415: What Event Producers Look for When Selecting Speakers with Johanna (Jo) Murillo

Show Notes

If you’ve ever wondered how to land those coveted speaking and panel spots at events, this episode is for you!

I’m thrilled to have Johanna (Jo) Murillo join me to share her insider knowledge on how event organizers and producers choose speakers and panelists. 

Jo is an event producer extraordinaire based in Orlando, Florida, where I live. She runs Wow Brand Studios, a full-service agency specializing in event production, brand strategy, and helping business owners stand out through powerful visual branding. 

I’ve had the pleasure of attending several of Jo’s events, and they are truly one-of-a-kind!

In our conversation, Jo reveals the secrets of what she looks for when selecting speakers and panelists.

It’s not just about who has the biggest social media following, but about who can bring genuine value, inspire the audience, and share knowledge in a way that makes everyone in the room feel uplifted and enriched.

 

We dive into:

• The importance of attending local in-person events to build your visibility and network

• The qualities Jo looks for in speakers (hint: it’s more than just being an expert!)

• How diversity and inclusion play a central role in curating impactful events

• Memorable stories of speakers who wowed the audience and exceeded expectations

• Red flags that make event organizers hesitate to book a speaker

• How to make sure you are meeting expectations as a speaker and how event organizers can ensure a successful event for speakers

Ready to develop your signature talk and land more speaking opportunities?

Join our Thought Leader Academy where you’ll work on creating your signature talk, developing your thought leadership, and learning the business of speaking. Get all the details and sign up at speakingyourbrand.com/academy.

 

About My Guest: With over 25 years of experience in visual design, brand development, and marketing, Johanna (Jo) Murillo stands as a dynamic and accomplished professional in the industry. She is the proud owner of WOW Brand Studios, a full-service branding and public relations agency renowned for its creative and strategic excellence. A trailblazer for Hispanics in our community, Johanna was unanimously elected to join the Board of Directors for Opera Orlando. Further amplifying her impact, Johanna recently founded The WOW PWR, a nonprofit organization that empowers women in business by providing them with essential resources and a supportive network to thrive in their entrepreneurial endeavors.

 

Links:

Show notes at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/415/ 

Jo’s website: https://wowbrandstudios.com/ 

Discover your Speaker Archetype by taking our free quiz at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/quiz/

Enroll in our Thought Leader Academy: https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/academy/ 

Connect on LinkedIn:

• Carol Cox = https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolcox

• Jo Murillo (guest) = https://www.linkedin.com/in/johannamurillo/ 

Related Podcast Episodes:

• Episode 401: Strategies for Getting Momentum on the Speaking Circuit

• Episode 396: Creating a Signature Talk that Attracts Paid Speaking Opportunities

• Episode 367: Steps for Creating Your Speaking and Visibility Plan

 

 

JOIN US: Our in-person Speaking Accelerator Workshop is coming up in Downtown Orlando on October 30, 2025. Create and practice your signature talk in one day using our proven framework, so you can confidently share your message and attract more opportunities. It's a fun, supportive environment where you get personalized feedback, professional photos, and more. Limited to 15 attendees. Get the details and secure your spot at https://www.speakingyourbrand.com/orlando/.

What is Speaking Your Brand: Public Speaking Tips and Strategies?

It's time to escape the expert trap and become an in-demand speaker and thought leader through compelling and memorable business presentations, keynotes, workshops, and TEDx talks. If you want to level up your public speaking to get more and better, including paid, speaking engagements, you've come to the right place! Thousands of entrepreneurs and leaders have learned from Speaking Your Brand and now you can too through our episodes that will help you with storytelling, audience engagement, building confidence, handling nerves, pitching to speak, getting paid, and more. Hosted by Carol Cox, entrepreneur, speaker, and TV political analyst. This is your place to learn how to persuasively communicate your message to your audience.

Carol Cox:
How can you get selected as a speaker or a

panelist by event organizers?

That's what I talk about with my guest, Jo

Murillo, on this episode of the Speaking

Your Brand podcast.

More and more women are making an impact by

starting businesses, running for office and

speaking up for what matters.

With my background as a TV political

analyst, entrepreneur, and speaker, I

interview and coach purpose driven women to

shape their brands, grow their companies,

and become recognized as influencers in

their field. This is speaking your brand,

your place to learn how to persuasively

communicate your message to your audience.

Hi there and welcome to the Speaking Your

Brand podcast. I'm your host, Carol Cox.

Today we are talking about how to get

selected as a speaker and as a panelist by

event producers and event organizers.

I know that so many of you are out there.

You are involved in your local community,

your networking locally as well as online,

and perhaps you're going to events and

conferences and you're wondering how do they

select their speakers? How do those speakers

get the opportunity to talk to that

membership or to that audience?

Well, I'm very happy to have with us as a

guest today, Jo Johanna Murillo, who is here

in Orlando, Florida, where I live, we met

out locally in person at an event probably

sometime last year, and since then I've

attended a couple of her events and she does

an amazing job putting on events.

So many of the nice touches that really wow

you, plus the venues, the locations that she

chooses, and of course the quality of the

speakers and the panelists.

So after I attended a recent event, I knew I

had to have Jo on the podcast to share with

us all those inside secrets of what she

looks for when she's putting on events as

far as who to bring on with her.

Jo, welcome to the podcast.

Jo Johanna Murillo:
Thank you. Carol, I'm so glad to finally be

here. It's my pleasure.

Carol Cox:
Well, let's dive into a little bit about the

kinds of events that you put on and how they

relate to your business.

So tell us about Wow Brand Studios, your

business and how you got started putting on

events and why.

Jo Johanna Murillo:
Thank you. That's a great question actually,

because I think events oftentimes it's one

thing when we attend to them because we are

from that perspective that we're enjoying

them. Correct.

You can relate to this, but when you have to

organize events, oh my, how different it is.

It's a whole other beast.

So for those people that said, oh, I should

organize an event, yes, I encourage you, but

take in mind that it's tough.

But also what I can identify is that events,

especially when you organize and organize

them and bring that value to the world, it's

a perfect way to create brand awareness of

your brand and speaking your brand.

It's a great way for your audience to see,

okay, what do you bring to the table?

What is? How can I connect with you that

that was our first and pretty much the

reason why we started creating events,

especially in the category of helping other

entrepreneurs, women, not only, but it's our

main focus. Men are always invited because

we believe that they're agents of change,

and we have to bring them on as allies.

So that's the way that we started in the

entrepreneurship, business ownership, brand

marketing, finance, sales, all those things

that nobody talks about when you have your

business up and running.

So that's how we started.

And through Wildbrain Studios, which is a

full on agency that takes care of event

production, social media and everything that

has to do with AV production.

That's where we started because we wanted to

be able to provide that value to other

business owners that oftentimes don't even

know which questions to ask, right?

I mean, we've all been there.

So that's that was how we started all this

crazy race. And we are loving it.

Carol Cox:
I agree, Jo, that putting on events

definitely gives you a lot of visibility and

exposure in the community because obviously

you're promoting the event so people see it,

people come and attend or they hear about it

from other people who've attended the the

event that I attended that you ran a few

months ago was actually at a TV studio,

which was really cool because we got to be

on kind of the set, you know, the soundstage

where they film news.

And so can you tell us a little bit about

what inspired you to have it at that

location? And tell us a little bit about

kind of like how you go about thinking about

the set and setting for your events.

Jo Johanna Murillo:
Yes, that event was fire, right?

And not because we organized it, because it

really was. It's to create that unique

element. Now that we talk about events and

me also as an attendee, I can see like, oh,

it's more of the same.

We want something different.

And that's why we always aim for to every

single event that we do, the one that was

prior to the one that you attended was in a

theater full on big LED screen theater

style, and we had two series of panelists.

The one that you attended had that TV studio

flow, and also allows people to be in spaces

where they can be relaxed, because sometimes

to break that barrier like, okay, I'm an

event and I don't know anyone know it allows

you to connect a little more.

So you have to talk to the person that you

are next to you, kind of when you get into a

plane sort of thing, because, okay, you're

stuck with this person next to you for the

next three hours. I better start a

conversation and makes the whole event flow

and also provides a different atmosphere

which is more conducive to learning.

So those are the little details and nuances

that we always take in consideration when

organizing any type of event, or planning

them or even producing them.

So how can it be different from all that

I've done or seen or attended out there for

our anniversary night, which was last year.

We, for instance, brought an opera singer,

which that was like, what?

What is that? Where is that coming from?

And it made such a great impact because we

were able to bridge that gap between culture

and the concept that we were producing out

there. So that's how we think of it.

Let's find a way to make it different that

it's not the same old event that I attend,

the same old networking event.

When I see the same people over and over,

how can we make it different?

And that's what inspires us every single

time to push it a little further.

Carol Cox:
Well, you definitely do make them unique and

different and that's why they're so

memorable to me. So, Jo, let's talk about

how you go about selecting the speakers in

the panelists for your various events.

So I imagine you decide this is going to be

the topic of the event, the content that you

want to put on, and then you start thinking

about speakers, panels and so on.

So then how who comes up for you as speakers

and panelists, and what are the qualities

that you're looking for?

Jo Johanna Murillo:
I am looking for people that have visibility

that are out there.

Not necessarily 100% social media, but the

people that are in the field.

I believe that you can learn more from

someone that has been doing what they're

doing with excellence for a while, that

someone that just, you know, do this in a

camera. This this helps.

Of course, I'm not taking that away, but

what other people think or say about the

speaker as well.

I look for inspiration for someone that can

give you a message that is going to leave

you better than when you get there.

Someone that is also willing to share

knowledge. That's really important because

God forbid for you to know something and

hold the keys to unlock someone else's

future, and you just do not do it or open

it. Especially as women, we are not allowed

to do that. We need to be able to share that

knowledge, and also that it's humble enough

to say, I know all of this, but I also do

not know what I do not know.

That's I think it's really toughest one,

because once you're there at the top and you

think, oh, okay, I know it all, that's when

you stop growing and learning.

So I believe those three are really

important people that are in the field doing

the work and showing and leading by example,

not by preach.

Second of all, that are willing to share

knowledge. And third, it's that they are

humble enough to be able to keep growing and

evolving. I always love to see the journey

of maybe one year we invited a speaker, and

then we bring him back the next year and to

see, oh my God, I've achieved all of these

things because we all keep changing and

evolving.

Carol Cox:
Oh, I love those. And so think, thinking

about these speakers and panelists are these

people you already know, so people you've

already met at other events that you go to

in the community, are you asking for

recommendations and referrals from other

event people that you know?

Are you? Do people do speakers ever pitch

you like send you emails or LinkedIn

messages? Like how?

Where do these speakers come from?

A little bit.

Jo Johanna Murillo:
Of everything, actually.

I guess the first is like people that I

admire, people that I look up and say like,

oh my God, I want to be like them when I

grow up. And then I kind of like, get rid of

the imposter syndrome.

I was like, what would happen if I would

just reach out to them via LinkedIn or send

them an Instagram message and and tell them,

hey, I love what you do.

I would love to pick on your brain because I

believe in and I and I am honest about it.

It's not me just being like, oh, that's nice

and sugar coating. No, it's that sometimes

have have been successful.

Others I have got crickets but but it

happens like that.

Also people that I see that are out there

spreading a positive message or something

that can uplift.

And I think that the main it's also word of

mouth when I share like, hey, I am thinking

of doing and putting this event together.

Who do you think would be a person that can

provide value that could be perfect for this

gig, for a lack of a better word?

And of course you get recommendations.

That's the first stage.

Then we go to sitting down and have that one

on one. It can even be virtually on or

onsite and see if there's there's a match,

because sometimes depending on the audience

that will attend the events, this might be

like to pro or it could be like a little

okay, you need to be a little bit more

seasoned. And that happens.

And when you get to meet that person, funny

story in the Impact Summit that we did in

February to kickstart Women's History Month,

I was suggested as a host on Kia malone.

Hi, Kia.

Yes, she's amazing and you know her to for

her to be the host of the event, given her

experience in TV and.

Et cetera, et cetera.

And then when I started to talk to her, I

was like, Kia, you are amazing, which you

already knew. But all those nuggets and

pearls of wisdom, you need to be in the

panel. And it was great and amazing because

people left so inspired by her, which I

think probably she would have done a

phenomenal job as a host, by the way, but as

a panelist, it just brought that extra

layer. So that's something that you also

have to give yourself some room to maybe

pivot or change some things, depending on

the concept that you have of of your event.

That's in our experience.

What has worked so far?

Carol Cox:
Oh well, I'm such a big fan of Kia's.

We actually met in January of this year at

an event, of course, because that was my

commitment at the beginning of this year was

to make sure that I went to many, many more

events. I went to so many before the

pandemic started and then obviously stopped

right, like a cold stop.

Like we all did. And then it took me a while

to kind of get back into it, but I I've been

doing it all of this year, and I have met so

many amazing women like Kia and like you.

So for all of you who are listening, get

involved in your local community, your city.

Find those events, show up, go to them.

Make a commitment to do that because you're

going to meet amazing people.

And that's how then more opportunities will

come to you, like being a speaker or being a

panelist. So, Jo, when you think about

putting together your panels and the

speakers for an event, how what role does

diversity and inclusion play when you're

thinking about the curating the speakers and

the panelists?

Jo Johanna Murillo:
It's the main goal, to be honest.

It's that's something that I would I'm not

thinking of changing anytime soon.

It's something that I go headfirst with

because I believe that when we have

diversity, equity and inclusion in all the

activities that we perform, the conversation

becomes richer because we have different

avenues and different perspectives and

points of views that we probably didn't

invite or even considered prior.

We were exposed to this, and that's for me.

It's it's key.

I and I will not stop doing that, because I

also am very confident that that brings an

extra added layer of value, hence why the

events are successful, because it invites

people to reflect and to change some

perspectives. And even if you don't change

it, okay, at least now you know and you

understand a different perspective that

prior you didn't even think that existed.

So yes, that's that's my, my my goal.

Carol Cox:
And I do see that reflected in your events,

which is why I wanted to bring this up.

And I agree, every we all have such

different lived experiences.

And if we're only going to events or we're

only seeing speakers and panelists that look

like us or have very similar backgrounds to

what we have, we're really shortchanging

ourselves because we're not learning as

much. I know that my policy now is if I get

invited to be on a panel, I will ask who the

other panelists are and if they're all

white. If they're all white women like me, I

will very kindly suggest to the person

putting the panel together like, I would

love to see more diversity if I have to give

up my spot to someone else.

Like, here are some other women that I know

who I think would be a great fit.

I'm happy to do that because I just I don't

want to sit on a panel that is not diverse

because it just it doesn't make me feel

good. And it's not going to be a great

experience either for the audience.

Jo Johanna Murillo:
Yes, yes. And there's only tangibility in the

representation if you don't see it.

How do you think it's possible?

How can you believe it?

And you never know how other personal

experiences that probably do not look like

you do not talk like you can help you shape

and make it think like, oh my God, you know

what? If this person can do it with all the

limitations and also with all the

advantages, why can I not do it as well?

So I believe it just enriches the

conversation. It doesn't limit it.

It makes you expand your knowledge and it's

just a no brainer for me.

Carol Cox:
Absolutely. So, Jo, can you share?

Do you have a memorable story of a speaker

or a panelist who exceeded your

expectations? You knew they were going to be

great, but something that they did at the

event just really made them stand out.

You already mentioned Kia, so we're gonna

we're gonna put her aside as that.

But is there anyone else who comes to mind?

Jo Johanna Murillo:
Sorry, Kia.

Sorry, Kia. You're out.

Well, all the panelists were phenomenal, but

one of them that stand out.

And maybe because it was on the recent event

actually two one of the recent and one of

the other ones. So that way I can have a

little bit of both was Brianna Anderson,

which I believe you were at that event where

she she spoke.

It was that when you see her, she since

she's so put together like she has all her

ducks in a row, successful, Uber brilliant.

You would not imagine that she went through

all the struggles that she did to become the

woman that she is right now.

And I believe her testimony was the the

proof that there's a test in the testimony.

And once you are willing to expand yourself

and put yourself out of your comfort zone

and go through the mess, and after that, the

message that you can help spread, it's it's

amazing. So I believe that that was one of

the key moments that when we had the

speakers, because people.

Know that she has everything put together.

But no, when she started sharing her story,

she was going to kill it anyway.

But I don't think people knew as much until

they saw it.

People saw taking out their notebooks and,

you know, they were just writing, you know,

Pearl after Pearl after Pearl.

And it was a mic drop moment.

So Briana, thank you so much for sharing all

those things you did.

And second, but not because it's the last

one. It's Kay Rollins, the founder of

Orlando City Soccer and Orlando Pride when

she was in the panel.

She's very seasoned.

She knows what she's doing.

I mean, but the part that made everyone wow

was when she shared that when us as women

want to excel in a male dominated world, we

need to befriend and make men our allies as

well, because no war has been won if the

allies are not a part of it.

So that was also one of those micro moments

where I think that that at that time

everybody went like, whoa, like crazy.

So yes, those are the few little moments

that have lit up my heart and made me okay,

this is great. This is speakers.

Yeah. Can can take it and make it fire.

Carol Cox:
I love those examples.

And we are very fortunate here in the

Orlando, Central Florida area to have

amazing women like Brianna and Kay Rollins

to for these events.

Jo, let me ask you this.

So we talked about kind of what what great

speakers and panelists do.

Now. What are some red flags that make you

hesitant to choose a speaker or panelist,

either beforehand or after you've had an

initial conversation with them, some red

flags? And also, what are things that you

wish more speakers or panelists understood

about working with event producers like, you

know, red flags? Plus, what do you wish we

all knew to make your life as an event

producer easier?

Jo Johanna Murillo:
Oh, how many times?

How much time do we have?

Well, a big, big, big red flag.

It's when they show up late to conversations

to interviews, unprepared guys.

That's a red flag.

And I know that life can happen.

We've all been there when we have had to

arrive a minute or two late, but when you

already see that, there's a bigger chance

it's a 99.999%.

And I tell you this from experience, that

they're going to do that to you at your

event, which is going to add an extra layer

of stress to an already stressful situation,

which is producing and putting an event

together. Another one, it's when,

unfortunately, you don't see a flow in the

way that they present that there's not a

structure which can also bring a little bit

of complication when you come to your event.

Because when it comes to speaking and you

know this better than anyone, preparation is

key. It's gold.

You need to be prepared.

You don't get ready.

You stay ready.

So even if you get a phone call, which has

happened to me and I'm sure that has

happened to you, like, hey, Joe, I had a

speaker that cancelled. Can you please help

me? Okay, good. When is the event?

In an hour. Whoa.

Okay. Don't worry.

I got you because I already have my speech

ready. If you. I can put a presentation.

I already have it ready, so I'm game.

I'm ready to go. So that's why it's

important for you to see how prepared and

ready the person is.

Because there will be moments that you will

have to pivot. Then, okay, you know that you

can count on that person.

Um, another red flag and not I don't want to

just go with red flags. I'll go with the

good stuff later.

Um, it's when you see that the speaker is not

as engaged into getting to know the event as

well. You know, it's just like, hey, I can

speak at your event.

I mean, like, okay, so what do you think?

No, whatever. Wherever you put me, that can

also be another thing.

Okay. Are you really willing to share

knowledge, make some improvement?

Leave people better than they arrive, or you

just want to be there for exposure, which is

okay. It's fair.

It's fair for you to try to put yourself out

there, but also what's the value?

Where is those things that reach to a

people's heart?

Yeah, because we're in the business of doing

business with people.

So we need to connect at some different

level. Those are the little red flags that I

will encourage to event organizers to take

into consideration before bringing someone

in. Because and also understand this is a

commitment, a two way street.

Also, as an event organizer, I do not

encourage those organizers that only reach

out to book the person and then okay, the

day before, yes.

Like no, stay in contact, let them know what

you're doing, share with them the post the

social media tag them.

So that way you can also warm up leading

towards the event.

Ask them, hey, will you be willing to share

this on social media so you can help

amplify, of course.

You know, share all the information that as

much as you can. So that way you can also

prepare them and you help edify them as a

speaker. I think that's also very important

as event producers showcase the speakers in

such a way that they also feel pleased to be

part of the events that you are organizing.

What are your thoughts on that?

Carol Cox:
Oh, these are excellent.

Excellent points here, Jo.

I agree, as a speaker, I always want to make

sure that whatever the event organizer

needs, it is there on time, if not early, if

they need slide decks, if they need my bio,

they need my photo, whatever it is.

I mean, I send all that to them right away,

and I also make sure I stay in regular

contact with them. And I'm promoting the

event as well because I want it to be a

successful event. And to your point, I want

to show that I'm invested in the success of

that event along with the event team.

And but I love your point also about the the

people who are putting on the event.

Yes. Keep in touch with us speakers because

we want to know how can we help you?

Is everything going smoothly?

You know a request.

Do you need us to bring our laptop?

What kind of laptop do you have?

What format do you need the slides in?

Like, we'll ask those questions as speakers,

but it's helpful for you all to have all

that ready to go.

Because if you all are organized as the

event team, then we feel confident as a

speaker walking into that event that is

going to be as smooth as an experience as it

possibly can be.

Setting aside the AV gremlins that no one

has any control over and who knows when

they're going to rear their ugly head. But

that's okay. We know that happens.

Jo Johanna Murillo:
I think that I always tries to pamper them

while they're there, you know, have a green

room ready for them so they can unwind and

see the event before it's their turn.

Get them some water.

If they have teeth like something,

appetizers so they feel comfortable because

getting on stage as soon as you could be,

it's always like a challenge, you know?

Okay. Let's go.

So there is the inevitable to say like, ah,

I'm not nervous.

Then if you're not nervous, you have a

problem. You have to be nervous, because

that means that and shows that you care.

So to try to make them as comfortable once

they are at the at the place of the venue so

they can give their best as well when

they're in front of their audience.

Carol Cox:
Yes, I love those extra touches that you do.

And again, that's why your events get raved

about so much by everyone that I talked to

here in the community. So let me share a

little bit more about your background with

the listeners. So you are originally from

Ecuador and you also you've lived in

Argentina as well as the Netherlands.

So you really do have this multicultural

perspective. And that's why I love living in

Orlando. I've lived here for 20 years, is

because I feel like it is such a diverse

community of so people from so many

different parts of the world, and kind of, I

don't know if it's because of Walt Disney

World, even though we don't live anywhere

near that, and I never go there, but I feel

like it attracts people from everywhere.

And so I think that so can you tell us a

little bit more, Jo, about your background,

you know, living in these different

countries and having these different

experiences, then what how that has led to

some of the the work that you do in your

business.

Jo Johanna Murillo:
Yes, I understand, and I love Orlando because

of that too.

I'm going to make like a little story.

Long story short, I would if you would have

asked me five years ago, are you going to

live in Orlando? It was like, hell no.

Why can we say that?

Yeah. Can we say, hell? You're not going to

get rated. Okay.

Um, why would I go there?

It's just Harry Potter and Mickey Mouse.

But after a while, when I got stuck here

during the pandemic because we couldn't

leave, I started to get to know the

communities. I realized that Downtown Disney

is not downtown Orlando.

I realized that there's a mills district,

there's a Winter park, Baldwin Park.

There's, um, Bambi.

Et cetera. All those smaller neck of the

woods that made the community amazing.

And I fell in love with the people, to be

honest, people in Orlando, since I believe

they have that different multicultural

perspective and access, are more open to

integrate other people into the culture.

So that's the great thing about our

beautiful city.

So with that being said, yes, I'm originally

from Ecuador, born and raised this little

country just to test the geography between

Colombia and Peru, which it's it's

beautiful. We have all different zones.

We have the beaches, we have the islands, we

have the Andes and the Amazons.

And for me, it was a gift to be able to to

be born and raised there, because it allows

us to have some extra layer of resilience,

of enduring difficulties and still be able

to offer kindness to people because we are

all in the struggle. Bus, like I say.

So after a while, you know, studying,

growing, working, being a teacher.

Yes, I was a university teacher back in the

day. I decided to move to Argentina to

pursue my master's studies, and it was a

place that I also fell in love with.

It was supposed to be just a year and a half

deal. It turned into a five year long five

seasons episode.

And I loved it too, especially because it

was so different, even if it's in South

America. Argentina is considered the Europe

of South America and also a hub as well,

where a lot of people from different parts

of the world, you know, Australia, England,

the US, even within South America will come

and have experiences there.

And it was a great learning process as well,

because that allowed me and enabled me to

see that, not because we come from different

backgrounds. We all are different.

There are things that are similar regardless

of your language or where you're born or

where you were brought up.

I never met anyone that doesn't want to feel

good, that doesn't want to learn, that

doesn't want to expand, that doesn't want to

be loved. So I believe those are things that

regardless of where you come from, stay.

And of course, the cherry on top.

Netherlands. It was less than a year, but I

count it. I mean, it's still good, but it

allowed me also to see it from the other

side of the pond. How it is, you know.

And what I loved is that Netherlands is

actually the beacon of diversity, equity and

inclusion. You see everything and

everywhere, and it's kind of like Orlando in

a country, pretty much.

I think it's the same size the country, like

with Florida. But you, you get to see that.

And that also brought me so much

inspiration. So but when I made the decision

of staying in Orlando, it's like, okay, this

this is also I can see it.

I can see that this is a city, that it's

evolving. It's growing towards the right

side. It's and it's not going to stop.

I mean, the growth that our city has had in

the last years has been exponential, and

it's because of its people.

Carol Cox:
Oh, I love that. Thank you for sharing that,

Jo. And tell us about your company.

Wow Brand Studios, who are your typical

clients and what do you do with them?

Jo Johanna Murillo:
Well, Wow Brand Studios, like I was

mentioning earlier, is a full on production

agency that we help entrepreneurs and

business owners become the rock stars that

they already are, with a beautiful visuals

and brands. I learned the tagline finally.

So what? We help them by offering them the

possibility of showing themselves as they

are. Because when you start a business, of

course, sometimes the budget can be a

limitation, but not with us because we have

different standards or packages that can go

along with whatever you are in your road.

We have the smaller package when you're

starting, and the whole idea is to take you

to the bigger one once you are successful,

because success is just what you define from

it. So we are a full on team of marketers,

designers, photographers, videographers,

even stylists.

Because why not?

You can get styled and and help you present

yourself in the best way possible.

Not because you don't have a budget.

It doesn't mean that you cannot present

yourself as the rock star as you are.

So that's what we do.

Of course, now we are here.

But when we started, we just hit a lot of

roadblocks because of course, coming from

another country, you think that you know

what you know and when you come here okay,

games and the rules are different.

So instead of getting better, uh, in my

case, I decided to learn how to play.

And that was what we've been doing ever

since. You know, try to help as much as we

can be of service.

Sometimes it's been good.

Sometimes it's just a lesson to be learned.

But like I said, it's a matter of how open

you are to learn, to grow, to learn from

your mistakes and take them as lessons and

put yourself out there as an agent of

service. Because once you put yourself out

there as an agent of service, only good

things will come.

Carol Cox:
Well, absolutely. And I business is

definitely a roller coaster for sure.

Anyone who's been an entrepreneur knows that

there is the high highs where like if things

are amazing, you get to do this amazing work

that you choose to do with the clients that

you choose to. And then there's definitely

the down parts of the roller coaster where

you're like, okay, I tried that, that did

that totally failed, or I really wanted to

do this and that didn't work out.

But I just feel like so much of it is just a

learning lesson. And when you get to meet

amazing people along the way.

Jo, let me, uh, as we wrap up here.

So for everyone listening, check out Jo's

website. It's at Wow Brands Studios.com.

The link is also in the show notes for this

podcast episode.

Also, make sure to connect with her on

LinkedIn her.

The link to her profile is also in the show.

Notes, so make sure to connect with her

there and say hi. Let her know that you

heard her here on the Speaking Your Brand

podcast. Jo, thank you so much for coming on

and sharing your insights and your

experiences to help our listeners land more

speaking opportunities and more panels for

them. I really appreciate your time.

Jo Johanna Murillo:
No, thank you so much for having me.

This has been in the works for a long time,

and I'm so happy that we're finally able to

make it. Thank you so much, Carol, and for

all that you do, it doesn't go unnoticed.

Carol Cox:
And for everyone listening.

If you would like to develop your signature

talk so that you are ready in a moment's

notice, if someone calls you and they need a

speaker, whether it's in a week, a day, or

even an hour, you can work with us on your

thought leadership, your signature talk, and

learn the business of speaking in our

Thought Leader Academy.

You can get all the details and join us at

speaking your brand.com/academy.

Until next time, thanks for listening.