Meet Katrina Calderon of Regal Fierce Media

Today we’d like to introduce you to Katrina Calderon.

Hi Katrina, thanks for sharing your story with us. To start, maybe you can tell our readers some of your backstories.
My name is Katrina Calderon, Latina CEO of Regal Fierce Media, and this is my story. My mom and biological dad had me when they were seventeen. Sadly, it wasn’t the best relationship and when I was eleven, my parents split. When my parents split, I knew my mom was going to need help so, as the oldest of three kids, I stepped up to support her. Even though my home was chaotic at times, I was determined to rise above it all and not allow it to affect me as a person.

My mom was a single mom for a few years after my parents split until my stepdad came into our lives. This new healthy love made us a stronger family. I’m thankful for the life my mom and stepdad gave us. Seeing my mom and stepdad build their life motivated me to do more with my life.

Growing up, I didn’t know what I wanted to do. I had the opportunity to learn about college as a freshman and that, as a young Latina, I could go to college for free with scholarships. I went home to tell my parents that I wanted to go to The University of Arizona. They were excited for me but worried about how we would pay. I told them you don’t have to worry; I got this – I will get scholarships. That’s what I did! I later met my first mentor, Raul, who owns his media agency here in Tucson. He shared his advice on how he got started and on how to attend the UA. Thankfully, he took me under his wing and has been my guide all these years. I knew then that I wanted to be the CEO of my own media agency too!

I was the first one in my family to graduate from college with zero debt. In 2017 I earned my bachelor’s degree in communications. When I went to the UA, I was honored to be there, taking every opportunity to make a positive name for myself. For example, when my scholarship program asked me to be a guest speaker, I said “yes”, although I was afraid of public speaking. This opportunity led to other opportunities that helped me build a positive reputation in the Tucson community. I would always attend internship fairs and networking events. I was interested in this new professional world that I fully immersed myself. Because of the hard work and connections I made during college, I was ready to take on the next big thing by the time I was prepared to graduate.

Shortly after graduating, I began working at Youth On Their Own, a local nonprofit organization. My first position at YOTO was as the Executive Assistant to the CEO, and within two years, I was promoted to their first Marketing Manager. The nonprofit world taught me much, and one of my takeaways was learning to be consistent, which continues to be one of the keys to my success. Engaging with so many professionals helped me to grow my professional network in the community. Also, I established a track record of being a reliable subject-matter expert in marketing, advertising, and event planning.

While working at YOTO, I saw a need for a reliable media team to support local businesses on a more personalized level. My ability to see opportunities to solve these businesses’ problems would allow me to fulfill my dream of helping companies use proven marketing strategies to establish and enhance their brand.

In 2019, I pitched starting a media agency to my husband, Daniel, and friend Luke, who both have photo and video production skills. They loved the idea and said, “Hell Yeah!” At this point, this was a side business that we all worked on after our day jobs and on the weekends, but that changed quickly, and by 2020, we launched Regal Fierce Media as a new media agency that focuses on supporting businesses with social media management, video production, advertisements, and website design. We were all extremely excited about this moment!

Alright, 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?
One of the major obstacles we ran into early on in our business was when the world shut down from Covid-19 in March 2020. But our team didn’t give up on building our small business, and we kept looking for clients and trying to grow. The pandemic meant that, during this time, everyone needed to take their business online and update their online presence. So, our business grew from one client to five clients.

By 2021 I was presented with an opportunity to continue working full-time or go full-time in Regal Fierce Media. Daniel, Luke, and I agreed to leave our full-time jobs, and from that point on, we devoted all our time and energy to growing Regal Fierce Media! And we became fierce leaders during one of the scariest times in the world. Businesses learned to trust us, and we supported the owners and their teams as they learned the tools necessary to enhance their online presence, reach more clients online, and grow their businesses.

During that time, we were still trying to find grants and loans, but it was challenging because we were new and needed to establish a credit history as a business. The struggle was real, and we missed out on the Paycheck Protection Program, the SBA-backed loan, because it was so new, and lenders needed guidance on how to help us through the process. However, we did not give up and learned about the new BIPOC community-managed loan fund, which provides BIPOC business owners with a loan of up to $10,000 and 0% interest for five years.

Regal Fierce Media applied for this fantastic loan opportunity, and we were selected. We used the loan money to purchase new production equipment, which helped us grow the business by 600% by the end of the year. It was the best decision to put full-time energy into our company and not give up on our dreams. Daniel, Luke, and I are proud to thrive in 2023 and are grateful to work with many amazing companies in Tucson, AZ.

You might ask, “what sets us apart from other agencies in Tucson?” It is our genuine connection with all our clients. We want to see everyone win, and if we can help you, we will! If we know of any business resources that helped us, we love to share those with others. We love sharing our media skills, knowledge, and expertise with anyone who can benefit.

Our story teaches people to believe in themselves, believe in their business idea, and then go out into the world and share this dream with others! If you follow these three business tips, many opportunities will await you.

We also know that finding resources or knowing the right people to talk to when starting your business can feel overwhelming. But part of being an entrepreneur, at any level, is moving through these challenges. So, identify your needed resources and use every resource around you to help your business grow. Network because many people in the community will support you. Connect with and talk to as many people as possible about your business. This is how to turn your business dream into a reality.

And remember always to keep that fierce mindset and take on what’s next! One step in the right direction will always get you closer to your goals.

We’ve been impressed with Regal Fierce Media, but for folks who might not be as familiar, what can you share with them about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
Regal Fierce Media is a company fueled by a passion for the media industry. We believe in creating quality content that spans multiple platforms. We are passionate about empowering businesses through our extensive media services. We are your go-to all-in-one media company specializing in video content, Google ads, and digital advertising across other platforms. We also offer social media management, photography, and website services. When you work with us for your video and photo needs, we go directly to you to help get the content you need to implement into your marketing strategy.

Our culturally diverse team allows us to bring new experiences and knowledge of how the media world works today. We replace outdated marketing with innovative, dynamic marketing with high-quality content and specialized strategies that fit your business goals. Regal Fierce Media prides itself on being dependable, authentic, and personable. If you are a business looking to elevate your brand in 2023 and don’t have the time or the team, reach out to us at our website. We are here to make business owners’ lives more manageable, so you can focus on the parts you love about your business!

How do you define success?
I define success as a person entirely in love with the journey of becoming the best version of themselves. This journey is when you become a multitalented human who is your story’s leader, explorer, and author, and only you can define your success. In 2023, your success is determined by experiences where we show up as fierce people in everything we do.

Pricing:

• Video commercial shoot – Starts at $2500
• Social media reel production – $400
• Brand photography – Starts at $950

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.regalfiercemedia.com/
• Instagram: https://instagram.com/regalfiercemedia?igshid=YWJhMjlhZTc=
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/katrina-verduzco