because of the misconception that women are not “born leaders”. . The truth is that leadership is not necessarily something you are born with, but rather a collection of experiences and skills learned over time through hard work and struggle that make you a great leader. It can also be argued that women are sometimes better suited to take on certain leadership roles because they face many challenges in life that men would never experience. I think I’m perfect for my role.
Where do you get your inspiration from?
Harmony Vallejo: I draw most of my inspiration from the amazing leaders who lead the nonprofits I work with. They are some of the nicest people I have ever personally met. They really inspire me to keep pushing forward towards my ambitions and further inspire me to be the best version of myself that I can be. Interacting with people who care about the well-being of others opens your eyes to what really matters in life.