Community and Belonging Event w/ Ashley Rivera Mercado

Yesterday, AMA participated in an engaging workshop titled, Mapping Who We Are, led by the founder and president of Mujeres Marketing, Ashley Rivera Mercado. Mujeres Marketing is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that focuses on community building for Latina marketers. They strive to unite these marketers of color while providing them with professional networking and advancement opportunities, which have previously been difficult to attain. Ashley comments on the importance of diverse perspectives within marketing, as they “can lead to either forging community or sewing divide”.

About Ashley Mercado

Ashley was born in Puerto Rico but raised in Orlando, Florida. In 2019, she graduated from the University of Central Florida with a B.A. in international and global studies, and a minor in intelligence and national security. She planned to move to DC to work in policy, but her life had other plans. She then began her master's in communications, where she found her true calling in storytelling and community building. After earning her MBA in 2024, Ashley founded Mujeres Marketing, based on her observation of a lack of opportunity for creatives of color in building careers in marketing.

Ashley Outside of Mujeres Marketing

Besides this non-profit, Ashley has been writing bilingual content for around 5 years. Some examples of her work include the article, “The Rebirth of Bomba y Plena Among Puerto Rico’s Youth” on the site, Remezcla. She has also written various articles on other popular sites, such as HipLatina and PRWeek. Ashley mentions her history of writing numerous articles for these sites, revolving around the artist, Bad Bunny. She also explained her experience at the biggest tech conference in the world, titled CES. She worked for Luminar and partnered with the Mercedes Formula 1 team to add a specific feature to their car during the upcoming race.

Idea Map Engagement Activity

After discussing her personal history and marketing involvement, Ashley facilitated an activity where the AMA was instructed to create a map of 3-5 key identity dimensions, including, but not limited to, culture, language, education, gender, values, and passions. We then connected these identities to the way they influence our approach to communication and teamwork. Some examples of these connections include, “As a first-gen student, I value clarity” or “As someone who values empathy, I prioritize representation”. AMA then reflected on these connections in a group discussion. One member shared her experience prioritizing hard work and determination, while another shared about her experience as a Puerto Rican working for another Puerto Rican, and the importance of understanding someone’s views and values. From this discussion, Ashley shared with the AMA that she values culture and finds it crucial to understand cultural nuance, along with the ability to tie various aspects of your life to your culture.

Closing Q&A with Ashley

At the commencement of the activity, the floor was opened up to questions for Ashley. One member asked about the process of choosing articles to write about, along with an inquiry about Ashley’s favorite article. Ashley responded that one of the first topics she wrote about was generational trauma and Latina finances, which was her highest-performing article. She shared that her creative writing process typically begins with considering questions that she has and pitching those to media sources. She also spoke about her partnership with Apple Music and writing about an interview with the creative director of a trending song, which taught her the importance of personal branding within creative writing.

Another question that was asked of Ashley regarded her involvement in creative projects throughout her marketing career. Ashley responded that Mujeres in Marketing doesn’t specifically take on many projects, as that is not typically what they are involved in working with. But, she shared that she used to work with a social media agency to oversee social media accounts for businesses. She would ghostwrite for the CEO of a Hispanic marketing agency, which typically consisted of writing content on LinkedIn profiles. Ashley recommends this for those going into careers in social media marketing, as it elevates engagement for the company and allows you to create thoughtful, well-written content while getting engaged in the workforce.

Closing Thoughts

Before leaving the Zoom meeting, Ashley shared with us a quote that reflects her guiding values:

“Our stories aren’t barriers, they’re bridges. The more we understand who we are, the more authentically we can connect with others.”

Thank you so much for taking the time to share your experiences and valuable insight with the AMA, Ashley!

-Helena Malcom