This is the eighth installment of BOLD - A University of St. Thomas Podcast, a series that creates a dialogue and aims to inspire, encourage and aid students—current and prospective— to “Be Your Bold Self.” New episodes are published bi-weekly. If you have an idea for a potential podcast guest or topic, send them to Darnell Miller at dmiller@stthom.edu.

Host Alex Yemeck talks to Jackie Garza, sophomore marketing major and a local social media sensation, about how a single tweet changed the trajectory of her family's restaurant and bakery. Garza recounts the events leading up to the fateful tweet, the resulting tsunami of responses and how she learned to navigate the interview landscape. She goes on to share what she has learned through that experience and how her UST education has reinforced those lessons. Finally, Garza offers 4 tips to help people make the most of social media.

Watch a video version of the podcast here.

Overview:

00:52 - An Introduction to Jackie Garza

01:28 - Why Jackie Chose to Attend UST

04:21- Jackie’s Family Bakery and the Tweet

10:20 - How things have changed/ the impact of the tweet

13:05 - News interviews and going viral

15:54 - Dealing with the pressure of hype

18:03 - How Jackie’s experience with social media has changed

19:33 - Benefits of being an influencer

21:50 - How has this experience changed family life

22:26 - The most touching experiences are bringing people together

27:15 - A UST education and learning to love philosophy

31:14 - Discovering your calling and developing work ethic

32:45 - Four tips to make the most of social media

Garza’s four tips: 

1. Interact with other people and local businesses
   Interacting with other people or other businesses is the best way to get your name out there. It is called social media after all, be social.
2. Believe in your product or your message.
   Nobody teaches you how to believe in your product or message, but if you don’t believe in it, why should anybody else.
3. Have passion
   More than just believing in your product or message, you need to be passionate about it. Do you enjoy what you are doing and is it fulfilling? If it is not, maybe start looking to do something else.
4. Make it personal
   Even in a digital environment it is all about building relationships and making connections. 

Follow Jackie and La Casa Bakery and Cafe online:

@lacasabakeryandcafe

Jackie Garza

@awes0mejackie