Conversations with Deyanira Martinez

Today we’d like to introduce you to Deyanira Martinez.

Hi Deyanira, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
My story is really a journey of faith, reinvention, and refusing to give up on myself. I came to the United States when I was twenty years old with nothing but a suitcase and a dream. No money, no family here, and honestly, no idea how I was going to make it. What I did have was a deep desire to grow and to create a life that felt meaningful.

I worked my way through college while holding down jobs during the day and taking classes at night. Everything took longer for me, but those years taught me discipline and resilience. Eventually I began a twenty three year career at The New York Times in Circulation and Advertising, and later became co chair of the Latino employee group. Being there opened my eyes to the power of media and storytelling, and it planted a seed that would grow much later.

During that time I also explored my love for communication. I wrote for newspapers and magazines, produced television segments, and started hosting. I discovered how much I enjoyed connecting with audiences, whether I was interviewing someone, moderating a panel, or guiding an event as a master of ceremonies. That part of my journey helped me find my voice and gave me the confidence to step into new spaces.

After more than two decades in corporate America, I felt a pull toward something more aligned with my purpose. I launched DeyaMedia Corp and co founded Mujeres que se Atreven y Superan Límites, a publishing and leadership platform that has now shared more than one hundred fifty stories from women around the world. What started with one book became a movement, a community, and a space where women can write, grow, lead, and be seen.

Today I continue writing, editing books, moderating conversations, hosting events, and helping authors bring their stories to life. Every project feels like a reminder of why I started. I know what it means to build from zero, to face uncertainty, and to reinvent yourself completely. And I also know the power of one story. When we share our truth, we not only heal ourselves, we inspire someone else to rise.

We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
The road has had its share of challenges, especially becoming a mother at a young age and having to figure out life almost entirely on my own. Carrying that level of responsibility so early forced me to grow up fast and make decisions that many people my age weren’t even thinking about yet. There were moments of fear, exhaustion, and uncertainty, but they also pushed me to develop a resilience I didn’t know I had.

Another challenge was learning how to trust myself. When you’re used to surviving and doing everything alone, stepping into new opportunities or believing you deserve more can feel like a battle. I’ve had to break through my own limitations, confront insecurities, and allow myself to dream bigger than my circumstances.

The journey hasn’t been easy, but every difficult moment has stretched me, strengthened me, and prepared me for the work I do today. Those early struggles became the foundation of my courage and the reason I show up so passionately for other women.

Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
My work lives at the intersection of storytelling, communication, and empowerment. I help women transform their personal stories into books, messages, and platforms that give them visibility and open doors. Through DeyaMedia and our publishing house, I guide authors from the first idea to a finished book and support them as they grow into leaders and voices in their communities.

I am known for my ability to connect deeply with people and bring out the truth behind their stories. My background in media, television, writing, and hosting events taught me how to listen, how to ask the right questions, and how to create spaces where people feel safe to share their voice.

What I am most proud of is the community that has formed around this work. Women who once doubted themselves are now authors, speakers, entrepreneurs, and leaders. Seeing them rise is one of the greatest gifts of my career.

What sets me apart is that I teach from experience. I built everything from the ground up, and I understand what it means to reinvent yourself. My work comes from the heart, and I bring together storytelling, strategy, and real human connection to help others step into their purpose with confidence.

We’d love to hear about any fond memories you have from when you were growing up?
Growing up in the Dominican Republic gave me some of my favorite childhood memories. We didn’t have internet or cell phones, and the power went out almost every day, but those moments were full of magic. I loved spending time in my room reading magazines, playing with my paper dolls, and creating stories for the huge collection I had. I could spend hours imagining new worlds.

And when the lights went out, the whole neighborhood came alive. Kids played outside, we hung out on the sidewalks, listened to music. Those nights and created real connection. No screens, no rush, just simple joy.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://deyaniramartinez.net
• Instagram: @deyamartinezl
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/deyamartinel/
• LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/deyanira-martinez-05865811/
• Youtube: @deyaniramartinez
• Other: https://mujeresqueseatrevenysuperanlimites.com