In this episode, we sit down with Brittany Ortiz, founder of Monarca Marketing, a bilingual marketing agency helping small businesses, Latino entrepreneurs, and contractors grow their online presence. As a first-generation college graduate from the University of Central Florida (UCF), Brittany's entrepreneurial journey was anything but traditional. From facing barriers to pursuing her original dream of becoming a veterinarian because of her immigration status, to completing unpaid internships and eventually launching her own marketing agency, Brittany shares how she turned obstacles into opportunities. With 20 clients and over 30 projects launched, Brittany opens up about what it really takes to build a business from scratch — even when you don't have big-name companies on your résumé, years of experience, or all the answers. We discuss how she landed her first paying customer, built her clientele through networking and referrals, learned to price her services confidently, and uses AI tools without losing the human creativity that makes her work stand out. Brittany also shares her experiences with imposter syndrome, balancing entrepreneurship with learning opportunities, and why undocumented students shouldn't wait until they feel completely prepared to start building something of their own. Her message is simple: Start with what you have, use your community, and remember that your story is your competitive advantage. 🔑 In this episode you’ll learn: How to start a business as an undocumented student, find your first paying clients, and turn your existing skills into real opportunities. How to price your services, build a portfolio, network strategically, and use tools like Canva, Claude, ChatGPT, and CapCut to grow your business. How to overcome imposter syndrome, embrace your unique story, and build confidence as an entrepreneur without waiting until everything is perfect. 📣 Whether you’re a student with an idea, or an ally who wants to see undocumented students win — this episode is for you. 📆 Learn how to bring UndocuStartup™ to your campus: www.undocustartup.com 🚀 UndocuStartup™ Week:Ready to turn your ideas into a business? Join UndocuStartup™ Week, a FREE 7-day virtual entrepreneurship program designed for undocumented students across the country. 📅 November 9–16, 2026💡 Learn entrepreneurship, develop your business idea, and connect with fellow student entrepreneurs.🏆 Pitch your business idea for a chance to win $525.⚡ Limited to 20 student entrepreneurs. Applications close October 25, 2026. 👉 Apply now: https://www.undocustartup.com/week 🚀 12 Ways to Connect With Me: Newsletter → https://shorturl.at/mpzLO Programs & Speaking → https://www.undocustartup.com TikTok → https://www.tiktok.com/@jmayahern Business IG → https://instagram.com/undocustartup/ Personal IG → https://instagram.com/jmayahe/ LinkedIn → https://linkedin.com/in/juanmayahernandez/ LinkedIn Newsletter → https://linkedin.com/newsletters/7011183488515129344/ Reddit → https://reddit.com/r/Undocumentedstudents/ Threads → https://www.threads.net/@jmayahern Email → jmayahern@undocustartup.com Website → https://www.jmayahern.com Full podcast archive → https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/juan-maya-hernandez 🎤 Hosted by Juan Maya Hernandez, founder of UndocuStartup™ — the leading entrepreneurship program for undocumented students. 🧠 Be motivated. Stay motivated.
