Powerfully Haute

Aquila Mendez-Valdez didn’t initially envision herself as a business owner—but becoming a mom of two was the spark that lit her entrepreneurial fire. Today, as founder of Haute in Texas and Haute in Network Agencies, she leads a thriving PR and marketing firm and franchise dedicated to helping female founders build bold, beautiful brands that shine—online and off. Aquila, a NAWBO San Antonio member and finalist for the 2025 Woman Business Owner of the Year Award, sponsored by Bank of America, shares her journey from small-town farm life to powerhouse agency leader, how storytelling became her superpower and why motherhood was the unexpected catalyst for a career she loves. To learn more about this NAWBO award and others, visit: https://nawbo.org/awards