Meet our Founder + CEO, Gianni
Image via Lisa Says Gah
Hiiii friends!! I am Gianni Martinez, (or Gigi for short!) and I am the CEO and Founder of Girl Socially. My nickname is Gigi. You might hear people call me that and you are more than welcomed to do so, too!
I am currently 24 years old and I started Girl Socially when I was 23 years old. I thought it’d make sense to introduce myself in the month of September because it’s my birth month. So hey!
A little bit about me:
Virgo sun, Libra moon, and Libra rising
Oldest sibling
Studied Communications in Media and Public Relations
Almost done with my masters in Digital Marketing and Advertising
Obsessed with every shade of pink
Loves sushi and mexican food
Now since that’s out of the way, here’s my story with Girl Socially and how Girl Socially began. It was 2020 and everything was chaotic - pandemic, WFH, post grad life, and feeling extremely unfulfilled and lost.
During that time, I had two internships and was going to school for my MBA (fun fact: I didn’t finish that degree!). One of those internships eventually turned into a paid position as their Social Media Coordinator. It worked out perfectly because it was always remote. The other internship was such an amazing opportunity, I was interning for the best advertising and branding agency in Tampa, FL. I had that internship for about 5 months, but then things started to get really bad with COVID-19 so it ended shortly after.
I literally manifested these two internships because I heard back from them in the same week and they were located in the same co working office space… how cool is that?! Manifesting actually does work. Side note: on my 23rd birthday, there’s a video of me saying how I want to start my own business that year. And, the crazy thing is that I did! You should try it sometime.
Manifesting actually does work.
Summer 2020, me and two friends started thinking about starting our own online clothing boutique. We were pretty serious about it too, but it just faded into thin air. At the end of the day, we weren’t on the same page about what we wanted to sell, our vibe, or brand persona, etc. but I realized something, I noticed that I lovedddd having and building my own business.
Mid 2020, I started my current my new Masters program in Digital Marketing and Advertising while working as a social media coordinator. So, I decided to apply for another marketing position. I started that position in July and since it wasn’t remote it was hard to continue with it because of COVID-19. I only had that job for a few weeks! And, they weren’t that busy at that time so I really didn’t have that many tasks which made it difficult to keep me busy.
After applying to sooo many jobs, I felt discouraged and had no idea what to do. I was seriously having a series of unfortunate events filled people that didn’t add value to my life. I felt like I had to have it all figured out by now.
I went to visit my family in Georgia towards the end of the year for five weeks. During that time, I signed up for a six week social media marketing course called ‘Level Up’ by Hannah. It just felt right. Fast forward to August 2021and I am taking the second level to Level Up.
Talented, brilliant, incredible, amazing, showstopper, spectacular, never the same, totally unique, completely not ever been done before.
But seriously, it changed my life. I found her on Tiktok and something resonated with me. I read about her course and signed up almost immediately. I decided to give it a shot because I was already kinda doing social media marketing and that’s what my education had been in thus far.
I had always been into social media whether that was when I was younger and started my own youtube channel, taking pictures, or even blogging. I had always been doing these things (as hobbies, though!). What if I started charging for these things. And, now we’re here with Girl Socially. A full circle moment.
It all happened almost intuitively. And, for the first time in a long time, I followed my heart despite of the unknown.
The thing is that I was able to overcome all the obstacles effortlessly because *I think* that this is my path so everything is just unfolding as it should.
I HAD TO DO SOMETHING AND I HAD TO DO SOMETHING GOOD.
I was willing - I am willing - to work my butt off now so I can reap the reward later.
I took the course in January 2021 and by the end of February, the course ended. And, by the first week of March, I got my first few clients. The first time I got an invoice paid - I was so happy and excited. I felt like I was doing the thing I was born to do. I always say that it feels like this career fell into my lap because I essentially already had my first client before ever even starting because I had that remote social media coordinator position already, remember? Having that in the beginning was a great confidence boost.
I had started designing my website in January. And, I believe I made my account on Squarespace on January 12/13. Every week, I worked on something new… my website, my logo, my contract, my packages, sending out proposals on Upwork, etc.
If I had to pick a day I would say that my agency officially opened on February 15th. However, my agency wasn't officially an LLC until May 21, 2021.
I felt like I was doing the thing I was born to do.
But before I felt called to do this, I was feeling really really lost in my life’s calling so much so that I signed up for an MBA program! I was just trying to something, anything at all, in order to make myself look busy and successful post grad. I was just moving through the motions and wandering through life aimlessly.
I was trying soo damn hard to make something, anything, at the point, work. You can’t force things that aren’t meant for you.
As soon as I made the switch to following my heart and building my business, everything else started to fall into place. I suddenly somehow removed unfulfilling relationships in my life and made room for the more meaningful ones. My life literally had a glow up. The second I started Girl Socially, everything started to make sense. All those no’s led to this one moment.
everything else started to fall into place
My goal with Girl Socially is to help female entrepreneurs make their businesses GLOW online! Like, really really glow! I want to make your business pop and stand out. Why? Because I believe in you and I believe in your business. That is why it is uber important to me to work with brands that I resonate with and feel inspired by.
“I want to make your business pop and stand out.”
I have sooo many ideas for the future and this is just the beginning. It feels really good to do something that I am passionate about and build something from the ground up. It’s not always sunshine and rainbows - it takes a lot of hard work and dedication. As an entrepreneur, please be kind and patient with yourself.
moral of the story: manifesting works, follow your heart, a bad season won’t last forever, and be kind and patient with your progress.
With sooo much love,
