Hi, I’m Luly.
I empower awesome women to create a business and life they love so they can own their gifts and make an impact.
For over a decade I have supported hundreds of women through powerful experiences and communities where they release guilt and self doubt, align with their lifestyle and family priorities, take action, and see results. I’m a feisty Cuban-American mom and entrepreneur with twenty years’ experience in marketing strategy, business consulting, and leadership. My work is both heart-centered and empowering, as well as deeply practical and execution-focused. When I show up for my clients and community, I draw from my own entrepreneurial and life journey, as well as my experience in the nonprofit, academic, and corporate sectors. I am blessed to share my message of empowerment, leadership, and confidence with thousands of women all around the country; as well as select corporate clients and partners, including Procter & Gamble, Macy’s, and Dell.
My Core Values
Celebrate everything
There is an opportunity to add a little sparkle to everything in life. To turn pain into possibility and give light to the darkness. I see the glass half full and inspire others to do the same with my contagious enthusiasm and energy.
Make it happen
My internal fire pushes me to do more so I can impact more. I motivate others to see the opportunities before them and take immediate action. There is no time like now and now is the time to get it done.
Attract authentically
I am a magnet for awesomeness. I eagerly exchange interests, experiences, successes, talents and shortcomings. I inject others with energy, build rapport, and make meaningful connections.
Exchange insights
I enliven dry ideas, I turn events into stories, and I search for dramatic words and powerful word combinations to draw in the crowd and pique their interest, sharpen their world and inspire them to act.
Activate possibilities
I fall in love with potential and am always seeking the perfect configuration. I coordinate, arrange, produce and work with others to figure it out, maximize productivity and seek an opportunity for a better way.
My Career
With twenty years of diverse experience in marketing, events, speaking, and public relations in various industries, I founded Chispa Marketing, an interactive marketing firm in Miami. My clients included the South Beach Wine & Food Festival, Miami Dade College, Greater Miami Convention & Visitors Bureau, and Keyes Realtors.
The success of Chispa Marketing is a testament to my solid reputation as a marketing expert through the years. As Director of Marketing and Public Relations for Florida International University’s Global Entrepreneurship Center, I managed dozens of conferences and seminars, directed all PR efforts, and spearheaded a major marketing campaign to promote alumni entrepreneurs. While at Warner Bros. Publications, I managed the marketing initiatives for a music curriculum developed by the music company and supported a national sales force of more than 100. I began my career at the American Red Cross of Greater Miami & The Keys, where I managed community service campaigns, coordinated large-scale fundraisers, and served as an international spokesperson for the organization. This even included serving in New York City following the 9-11 tragedy – one of the highlights of my professional career.
Cuban-American
Growing up in Miami, the daughter of two Cuban immigrants, I was always told I had chispa (as in chees-pah). Literally translated, chispa means spark, but in the Hispanic community, particularly the Cuban community, it also describes a person who is dynamic, clever, vibrant and spunky – a firecracker. My Cuban-American heritage came through when establishing my marketing firm, Chispa Marketing. This name was not only a tribute to my heritage, but also to the family that raised me – that struggled as immigrants when first arriving to this country, but then rising above to become educated and successful members of the community. There is no better example of pride, work ethic and down-right guts. It also demonstrates my belief that you can’t separate work and life, no matter how hard you try.
Family-First
Yeah, being a career woman is great and having so many supporters that believe in what you’re doing is mind-blowing, but by far, one of my proudest accomplishments is putting my family first. While embarking on my MBA, I discovered I was pregnant with my first son, George. Working a full-time (and demanding) job, a home, school and life in general was no easy feat, so I chose to leave my corporate job to an academic job. Even though I made less, the flexibility and benefits were ideal as a new mom. Soon after, Marcelo came along, and I found myself wanting more…
After 10 years in the hustle and bustle of marketing, I opted to become a consultant, with every intention on living my life as a stay-at-home mom, but still doing what I loved as a “side hustle.” A mere six weeks later, I had four clients and Chispa Marketing was born.
Being a mom and a business owner is hard, but it’s not impossible. And in truth, my success would not have been the same without my family in my life. By sharing my expertise, challenges, and experiences, I hope to empower other women that they, too, can achieve success without having to sacrifice who they are, who they want to be, and how they want to live a joyous and fulfilled life.
The formal bio.
Luly B. Carreras is a business strategist, mother of two, and best-selling Amazon author on a mission to help women define success on their own terms.
With over 20 years of experience in marketing, business consulting and public relations, Luly has worked with established organizations and corporations such as American Red Cross, Warner Bros and Florida International University. As a trainer for programs such as Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses, Why Discovery Series, and Scale Up Miami, she shares her business expertise and marketing strategies with entrepreneurs and teams across the country.
The daughter of Cuban immigrants, Luly’s dedicated work ethic, colorful personality and passion propelled her first venture, Chispa Marketing, into a successful interactive marketing company on target to surpass a million dollars in revenue within its first six years.
But while juggling the demands of high-profile clients, a full-time staff and family life, Luly found herself facing the challenges many successful women experience but few talk openly about. As she struggled to find balance and honor her own needs, she realized that balance was an illusion.
Luly decided to restructure her business around what mattered most in her life and created her own personal brand to offer consulting and coaching services to have more quality time with her family. In 2013 Luly published the Amazon bestselling book “Balance is Bull$h!t,” drawing on her own entrepreneurial journey to help women remove the guilt associated with maintaining a perfectly balanced work, family and personal life.
Luly understands that the professional and personal lives of entrepreneurs are intertwined, which is why it’s important to structure a business so that it can adapt to challenges and changes. As her own journey evolves, she is committed to sharing the lessons she has learned with others.
By sharing her own expertise, challenges and experiences, Luly empowers women to create the lives they want through inspirational events, personalized coaching, workshops and mastermind groups. Through speaking and training, she helps women step into greatness by harnessing their gifts with purpose and perspective. Her message of leadership, empowerment and confidence has reached thousands of women and clients including Macy’s, GE, Marriott, Procter & Gamble and Dell.