Small Business is Big Business with Mark L. Madrid - Episode 04: Storytelling, Mentorship, and Building Community with Lorenzo Gomez III

Welcome to Self Fueling Excellence, a show now streaming on Roku and Amazon Fire, where we spotlight stories of resilience and innovation. Today’s guest is Lorenzo Gomez III—a San Antonio native whose journey took him from the city’s west side to leading tech companies like Rackspace, co-founding Geekdom, and becoming an acclaimed author. Lorenzo grew up in a large family in inner-city San Antonio. Early experiences—like navigating gang violence at school—inspired his mental health book Tafoya Toro: Three Years of Fear. He credits mentors for shaping his path; friends encouraged him into technology jobs that led to pivotal roles at Gateway Computers and eventually Rackspace. There, he found not only career growth but also transformative relationships that championed his potential. At Geekdom—the city’s first coworking space—Lorenzo fostered community by connecting innovators and entrepreneurs. Drawing inspiration from leaders like Graham Weston, he learned the value of seeking advice rather than pretending to have all the answers—a lesson that shaped both his leadership style and storytelling approach. Storytelling became central to Lorenzo’s philosophy: “Everyone has a story worth telling,” he says. His four-part formula (simple idea—from/to—story) helps others craft narratives that move audiences emotionally as well as intellectually. His latest book addresses online trolling, offering practical strategies rooted in personal experience for overcoming negativity on social media—a modern challenge affecting many today. Now focused on Voice of San Antonio—a platform amplifying local voices—and writing new books about his beloved hometown, Lorenzo remains committed to helping others find their potential through mentorship, community-building, faith-driven purpose…and always storytelling.