Aquila Mendez-Valdez scales through franchising and community

Aquila Mendez-Valdez is the Founder of Haute in Texas, which began as a personal blog and has evolved into a full-service public relations agency empowering women-led businesses. Her innovative approach combines storytelling, strategy, and community to help brands grow with authenticity and purpose.   In this episode, Aquila shares her inspiring journey from launching a business while pregnant to scaling her company into a thriving agency. She and Sanjay discuss hiring your first employee, creating a franchise model, and the importance of surrounding yourself with a strong, supportive community.   What You’ll Learn: • How to build a business while balancing family and entrepreneurship • When and how to hire your first employee • What it takes to develop a franchise model • The power of community in sustaining business growth   Learn more about Haute in Texas at https://hitpr.com/   Chapters  00:00 Introduction and background  5:53 Overcoming nerves 11:31 Growing a company culture 13:42 Differentiating your company 17:23 Advice for small businesses 20:12 Scaling the business 24:52 Balancing work and life 30:08 Closing and contact    #SmallBusiness #PublicRelations #Podcast   At Hiscox, we provide customized insurance solutions for small businesses and entrepreneurs, empowering you to take risks with confidence. With over 100 years of expertise, we offer coverage options like general liability and professional liability, helping you protect what matters most. Learn more at hiscox.com.