Bessy Martinez

Empowering Latina entrepreneurs, community leader & founder of The Everyday Jefa - Healing, vibrant & visionary

Bessy Martinez is a multi-faceted Salvadoran community builder, entrepreneur, and creative.

She currently serves as the CEO & founder of The Everyday Jefa, a lifestyle brand empowering & inspiring individuals to reach their full potential in leadership and entrepreneurship.

She also leads the Latina Foundation,a nonprofit dedicated to empowering Latina women and providing them with the resources they need to succeed in leadership and entrepreneurship, as well as Austin Latinas Unidas, a Latina-driven community based out of Austin, that offers curated events to provide a space where ALL Latinas in Austin and surrounding cities can feel empowered, motivated, and build unity through culture.

By using her creative prowess, and enterprising spirit, Bessy is able to uplift her community and provide opportunities for budding entrepreneurs to thrive.

Bessy's journey began amidst the chaos of the COVID-19 pandemic, when she found herself in a new city, longing for a community of like-minded Latinas. Despite her efforts, she struggled to find her tribe.

Determined to fill this void, she took matters into her own hands and founded Austin Latinas Unidas (ALU).

What started as a quest for connection evolved into something much greater.

ALU quickly became a thriving online hub with a strong emphasis on in-person gatherings, fostering a sense of camaraderie and empowerment among its members.

Through workshops, markets, and various events, Bessy and her team nurtured the spirit within the community.

The crowning jewel of ALU is Latina Day Weekend, a celebration of the impact Latinas have not just locally in Austin but as a whole.

Through harnessing the power of these community events, The Everyday Jefa was born, and in 2024 it was rebranded to Jefa HQ in order to really encompass all of the work that was going on.

JefaHQ is an organization dedicated to helping everyday women unleash their inner bosses at a national level through social resources available in their communities.

ALU alongside JefaHQ have made waves, impacting countless lives and solidifying its place as a beacon of empowerment and support for Latinas everywhere.

The Latina Foundation was founded in 2023, as the JefaHQ community grew and Bessy saw a need for providing funding to her community.

The Latina Foundation is dedicated to empowering Latina women and providing them with the resources they need to succeed in leadership and entrepreneurship.

The organization has since partnered with organizations like the Coca-Cola Southwestern Beverages and has given $30,000 in grants supporting the community.

Prior to founding her various organizations, she kick started her entrepreneurial journey as a photographer, capturing bloggers in the early era of social media.

She worked to tell stories through creative endeavors, eventually becoming a social media strategist pre-influencer era.

Working during this time is what led her to desire a community.

Bessy has shared her expertise at conferences and panels including Con Mi Madre’s annual conference, La Poderosa Conference by The Social Chica, and the Hustle + Socialize Conference.

She has also been named an Austin Woman Magazine Changemaker in their inaugural list in 2024, and in 2023 she was an HABLA (Hispanic Advocates Business Leaders of Austin) Emerging Leader Finalist and was featured in an Austin FC Hispanic Heritage Month campaign.

She was also given a proclamation by the City of Austin which named August 20th Austin Latina Day.

When Bessy isn’t curating community events or leading her organizations, she spends time with her family and friends and also enjoys traveling, food, and attending concerts.

She is also a writer, currently working on her first fiction novel for young adults.

---

---