Today we’d like to introduce you to Olivia M. Gonzalez.
Olivia, please share your story with us. How did you get to where you are today?
Storytelling is in my genes. My great-grandfather’s home in South Texas had a huge wrap-around porch. His grandchildren and their neighborhood friends would often gather to sit on the porch during sunny summer days. There, A’pa Chále would tell tales of adventure from his rocking chair. My mother, his granddaughter, became a well-respected educator and writer — and, through her, I picked up the family writing and storytelling gene.
While at the University of North Texas (UNT) studying music, I took a communication studies course that changed my life. Performance studies with Dr. Jay Allison introduced me to the inner workings of storytelling, and I was hooked. I graduated UNT with a Bachelor of Arts degree in communication studies and a minor in music.
Now, as much as I’d like to say that I found my calling within hours of graduation, that was not the case. Becoming a well-rounded go-to brand messaging and engagement expert for global corporations would take many years of hard work, leading teams, training in multiple disciplines, and traveling for jobs quite a bit. During this time, I honed my communication and writing skills, but in so many ways, I felt trapped.
I knew my calling was greater, and I knew it had to do with my gift of storytelling. I began to think of all the independent organizations and brands that didn’t have access to brand experts, and I began to build the courage to step out of feeling trapped and step into a life I wanted to live.
In 2012, I left corporate America for good. I started what would become OMG Brand Story, a strategic brand messaging consulting business. As CEO and chief brand messaging strategist, I help brands craft engaging content that amplifies their culture, drives engagement, and positively impacts their bottom line, using signature strategies and best practices. And I love what I do.
Sharing my passion for storytelling has led me to many opportunities — some of which pair with my love of food! I created a personal brand through my food blog, OMG’s DFW Food. Through the blog and brand storytelling, I’ve made appearances on television and was even a finalist for Bravo TV’s The Mentorship.
In 2017, I was asked to join an amazing strategic communication firm, and I am extremely fortunate to work remotely as a principal writer and project manager while continuing to grow OMG Brand Story. The firm focuses on a broad range of strategic communications — much broader than brand messaging — for large scale businesses, including global industry icons. And, they do phenomenal work in that arena.
My story is far from over, and I will continue to build my legacy — one chapter at a time.
Great, 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?
Growing into knowing who you are and learning what you truly want out of life — versus what you don’t want — can be a long road. Your priorities shift, and if you’re doing it right — your perspective changes.
For much of the first part of my journey, I was my biggest obstacle.
As a strong, independent individual, it was easy for my ego to out-talk patience and wisdom early in the game. I had to learn humility — the hard way. And, it sucked.
There were moments early in my career when I questioned my gift because I confused growth with weakness. I would refuse help for fear of appearing weak instead of using the support around me to gain insight and fresh perspectives.
As adventurous and ambitious as I am, I was a loner. I didn’t value networking and couldn’t see the sea of support surrounding me every step of the way. It wasn’t until I decided to become more receptive that my world opened up and new opportunities and illuminating perspectives rushed into my life.
Embracing the need to elevate my own self-awareness and making the mindset shift to become more receptive to community and support was key to overcoming the obstacles I’d placed in my own path.
OMG Brand Story – what should we know? What do you do best? What sets you apart from the competition?
There’s nothing more powerful than a good story. OMG Brand Story, LLC is a brand story messaging and development consulting business designed to help businesses develop and grow their brand effectively through storytelling.
We help brands extract their value proposition to attain clarity, define brand identity, communicate their brand magic, and craft a brand culture that attracts, converts, and retains business. We create brand messaging that drives engagement, reinforces company culture, and positively impacts the bottom line.
Our approach is unique in that everything is customized to your brand needs. This isn’t a cookie-cutter experience because all brands embody their own kind of magic! So, we get to know you first. Then, we identify the areas to amplify, as well as the areas of opportunity. We’re known for our ability to quickly assess a brand and identify brand attributes that align with key engagement drivers, tapping into those areas that make the magic happen.
Our specialty is culture and engagement messaging — we craft content that connects.
What moment in your career do you look back most fondly on?
My proudest moments come when I hear success stories from my clients. I’m doing this for them. I want to see them succeed — and being able to help support their dreams — this is what makes me the proudest.
From the small business owners just building their brands to the large organizations that have lived their brand story for years, I value their journey — it means something to me.
I know what it takes to step out of fear and take action toward building your own legacy, and when they trust me with their story, I don’t take that trust lightly. I respect and believe in the power of their story.
So, when it comes together — when it clicks — when their story is embraced by others, it makes me proud to see my clients recognize their own magic.
Contact Info:
- Website: www.oliviamgonzalez.com
- Email: info@oliviamgonzalez.com
- Instagram: www.instagram.com/theoliviamgonzalez
- Facebook: www.facebook.com/theoliviamgonzalez
- Twitter: www.twitter.com/omgbrandstory
Image Credit:
Klayne Photography; Joelle Elizabeth Photo
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