Today we’d like to introduce you to Ana Carolina Salazar.
Hi Ana Carolina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I was born in Maturín, Monagas, Venezuela, but my formative years were spent in San Antonio de Los Altos, a serene town nestled in the mountains of Miranda state. Growing up amidst its cool climate, lush greenery, and tight-knit community, I was surrounded by the rhythms of Venezuelan life—arepas on the stove, the melodies of my father’s cuatro (Venezuelan traditional instrument), and the unwavering strength of my mother.
At 15, my world shifted when my mother passed away. My sister and I moved to Orlando to reunite with our father, carrying with us the resilience and values instilled in us back home. Adapting to a new culture and language was challenging, but over time, I realized that my accent, once a source of insecurity, was a testament to my heritage and a bridge between cultures.
I pursued a degree in Advertising and Public Relations at the University of Central Florida, which led me to roles at Univision and Prospera. These experiences deepened my understanding of the Hispanic market and the importance of culturally relevant storytelling.
Driven by a desire to bridge gaps in communication and representation, I pursued a Master’s in Digital Marketing in Spain. Upon returning to Florida, with the support of my father, I founded BOLD Hispanic Marketing Agency to serve as a cultural bridge between brands and the Hispanic community.
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?
The road hasn’t been smooth, and I wouldn’t want to pretend it has been. Building a business from scratch as a young Latina immigrant came with more than its fair share of invisible hurdles—imposter syndrome, limited access to capital, and constantly having to prove my value in rooms where I was often the only one who looked or sounded like me.
When I first launched BOLD, I was handling everything—business development, servicing clients, creative direction, social media, and bookkeeping. There were months when I didn’t know if I’d be able to pay my team, let alone myself. But even in the struggle, I knew the work mattered. We weren’t just designing logos—we were helping people feel seen, understood, and empowered.
Then the pandemic hit. Clients paused contracts, budgets were cut, and like so many other small businesses, we felt the pressure from every direction. But instead of pulling back, we leaned in. We offered pro bono services to the businesses that needed them most, knowing that impact would matter more than profit in that moment.
In 2024, I experienced my greatest personal loss. My father passed away. He had been my rock, my mentor, and my greatest believer. Losing him meant losing my center, and it forced me to pause, grieve, and reimagine who I was without him. During his illness, I stepped away from my business to care for him, and after his passing, I took time to heal and reconnect with myself and my roots. Naturally, my business felt the impact of my absence, but that season also became a defining moment in my journey. It shifted me from being in constant hustle mode to creating with true intention. I realized that success isn’t just about growth at all costs—it’s about building something that endures, something that carries meaning. That’s when I began embracing what I now call legacy in motion, by leading not just for today, but honoring the past and building a future that lasts.
Through it all, what’s kept me going is our community. The resilience of our gente, the power of culture, and the belief that entrepreneurship can be a tool for healing and liberation. These challenges haven’t broken me. They’ve sharpened my purpose.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
My work sits at the intersection of storytelling, strategy, and cultural transformation. At the heart of everything I do is a single mission: To ensure that Latino voices are not just included, but prioritized in the national conversation—not for a month, not as a trend, but year-round, with dignity, purpose, and power.
I launched Bold Hispanic Marketing Agency to help brands go beyond surface-level diversity and truly connect with U.S. Hispanic audiences. That means building marketing strategies that are bilingual, bicultural, and backed by data, not assumptions. It means guiding companies through the nuances of our communities, from generational shifts to regional identities and cultures. We don’t just translate—we transcreate. We build with context, not clichés.
As we grew, I noticed another gap—Latino entrepreneurs with exceptional businesses but limited digital visibility. That’s why I launched Digital Studio powered by BOLD, our creative division for Hispanic service-based small businesses, built around our Marca con Alma methodology (helping business owners clarify their mission, create a cohesive brand identity, and show up strategically across all platforms).
Because culture isn’t just part of our strategy—it is the strategy—we also created Hablamos Spanglish, our podcast and media platform that amplifies bicultural voices, explores identity, entrepreneurship, and culture through storytelling. We don’t just talk marketing—we talk legacy.
Our agency is certified as a Minority and Women-Owned Business Enterprise (MWBE) by the Florida State Minority Supplier Development Council (FSMSDC) and the Women’s Business Enterprise National Council (WBENC). These certifications allow us to collaborate with public institutions and continue advocating for equitable economic opportunity.
We’ve had the privilege of working with mission-driven and community-rooted organizations like the Orlando Magic, AdventHealth, OUC, Heart of Florida United Way, Prospera, United Arts of Central Florida, Hope CommUnity Center, and Family Bridges. From building campaigns to elevating digital presence, we bring cultural fluency and authenticity to every project.
Our work has been recognized through awards such as the Don Quijote Hispanic Business of the Year (5 years or less) and the Orlando Business Journal’s Diversity in Business Award. Personally, I’ve been honored as one of ALPFA’s Latinas to Watch, featured in the Hispanic Rising Stars – Volume V, recognized as one of the Orlando Business Journal’s 40 Under 40, and Women Who Mean Business—recognitions that reflect not just my work, but the collective power of the community I represent.
But more than any title or client name, my proudest moments come from sitting with a small business owner and watching them see their brand not as a side hustle, but as a real, scalable business. Watching them feel seen, powerful, and ready to take up space. That’s why we do this.
We all have a different way of looking at and defining success. How do you define success?
If you had asked me this question a year and a half ago, I would’ve given you a different answer. Back then, I might have discussed hitting goals, expanding reach, or collaborating with national brands. But life, grief, and growth have a way of shifting your definition.
For a long time, I measured success by the amount I was accomplishing. But when I lost my father—my rock, my mentor, I was forced to slow down. To grieve. To listen. Then I asked myself: What does success feel like, not just look like?
Today, success means living in alignment with one’s values. It means honoring my parents’ legacy by building platforms that uplift our stories, not just sell services. It’s about staying true to my values and bringing others with me, not just climbing, but building ladders.
It’s time with my family. It’s road trips with no itinerary. It’s playing music with my dog Kahlua at my feet. It’s leading from intuition and heart, not ego. It’s feeling at peace in the small moments, knowing the work I do is rooted in something real.
Recently, I was in a mastermind session with Tom Martinez, a coach, mentor, and client. He discussed shifting from maintenance to creation. Then it hit me: That’s what BOLD has always been. We’ve never stayed in the safe zone. We imagine. We dare. We build marcas con alma—brands with soul—not just for others, but for ourselves.
Because success isn’t about perfection or pressure. It’s about creating spaces where people—my team, my clients, my community—can feel seen, heard, and valued. It’s about impact, not just optics.
Success now feels like a legacy in motion. It’s the everyday act of building something that outlives me, with soul, intention, and purpose.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://boldhispanic.marketing; www.bolddigital.studio; www.hablamosspanglish.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/boldhispanicmarketing/; https://www.instagram.com/_bolddigitalstudio/; https://www.instagram.com/hablamosspanglish/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/boldhispanicmarketing/; https://www.facebook.com/p/Digital-Studio-powered-by-BOLD-61575496125282/; https://www.facebook.com/hablamosspanglish/
- LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/boldhispanicmarketing; https://www.linkedin.com/company/bolddigitalstudio/; https://www.linkedin.com/showcase/hablamos-spanglish/
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTAh4_RWEum31BDnKFgSq2Q
