The Column: A Conversation with Maria Rojas
Mandy’s Introduction:
For Hispanic Heritage Month, I wanted this column to highlight Maria Rojas and share the story behind the work she is doing through Tres Marketing and Latina Business Club.
Maria came to the United States from Venezuela in 2016. Since then, she has built a business, created community, and found ways to support other entrepreneurs as they grow. Her story is about starting over, working hard, learning a new country, and choosing to keep going even when things are hard and uncertain.
What started with Maria building a new life here has grown into something that reaches entrepreneurs across our region. Through Tres Marketing and Latina Business Club, she is helping people connect, learn, build confidence, and remember they do not have to figure everything out by themselves.
What inspires me most about Maria’s story is how she turned her own experience into something that helps other people build confidence, find connection, and feel supported too.
Q&A with Stephanie Gordon:
You’re originally from Venezuela. What brought you to the United States, and what do you remember most about your first years here?
I came to the United States in 2016 looking for a new beginning and the opportunity to build a better future. Leaving Venezuela meant leaving behind my family, my culture, my career, and the life I had known, but I came with the willingness to learn, adapt, and start a new chapter.
What I remember most about my first year here is how much it humbled me. I learned that every job has dignity and that no matter what you do, you should always give your best. I approached every opportunity with gratitude because I understood that every experience was helping me build something bigger.
Those first years taught me humility, resilience, and the importance of having a strong work ethic. I learned to appreciate the journey, to respect every person’s contribution, and to keep showing up with commitment even when things were unfamiliar. Those lessons continue to influence the way I lead my business and support other entrepreneurs today.
What has it been like building a life and career in a new country? Did that experience shape the entrepreneur you eventually became?
Building a life and career in a new country has been a journey of growth, adaptation, and constant learning. When I arrived in the United States, I had to understand a new culture, improve my English, navigate a different professional environment, and rebuild my path step by step.
I was never someone who waited for opportunities to come to me. I looked for ways to connect with people, learn from others, and become part of the community around me. I understood early on that relationships are essential. When you are building something new, doing it alone can be much harder. Growth happens when you create connections, build a network, and learn from the people around you.
That experience shaped the entrepreneur I became because I learned that success is not only about working hard or having knowledge. It is also about the relationships you build, the trust you create, and the value you bring to others. Those lessons continue to guide the way I lead Tres Marketing, and create spaces where entrepreneurs can connect and grow like Latina Business Club.
What do you hope Hispanic Heritage Month creates more space for people to understand, celebrate, or talk about?
I hope Hispanic Heritage Month creates more space for people to understand that we are not defined by stereotypes or assumptions. The Hispanic community is made up of hardworking individuals, professionals, entrepreneurs, innovators, and talented people who contribute every day in many different ways.
I hope people take the time to see the stories behind the culture. Behind every person there is dedication, education, sacrifice, resilience, and a desire to create a better future for themselves and their families.
For me, Hispanic Heritage Month is a reminder to celebrate where we come from while also recognizing the impact we are making today. Our heritage is part of our strength, and the experiences we bring add value to the communities where we live and work.
What inspired you to start Tres Marketing, and what did the business look like in the beginning compared with where it is today?
I started Tres Marketing because I reached a point where I knew it was time for me to take a leap and build something of my own. After years of learning, working, and understanding the needs of businesses, I felt ready to use my experience to create something that could make an impact.
I also saw a real need among small business owners, especially within the Latino community. Many entrepreneurs had incredible products and services, but they felt that professional marketing was out of reach because they believed it had to be expensive. I wanted to provide guidance and help them understand that you can build a strong brand, connect with customers, and market your business effectively without having to break the bank.
In the beginning, Tres Marketing was just me, my experience, and my commitment to helping businesses grow. Today, it has grown into a multicultural team that works together to support businesses through strategy, branding, content creation, and digital marketing. Part of my team works remotely from different countries, and we also have team members here in the United States.
What makes me proud is that Tres Marketing has become more than a marketing agency. It has become a way to create opportunities, support entrepreneurs, and bring together talented people from different backgrounds to help businesses grow.
As a woman, immigrant, and entrepreneur, have there been challenges or experiences that shaped how you navigate business differently?
I believe being an immigrant gives you strength. It teaches you resilience, adaptability, and the ability to rebuild yourself in a new environment. Being a woman gives you heart and compassion. It helps you understand people, create meaningful relationships, and lead with empathy. Being an entrepreneur gives you your own perspective, creativity, and the courage to build something from your vision.
One of my biggest challenges as an immigrant was finding my confidence in a new country. I remember being in rooms where I felt the need to say, “I’m sorry for my English.” Over time, I realized that my voice, my experience, and my knowledge had value. I kept learning, improving, and showing up until I no longer felt the need to apologize.
As a Latina entrepreneur, I have also experienced moments where people underestimated the value of my work or assumed that because I was Latina, my services should cost less. Those experiences taught me the importance of knowing my value and helping others understand the impact of professional marketing.
As a woman, I have learned to navigate different environments and challenge expectations. Many of my clients are contractors, electricians, and professionals in technical industries. I have spent time at job sites, walking on roofs while their teams are doing their work, creating content and understanding their businesses so I can tell their stories in an authentic way. I have also been in professional networking spaces, wearing heels and representing my company.
Those experiences have shaped the way I lead today. I bring confidence, curiosity, and compassion into every room I enter, and I use my journey to create opportunities for others.
What do you know about entrepreneurship now that you wish you had known when you were first getting started?
I wish I had understood earlier that entrepreneurship does not have to be a journey you carry alone. When I first started, I thought I had to figure everything out by myself, but over time I learned that there are people who genuinely want to support you, encourage you, and celebrate your growth.
I also learned that the people who love you and support you personally do not always have to become your customers, and that is okay. Your friends can continue being your friends. Your business community is often made up of other entrepreneurs who understand the challenges, decisions, risks, and wins that come with building something of your own.
Having a circle of people who are also navigating entrepreneurship creates a different type of support. They understand the moments of uncertainty, the celebrations, and the hard work behind the scenes.
Today, I know that building relationships, finding mentors, and surrounding yourself with the right community are just as important as having a great product or service. Entrepreneurship becomes more meaningful when you grow alongside others.
You’ve gone from building your own business to creating spaces that support other women entrepreneurs. What inspired you to create Latina Business Club?
Latina Business Club was inspired by the need I saw through my own work with entrepreneurs. Over the past three years, I have had the opportunity to mentor more than 120 entrepreneurs one-on-one in person, and through those conversations I saw a common need: people wanted guidance, support, and a community where they could continue growing.
I wanted to create a space where women could connect with others who understood the journey of building a business. I decided to start with women in my native language because I know how powerful it is to have access to knowledge, resources, and conversations in a language where you feel comfortable and understood.
Latina Business Club became a place where women can learn, share their experiences, build relationships, and realize that they do not have to navigate entrepreneurship alone. My goal is to help women recognize their potential, strengthen their businesses, and create a network where everyone has the opportunity to grow.
What have you seen happen when women stop viewing one another as competition and start genuinely opening doors for each other?
This is one of my favorite questions because I have experienced this transformation personally. When women choose to support each other, something powerful happens. You create a community, a sisterhood, and a space where people feel seen, supported, and encouraged.
When I came to Northwest Indiana, I honestly did not believe that type of community was possible because of past experiences. Over time, I allowed myself to believe again, and I realized that the right relationships can completely change your experience. Sometimes the challenge is not that community does not exist, it is that you have not found the right community for you yet.
I have seen how powerful collaboration can be because everyone brings something valuable to the table. When we connect, share resources, and open doors for each other, we can all grow and go farther together.
I have also learned that support and competition are not always about gender. Not everyone will want to see you grow, and that is part of life. The important thing is finding the people who believe in your vision, celebrate your progress, and are willing to grow alongside you.
That is the type of environment I want to continue creating: one where entrepreneurs know they have people cheering for them and where success can be built together.
You’ve created communities for entrepreneurs through your own work, and next month you’ll be hosting The Collective members. What do you hope comes from bringing entrepreneurial communities together like that?
I believe some of the best opportunities happen when different communities come together. Every entrepreneur has a different story, experience, and perspective to share, and when we create spaces for connection, we open the door to collaboration and growth.
With The Collective, I hope people walk away with new relationships, new ideas, and a stronger sense of belonging. Entrepreneurship can sometimes feel like a very individual journey, but connecting with people who understand the challenges, the risks, and the excitement of building something creates a different level of support.
I want to create bridges between communities and remind entrepreneurs that we can learn from each other, collaborate, and grow together. When we share resources and open doors for one another, everyone benefits.
And of course, we cannot forget how Latinos network. We bring our culture, our energy, our music, and our joy into every room we enter. So yes, there might be some merengue and salsa involved too. That is part of who we are: we build relationships, we celebrate, and we create community.
When the earthquakes struck Venezuela in June, what went through your mind, and how did you turn that into action locally here in Indiana?
When I heard about the earthquakes in Venezuela, I felt scared because my family still lives there. I was actually hosting one of our Latina Business Club events when I received the news, and in that moment, it became very personal.
Venezuela is the place where I grew up, the place that shaped so much of who I am today. I carry so much love for my country, and seeing people facing fear and uncertainty was heartbreaking.
I am also part of the board of directors of a nonprofit organization in Chicago called Panas en Chicago, and our immediate reaction was asking ourselves, “What are we going to do to help?” We wanted to find a way to support families affected by the situation.
From there, we organized a donation drive in Elkhart, Indiana, on July 5th, the day Venezuela celebrates its Independence Day. With the support of volunteers, businesses, and community members, we were able to collect around 300 boxes filled with different types of donations for families who needed support.
Seeing people come together in Elkhart to support Venezuela was incredibly meaningful. It reminded me that community is built through action and that even from another country, we can continue caring for the places and people who shaped us.
What does success look like to you now, and has that changed since you first came to the U.S.?
When I first came to the United States, success looked different. It was about building stability, creating a new life, and proving to myself that I could adapt and grow in a new country.
Today, success means much more than personal achievements. Success looks like creating opportunities for others, building a business that has a positive impact, supporting entrepreneurs, and being able to use my experiences to help someone else move forward.
I measure success by the people I impact, the relationships I build, and the communities I help create. Seeing my team grow, seeing my clients succeed, and seeing entrepreneurs gain confidence because someone believed in them are moments that remind me why I started.
For me, success is about building something meaningful that goes beyond myself. It is about creating a legacy of growth, connection, and opportunities for others.
What do you hope the next generation of Latina entrepreneurs knows is possible for them?
I hope the next generation of Latina entrepreneurs knows that their dreams are possible and that their background is a strength. Their culture, experiences, and stories are valuable parts of what they bring to the world.
I want them to know that they do not have to wait for someone else to give them permission to start. They can learn, grow, build relationships, and create opportunities for themselves and others.
I also hope they understand the importance of believing in their own value. There will be moments of uncertainty, challenges, and times when they have to prove themselves, but their voice and their perspective matter.
My message to them is to stay curious, surround themselves with people who support their growth, and remember that success can look different for everyone. They can build businesses, become leaders, and create an impact while staying connected to who they are and where they come from.
Huge thank you to Maria for sharing her story with us and for the work she is doing to support entrepreneurs, build community, and create spaces where women can connect and grow.
Hispanic Heritage Month is a celebration of culture, history, and impact, but it is also an opportunity to listen more closely to the stories behind the people shaping our communities right now. Maria’s story is one of resilience, action, connection, and using what she has built to make the path a little more open for others.
That is the kind of work that matters, and I am so grateful our members will get to experience the community she is building firsthand.
Comments