“It’s important to me to not turn my back on where I come from.” — ANA BERMUDEZ
Ana Bermudez, FOUNDER & CEO OF TAGIT Q: How did you get the idea for TAGit? Ana Bermudez: I was working in finance and had come home late one night. I saw these awesome shoes on TV that I had to have but of course it was 11:00 p.m. I did a Google search and what I found were other women looking and asking the same questions. It was a personal problem that became a business. Q: What types of skills or experience did you apply to building your business? AB: As a finance major, we looked at many case studies about business and in my work had experience in wealth management. I also had a partner in a former business; we had started a company together. He was like a big brother and mentor to me and eventually became my business partner. We grew a business in Latin America and that experience definitely gave us a competitive advantage. Q: What is the best advice you ever received? AB: I had a client from Guatemala who had come from nothing and was now working in a huge office. I asked him how he did it, how he made the shift and he said, “It’s not a shift. It’s about not quitting, not having fear. You don’t have to be a genius to succeed, but you do have TAGIT www.gettagit.com 112 | LOCALE MAGAZINE
to be fearless. You have to have the confidence to go to someone and say here are my ideas.” Q: What is something you’d go back in time to tell your 13 year old self? AB: You know, I have a young niece and nephew and I tell them these things all the time. And my niece in particular, I tell her it’s a little more difficult for women out there. It’s not impossible but it’s difficult. You have to be patient, persistent and prepared. You always have to give them your best. Q: What does it mean to you to make a difference? AB: I grew up in Logan Heights, a San Diego community that is underserved. I help by giving speeches and donating money to schools, helping students in need afford college. I use my career to help my family. It’s important to me to not turn my back on where I come from. Q: What makes the San Diego community unique? AB: San Diego is a special place, the community here is supportive. The people here would give you the shirt off their back. For many of us who are immigrants, it inspires the entrepreneurial spirit. We strive to succeed personally and professionally.
PHOTOSHOOT LOCATION: HERA HUB 4010 Sorrento Valley Blvd Ste 400, San Diego, CA 92121
Anna Gamboa,
CREATIVE DIRECTOR & FOUNDING PARTNER OF A7D CREATIVE GROUP
What is TAGit? With the app you're able to watch products from your favorite TV shows and tag/share on social media, and then buy them!
Q: Tell me about your company and how it came about. Anna Gamboa: I had reached a point in my job where there wasn’t much more growth I could do within the company. My husband and I turned our spare bedroom into an office, working our full time jobs while A7D Graphic Design came into play. We have grown our business into a boutique agency that offers branding, website design, collateral design, social media marketing and printing. Q: What makes you stand out as a leader in your field/business? AG: The ability to see things differently and striving to be the best we can be as a team and as a representation of our clients and their brand image. More than anything I truly care about each project we take on as a business and won’t take on a project if I feel it’s not a good fit. Q: What’s the best advice you ever received? AG: When I worked at Mesa Distributing, Mark Lindner the VP of Sales saw that my creativity wasn’t being