Idalia Salsamendi
Influencer/Brand Strategist, Founder/CEO of Idalia Salsamendi
“It’s paramount to not stay complacent or be naive in thinking that what you’re doing now will stay like that forever. You have to have fun in seeing beyond the horizon, and setting sail. ”
Tell us about how you’ve gotten to where you are today.
It's quite a story as I actually grew up in the [entertainment] industry. My mom worked at Telemundo and Univision since I was a little girl so I was acting in commercials and television shows for both networks since I was eight years old. Fast forward to college, I studied public relations and journalism with a minor in business administration at Florida International University. I also worked at The Agency, the top PR agency in Miami at the time, while also pursuing acting. Learning how everything worked both behind the scenes and in front of the camera at such a young age provided me with such invaluable experience that has helped me get to where I am now. When I graduated from university, I moved to Los Angeles to pursue acting and it wasn't long until that the [2008] recession hit bring everything to a standstill. Luckily at the age of twenty-four, I got an internship at Ford Models to be a model agent and set my acting dreams aside to pursue fashion. From there I transferred over to Next Models in LA before transferring once more to their New York office where I became the head of the talent division. At the start of my agent days in LA there was no Instagram, although "blogs" started coming onto the scene. I found myself at the forefront of how we could unite these bloggers with brands to sell products in a way a model couldn’t. That was the conversation that was happening at the time, [and] I knew we were onto something very big. We witnessed the explosion of these bloggers such as Chiara Ferragni and Danielle Bernstein and - with the later emergence of Instagram - influencers. After a few years in New York, I decided to leave corporate America to open my own business strategy company, Idalia Salsamend INC. My experience as a former manager/agent showed me that there was a certain disconnect between managers/agents and their talent. That one-on-one attention tends to be a little difficult when you're handling a big roster. At my company, we work with influencers, both with and without management, to help them build their business in astronomical ways while also having their message be more widespread and more human. I’m a firm believer that if you have a platform, you have to do good and you have to give back in any way, shape or form. It was truly shocking to me to see that most of these influencers weren’t giving back. It’s really important that if you have an audience, you’re selling an authentic message about what life is. That’s what makes my way of business strategy so unique, sustainable, and fruitful. With brands, I work the same way and ask them, “Who are the influencers you want to team up with that have a good message?” Brands need to team up with influencers who aren’t just out there for the paycheck, but rather that believe in the brand and its message.
If you had to start over from scratch, knowing what you know now, what would you do differently?
I would be a lot kinder to myself. I’m a perfectionist. Now in my thirties, I have come to the realization that perfection does not exist and it should not be expected of me or the people I work with. I’m not perfect and that’s ok. I’m perfectly perfect not being perfect.
You took a very non-traditional career path. What should other people who want to enter the domain you are in, know?
Hmmm, I actually think I took a very traditional path. I studied PR and worked at a PR agency. What makes me a little different is that I was able to see further and I was able to make the leap and jump. I took a risk instead of playing it safe. I tested the waters that I truly believed in and dove straight in. You don’t know what’s going to happen in five or ten years so you always have to keep your eyes and ears open. It's paramount to not stay complacent or be naive in thinking that what you're doing now will stay like that forever. You have to have fun in seeing beyond the horizon, and setting sail.
Have you ever doubted yourself when taking on a new project or client?
I know if my heart beats a little faster when I say, “Yes” to a client/project, then I'm on the right path. If I didn’t doubt myself, I couldn’t push myself. It doesn’t come from a negative place, it comes from a very empowering place… [and] that’s what pushes me to be better. It’s knowing I don’t know it all that allows me the opportunity to learn and grow through my experiences. I also had incredible people along the way believe in me more than I did in myself in the beginning of my career, such as Alexis Borges, President of NEXT LA. In my thirties, I’ve learned to let go of ego. I’m here to give you the best of me. I’m not perfect… but I will give you 100% of me. That is enough.
Rapid Round
What’s one leadership lesson you’ve learned in your career?
That a leader is part, not separate, from the team.
What's one thing we wouldn't know about you based on your LinkedIn profile?
I’m really funny and have a good sense of humor.
What's your definition of leadership?
To constantly be learning and sharing what you’ve learned with your team in order to accomplish a greater, communal goal.
What is the best decision that you've made?
Personally: marrying my husband. Professionally: moving to New York City.
What’s the most important business or general life discovery you’ve made in the past year?
Self-compassion and self-kindness. In order for you to do good work, you have to be good to yourself or it won’t translate to anything else you do. Your cup has to be full - spiritually, emotionally, intellectually - in order to project that back into the world.
What word can you not get enough of?
Kindness and authenticity.
What is your Achilles' heel?
My nephew, Juan. I drop everything when I’m with him.
What's your comfort food or activity to de-stress?
I do yoga three times a week and meditate everyday. I have a 90% plant-based diet but when I’m missing home or I’ve had a rough day, McDonald's. Ha!
Who is your female leader icon?
I have quite a bit. My mom and my aunt. Oprah. Queen Elizabeth I and II. Women that have all led in their own unique way.
What is your must-have to get your workday started?
I always take a moment and practice gratitude to start my day.
What three words sum up your career (so far!)?
Rollercoaster, fabulous, grateful.
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This interview has been edited for length and clarity.
