Hello, my name is Maritza Bautista, and I am currently majoring in Business Administration at LaGuardia Community College.

I’ve been surrounded by business my whole life: watching my mother sell beauty products to get us through tough times, seeing my grandmother run her own manufacturing company, and later working retail jobs while dreaming of one day owning a business of my own. At first, I thought “business” meant sitting at a desk all day until retirement, but now I know that it can be so much more dynamic and creative.

When I was debating whether to pursue veterinary technology, I discovered my real passion was in business, specifically marketing. I’m a creative, energetic person who loves to go all in on projects. I enjoy communicating with people, listening to their feedback, and using it to improve their experience. In retail, I found I was happiest engaging with customers, like explaining promotions, helping them find what they needed, and making sure they left satisfied. I realized that I cared more about building genuine connections than the amount of the purchase. 

As I attended music events and pop-up shops where poor planning and weak marketing often ruined the experience, I wished I could step in and redesign things, create a better strategy to create events that felt exciting and meaningful for the audience. That’s the kind of work I want to do in the future.

What makes me stand out is that I approach business from the customer’s perspective. I want customers to feel their investment was worthwhile. One of my big goals is to work internationally, especially in Japan, and to collaborate with artists to create events that welcome and inspire all kinds of people. A favorite quote of mine comes from Japanese figure skater Yuzuru Hanyu: “Failure is not the opposite of success but a part of it.” Like him, I remind myself that failure doesn’t mean the end, it’s just a step toward growth. His example motivates me to keep working hard and to never give up on my goals.