Melisa Estrada Bustamante shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.
Melisa, a huge thanks to you for investing the time to share your wisdom with those who are seeking it. We think it’s so important for us to share stories with our neighbors, friends and community because knowledge multiples when we share with each other. Let’s jump in: What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?
The first 90 minutes of my day are focused on setting a positive and productive tone. I start by drinking water, meditating, and reading for a few minutes to center myself. Then I get ready and head to the gym for about an hour. After my workout, I have breakfast and begin my workday by checking emails, reviewing my to-do list, and organizing my priorities for the day.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Meli Estrada, a content creator and digital marketing specialist passionate about storytelling through food, travel, and lifestyle experiences. My work focuses on helping restaurants and hospitality brands elevate their online presence by creating authentic, visually appealing content that connects with real audiences.
What makes my approach unique is how I blend my background in marketing strategy with a genuine passion for discovering and showcasing places that have a story to tell. I collaborate closely with brands to design creative campaigns that highlight not just their products but the emotions and experiences behind them.
Right now, I’m expanding my influencer marketing service for restaurants, where I coordinate visits from curated micro-influencers to help businesses increase visibility and engagement organically. My goal is to keep building meaningful collaborations that celebrate creativity, culture, and connection.
Appreciate your sharing that. Let’s talk about your life, growing up and some of topics and learnings around that. What’s a moment that really shaped how you see the world?
A moment that really shaped how I see the world was when I decided to leave my comfort zone and start working independently as a digital creator. It was both exciting and scary, but it taught me the importance of trusting my intuition, embracing change, and believing in the value of my voice and creativity.
That experience made me realize that growth doesn’t come from having everything figured out, it comes from taking small, consistent steps toward what inspires you. It also changed how I view challenges; now I see them as opportunities to learn, adapt, and connect with people who share the same passion for creating and telling stories that matter.
If you could say one kind thing to your younger self, what would it be?
If I could say one kind thing to my younger self, I’d tell her: you’re doing better than you think. Don’t rush the process, everything you’re learning, even the hard moments, is preparing you for something beautiful ahead. Trust your timing, stay curious, and keep believing in the magic of your creativity. One day, you’ll look back and realize that every small step really mattered.
I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. Is the public version of you the real you?
I’d say the public version of me is definitely a part of the real me, but not the whole picture. What I share online or in my professional life is authentic, it reflects my values, my creativity, and my passion for connecting with people, but it’s also curated. The real me has quiet moments, doubts, and personal growth that don’t always make it to social media. I think balance is key: showing up genuinely while still protecting the parts of myself that need privacy and peace.
Thank you so much for all of your openness so far. Maybe we can close with a future oriented question. If you retired tomorrow, what would your customers miss most?
If I retired tomorrow, I think my customers would miss the personal touch I bring to everything I do. Whether it’s through content creation, marketing collaborations, or storytelling, I always aim to make each project feel genuine and aligned with the brand’s identity. I put a lot of heart into understanding each client’s vision and turning it into something that connects emotionally with their audience. That combination of creativity, strategy, and authenticity is what I believe they’d miss most.
Contact Info:
- Instagram: @meli.tastes
