Today we’d like to introduce you to Rachel Matos.
Rachel, let’s start with your story. We’d love to hear how you got started and how the journey has been so far.
I’m an exhibited artist and former museum professional, whose life and career completely changed after launching a blog.
I’m originally from New York, the Bronx specifically. I studied at the School of Visual Arts and Columbia University with majors in Illustration, Art Education and Modern Art. In 2004, I moved out to LA with my now ex-husband and our son to further his career in the movie marketing industry. I had a very tough time adapting personally and professionally to my new home on the west coast. The LA landscape did not make hopping from museum to museum as easy as I was used to back in the city. I dabbled a bit in different things – like acting and writing – to keep my creative curiosities alive. I shot many commercials and launched several blogs until I really found my voice in theArtMuse (the site is now just under my name), a blog focusing on art and style.
I sought out parenting and Latina communities and began to build quite an interesting and eclectic network of women, who did everything from practice law to recipe development — all with a passion for sharing and creating community. I eventually became the first hire at #WeAllGrow Latina Network – the first and only influencer marketing agency and conference focusing on Latina content creators. I wore many different hats within the six years of my employment there but the last few years were dedicated to directing social media and community management. When the company downsized in 2017, I launched a digital marketing agency called Blue Lotus Collective with a business partner, and we’ve been working and building ever since!
We’re always bombarded by how great it is to pursue your passion, etc – but we’ve spoken with enough people to know that it’s not always easy. Overall, would you say things have been easy for you?
There are always bumps in the road and detours. That’s just life.
In my case, divorce, moving cross country and a new career all presented themselves with major challenges that I needed to overcome. However, those same challenges are what motivated and prepared me to pursue my entrepreneurial dreams.
Those experiences taught me that I’m resilient, resourceful and that I have the power to create the life that I want.
So let’s switch gears a bit and go into the Blue Lotus Collective story. Tell us more about the business.
We’re a digital marketing agency specializing in social marketing. We’re now moving into events and workshops. The name of the agency is called Blue Lotus Collective and I’m the CEO.
The lotus flower is symbolic of purity of the body and mind while rooted in the mud. The way it beautifully blooms from the swamps resonates with me. Because no matter what I’ve been through or what “muddy waters” I found myself in, I always blossomed.
The blue lotus, specifically, is often depicted in artwork partially opened – as though it were in a state of emergence. Throughout history, it has also been associated with wisdom, growth, knowledge, and transformation. All of these qualities can be tied into our personal lives as well as business, which is why I found this to be such a perfect name for us.
Many of the brands we work with have a story behind their product that goes a lot deeper than just making a quick sale. Reaching people and building community and trust is what leads to the profit and visibility many of them are seeking. We work with them to really uncover that and find the sweet spots that will resonate with audiences. If you’re just looking to rack up numbers quickly and don’t really care about relationships, we’re not the place for you.
I think it’s what sets apart from other agencies. There’s a lot of heart and soul in what we do. We know what works and we’re completely transparent about it.
We’re known for our attention to detail, collaborative spirit, and accessibility. And by that I mean – we answer emails within 24 hours. Even if it’s an email to acknowledge we got the email, we never leave anyone waiting for a simple reply.
Has luck played a meaningful role in your life and business?
Luck? I guess never really thought about luck and how much it played or didn’t play into my life. I always felt that events in life come from what you attract and how you take advantage of the opportunities that come your way.
I will admit, I’ve definitely found myself at the right place at the right time many times in life. I got into the museum field before it was even a “thing”, and years later found myself in the influencer space working full-time in a career that didn’t even exist a few years prior. Maybe it was luck or maybe it was just a matter of being open to new ideas and surrounding myself with visionaries and hard-working creatives.
What quality or characteristic do you feel is most important to your success?
I’m a collaborative leader.
A collaborative mindset is very important to me and is something I learned when I was in the museum field. I had the privilege of working with so many extraordinary artists and educators, who taught me the power of working together to create and empower communities.
I’ve carried this with me throughout the years, and I strongly think it’s the reason why I’ve managed to build solid communities and strong partnerships, which eventually became the foundation to building my own business.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.bluelotuscollective.com/
- Phone: (323) 607-5482
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bluelotuscollective/
Image Credit:
Kevin Santiago, Lorraine C. Ladish
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