We had the good fortune of connecting with Viri Maldonado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Viri, what’s your definition for success?
Success means different things to many people, I define success to not be money or obtaining material things but reaching goals and continuing to challenge myself as a professional, daughter, friend and sister. I believe we have different stages of success in life and it is up to us to use that fuel to reach our full potential​.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?
The Social Click is based in Houston, TX and we specialize in public relations, content creation, and social media all while making a social change. Some of our clients include Macy’s, Power on Heels, De Mi Tierra Spices, Taqueria Mexico Lindo, El Regio Mexican Bar and Grill. I am most proud of our clients and the trust that they have in the Social Click to get the job done. I still feel like we have a long way to go to get to where my vision for the Social Click is but eventually I want to bring brands that haven’t tapped into our market and show them that Houston does matter, we are the most diverse city in the U.S., therefore, we have an advantage from other cities. Some of the lessons I have learned along the way are that things won’t always go as plan and it will be easy to question yourself but its important to remember your value and what you bring to the table. It is important for me to build a community behind the Social Click, I want the agency to bring awareness and empowerment.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
Houston is a place full of surprises. Here are some things I have done with friends visiting from out of town. Bayou Wildlife Zoo! Take a trip to Alvin, Texas and visit this cool open range zoo. Not only do you get to learn about different kinds of animals but the zoo makes up for perfect photo ops. And for an early dinner have some BBQ at Central Texas Style BBQ. Galveston is a must! Stop by the outlets on your way to Galveston for some shopping! Then head down to mile 8 for a walk along the beach. Take a ferry ride, if you’re lucky you will be able to spot dolphins. End the day with dinner by the Sea Wall at The Spot for some burgers and drinks. Organizing a painting class for you and your guest at Pinot’s Palette. Take some wine and have a chill painting class. It’s super creative and its something your guest will always remember. Then stop by Chinatown and have dinner at East Wall and go for dessert at Snowy Village or Sweet Memes. Lastly, get a foot massage at Oasis it’s cheap and really relaxing. If you want to go out during the week, make sure you make a stop at Wild West Houston for some country and top 40s dancing on a Wednesday night. Discover Downtown Houston! Check if there are any plays or musicals at Wortham or The Hobby Center. If your guest speaks Spanish, Talento Bilingue de Houston, also has Spanish plays on the weekends. Have a meal and drinks at Batanga or Xochi. Take a walk around Discovery Green and if you’re up for it hit up Main street for more drinks and dancing, make sure to make a stop at Fabians. Also make sure to stop by the Graffiti walls for pictures. Museum District! One of my favorite museums in Houston is the Museum of Natural Science. They have different exhibits and a really cool butterfly center. Have a picnic at Herman Park and then head over to the Japanese Garden. Then head to southwest Houston for some tacos at Taqueria Mexico Lindo. If you drive a mile down you can go down to Harwin and do some accessory shopping. Rent a boat at Lake Conroe! Bring your own snacks, drinks and have the playlist ready. Your friends will enjoy a ride and swim around Lake Conroe. Then have some crawfish in the Woodlands before you head back into Houston. And if you’re up for a night out head over to midtown for some salsa dancing at Gloria’s. Sunday Funday! There is nothing like a good Sunday Funday. Start the day at Lost & Found, head over to Present Company, 77 degrees rooftop and end the day at Axelrad.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
My parents are obviously the motor and fuel for everything that I do. Both of my parents immigrated from Mexico to Houston in search of a better life. My father is the most hardworking person I know and thanks to him I know what it is to work hard. When you learn how to work, you aren’t afraid to do anything. I know that if something doesn’t go right in the future I am not afraid to pick up a broom and sweep. My mother is my biggest cheerleader, she always told me to not let anyone tell me that I couldn’t do something and until this day I don’t let anyone tell me any different. I also want to shoutout The Houston Association of Hispanic Media Professionals (HAHMP) I became a member when I was 19 years old, thanks to HAHMP I was able to network with media professionals and eventually obtain an internship at Univision. HAHMP helped open many doors in my career and its an organization that I am forever thankful for. Today, I currently serve on the board as the Gala chair.

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Twitter: https://www.twitter.com/virimal/
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