Meet Persephonie Martinez, a UTRGV Unsung Hero
Text by Amanda A. Taylor-Uchoa
Persephonie Martinez, program coordinator with the UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization in Weslaco, oversees entrepreneurs from across the Rio Grande Valley to help them achieve their business goals. From helping them conduct market research, to brainstorming ideas, Martinez is always happy to lend a helping hand.
‘Hearing an idea and witnessing its growth as we support them is what I love most about my job,’ she says. ‘And I absolutely love the incredible network of individuals I have the privilege to work with.”
WHAT IS YOUR ROLE AT UTRGV? I'm a program coordinator at the UTRGV Center for Innovation and Commercialization (CIC) in Weslaco.
HOW LONG HAVE YOU WORKED HERE? More than a year.
DESCRIBE YOUR AVERAGE DAY:
Every day, I have the privilege of organizing events for the UTRGV CIC and overseeing the Market Lab program. I also guide a dynamic group of 30 incredible entrepreneurs from the Valley for a semester-long project, including current students, faculty, staff, alumni and community. My role involves offering business insights as they navigate their business planning journey. I help them master the art of conducting market research, think strategically about their ventures, brainstorm innovative ideas, and facilitate connections with the rich pool of resources and advisors available at UTRGV. Our entrepreneurs also benefit from unique opportunities stemming from our partnerships with UTRGV professors – like Dr. Sylvia Robles (Adopt-a-Startup), Eloy Garza (CareerBridge), Dr. Ahmed Elnahas (Entrepreneurial Finance), and Deidra Johnson (Integrated Marketing and Communication) – who actively engage with them in their classrooms and provide valuable experiential learning experiences for the students.
WHAT IS YOUR FAVORITE PART OF YOUR JOB?
Watching local entrepreneurs undergo incredible transformations with the support we provide, particularly in those challenging early stages of their businesses. They come to the UTRGV CIC with an idea, and through our programs and competitions, we help them further develop their idea. Seeing them progress to the next stage of their business journey is genuinely inspiring. Hearing an idea and witnessing its growth as we support them is what I love most about my job.
Another aspect of my job that I absolutely love is the incredible network of individuals I have the privilege to work with. From our dedicated team at the UTRGV CIC to the inspiring students, professors and entrepreneurs, along with the supportive UTRGV departments, we all come together to nurture our vibrant entrepreneurial ecosystem. It's this spirit of collaboration that makes every day so fulfilling.
DO YOU HAVE A FAVORITE MEMORY, OR STORY, ABOUT YOUR TIME HERE?
Yes! One of my fondest memories is when we came up with the idea for the Battle of the Brands marketing competition for our marketing students. I recall sitting down with Vivian Vargas, UTRGV CIC program coordinator, and discussing the need to show our support for the marketing students connected with the Market Lab. During our conversation, Vivian shared her own experience at UTPA, where she took a marketing course . In that course, students were paired with companies and tasked with creating advertisements, which they would then compete with. She mentioned that it was a great team experience, and the event featured a stage. Inspired by this idea, we set out to coordinate and develop the Battle of the Brands competition, where students can win scholarships for their marketing presentations. We went all out, featuring a stage and a 9-foot LED screen. As the students prepared to present, the anthem "We Will Rock You" played in the background. The atmosphere was amazing, and the students were so eager to take the stage. Our marketing team put together an amazing reel for the event. To this day, I occasionally revisit it because it makes me so happy to remember how we worked together to make it happen.
TELL US SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’T KNOW ABOUT YOU
I grew up in Port Isabel, and my childhood was filled with wonderful experiences at the Laguna Madre. When I was really young, my grandpa was my mentor, and he taught me to enjoy activities like fishing, crabbing, hunting and net casting. These hobbies hold a special place in my heart because of the memories we created together. And my grandmother was quite an aspiring entrepreneur who played a crucial role in teaching me the ropes of making and managing money. She inspired the entrepreneur in me. After my grandpa passed, my grandmother raised me all by herself, going above and beyond to ensure I had everything I needed and more as I grew up. She is the reason entrepreneurship is so close to my heart.
WHAT IS YOUR RELATIONSHIP WITH THE UTRGV COMMUNITY?
I share a meaningful bond with the UTRGV community as an alumna. I gained invaluable insights into entrepreneurship, innovation and business operations, which have guided my own entrepreneurial journey. UTRGV introduced me to inspiring mentors like Dr. Sylvia Robles and my director, Laurie Simmons, who both taught me perseverance and patience through the most difficult moments. The remarkable team at the UTRGV CIC, including Jessica Resendez, Ximena Rocha, Vivian Vargas, Kanea MacDonald, Natalia De La Garza, Stephanie Mendez, Esther Ballesteros and Derek Abrams have been instrumental in nurturing my confidence as a leader. Dedicated UTRGV students like Karla Medrano and David Morales have helped us grow and learn together. I'm proud to contribute to UTRGV's entrepreneurial future, ensuring students have the resources to achieve their dreams.
