The Power of Showing Up: Lessons from My Journey as a Founder
When I started Delgado Creative Group, I didn’t have a perfect business plan or a fancy investor pitch. What I did have was a deep desire to create something of my own; something that allowed me to use my voice and my vision to make an impact.
Like many women in business, I wasn’t handed a blueprint. I had to build it while navigating uncharted territory, learning through trial, error and the occasional happy accident.
Entrepreneurship often looks glamorous from the outside. What you don’t always see are the late nights, the uncertainty and the immense self-doubt. For me, those moments of doubt weren’t signs to stop. They were invitations to dig deeper and recommit to the path I had chosen.
Building More Than a Business
Delgado Creative Group began as a digital marketing and brand strategy studio. But over time, it has evolved into something much bigger. DCG is a platform for creative exploration, collaboration and empowerment.
Whether we are designing a content strategy or consulting with a founder on their story, I always return to one question:
How can I help this person feel more confident, more clear and more connected to their purpose?
The Importance of Community
One of the most valuable lessons I’ve learned is that success doesn’t happen in a vacuum. I wouldn’t be where I am without the support of mentors, peers and friends who believed in me, especially when I struggled to believe in myself.
Communities like UWIB are essential. They offer more than just networking. They provide space for shared knowledge, honest conversations and collective empowerment.
If you're early in your career, seek those safe, supportive spaces. And if you’re further along, mentoring someone else can be a profound way to give back.
Letting Imperfection Lead
Letting go of perfection has been one of my greatest lessons. I used to believe that everything needed to be flawless before launching it. But I’ve learned that clarity comes through action.
Some of my most successful launches were imperfect but authentic. Others I waited too long on paralyzed by the pursuit of perfection and missed opportunities.
The truth is: you don’t need to have it all figured out to take the first step. Your work doesn’t need to be perfect to be powerful.
Staying Rooted in Purpose
Comparison is a slippery slope. As women, it’s easy to measure our success against someone else’s timeline. But I’ve learned to define success on my own terms.
For me, success means doing work I love, staying aligned with my values and creating space for joy and rest. It means lifting others up and building something sustainable- not just profitable.
You are allowed to evolve. You are allowed to pivot. You are allowed to grow at your own pace.
My Final Thoughts
Being a founder has stretched me in unexpected ways. It’s taught me resilience, creativity and the importance of trusting my instincts.
But most of all, it’s taught me this:
The power is in showing up.
Even when it’s messy.
Even when you’re tired.
Even when you’re scared.
Because every time you show up for your dreams, you show other women that they can too.
And that is where real change begins.