Today we’d like to introduce you to Sally Velazquez.
Hi Sally, we’d love for you to start by introducing yourself and give us a little insight on the path you took to get to where you are today?
I’m not sure what path I took to go from being the girl from Chicago who wanted to be the next Mariah Carey (my idol) to Business Manager/Lawyer for musicians like Mariah. I don’t think there was one path, it was more like hundreds. I’m sure I took some wrong turns at some point, but somehow, it still led me to where I’m at today.
After law school, I went to work for a Big four accounting firm. I graduated in 2011, and there was an employment crisis at the time, so I was thrilled to have a job lined up after graduation. While the company was great, I hated what I was doing and the culture of the firm. I love working with people, which was one of the reason’s I decided to be a lawyer in the first place. I, like most students, wanted to make a change in the world! (You can roll your eyes at this!). Anyways, I soon realized that my impact at this large firm would never really be substantial enough to satisfy my need to make a difference. The culture of the firm was very competitive. For a curvy Latina like myself, people seemed to care more about what I was wearing or how frizzy my curly hair was, rather than the fact that I worked 100 hours a week, lead teams and was a top biller in the firm. So, I left.
I decided I needed a change and moved to Los Angeles… and have not left yet! I found my calling in the business management field. I have a background in finance and worked in accounting prior to law school. When I learned about a job where I could utilize my tax law knowledge combined with my smarts for finances, I jumped at the opportunity.
Being a business manager is my calling. It’s the most satisfying career I could have chosen as I see the impact I have on my clients. My clients are my like babies, they are so important to me, and I care about all of them so much. I work the some very successful singers, songwriters, actors, and other entertainers. I am always amazed at their strength to be in this crazy entertainment industry and how they combat their struggles and the pressure to succeed and then keep succeeding.
How did I start my own business? Well, after finding a career working for a business management firm, I decided to start my own firm with my friend and colleague, Daniel Berrocal. We decided that we would see if we can get any clients on our own for one year. If after that year we crashed and burned, we could always go work for another firm. It’s going on six years later and I haven’t crashed yet.
During those six years, Daniel and I separated, and I started Empower Business Management on my own. I am currently on the
board of two of my client’s non-profit organizations and recently joined the board of another non-profit organization, We Are R.I.S.E. Inc. These organizations have different purposes such as promoting female empowerment, anti-bullying and shaming, and financial literacy. I built my reputation on trust, consistency and being great at what I do. I was named one of the top business managers in 2020 and 2021 by Billboard Magazine and have been on many panels and taught classes on financial literacy, women empowerment, and entrepreneurship.
I definitely could not have gone far without the support of Tracy Miller, who is the VP or Operations and the head of the Business Management department at my firm. Tracy and the rest of my team are type A, super-efficient, smart and consistent individuals. Tracy helped me build Empower Business Management and is my go-to person for support, advise and a sanity check.
So, would I trade all this in to be the next Mariah Carey? No, but I wouldn’t mind working with her or the next Mariah Carey (as if there could ever be anyone as great) someday!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
In short, being an entrepreneur is hard. Some days are good, some days are bad. You can’t let the bad days win.
For me, those bad days come when I have client emergencies. I lead with empathy which is great except when I feel my client’s emotions. It’s hard but it makes me work even harder to get them out of any unfortunate circumstances if I can.
As you know, we’re big fans of Empower Business Management, Inc. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about the brand?
Empower Business Management, Inc. is a boutique firm in Los Angeles for entertainers, musicians, songwriters and social media influencers in the entertainment industry.
Empower Business Management was founded to support clients in making the best personal and professional financial decisions for their future. We are a goal-oriented, hands on business management firm. We respect and support our people, which includes our clients, staff, and colleagues. We are team players and want what’s best for our team. Using a goal-oriented approach, we make sure to empower our people by educating them on their business, helping them to make informed decisions, and supporting their vision.
Before we let you go, we’ve got to ask if you have any advice for those who are just starting out?
Be consistent. You can build and amazing brand but if you don’t continue to provide the same services consistently, you can kill your reputation.
Also, don’t be afraid to fire that client you hate. Try to work with people you want to work with and join the right teams. It makes life easier and everyone happier when you love what you do and who you work with!
Contact Info:
- Website: www.empowerbm.com
- Instagram: @sallytvelazquez @empowerbusinessmanagement
- Facebook: empowerbusinessmanagement
Image Credits:
Picture with 21 Savage and Team: Left to right: Dina Lapolt, Danielle Price, Tammy Brook, Congressman Hank Johnson, 21 Savage, Kei Henderson, Sally Velazquez, and Justin “Meezy” Williams attend 21’s Savage’s Bank Account Financial Literacy program (Photo by Prince Williams/wireimage).
