We recently had the chance to connect with Melisa Roman and have shared our conversation below.
Melisa, really appreciate you sharing your stories and insights with us. The world would have so much more understanding and empathy if we all were a bit more open about our stories and how they have helped shaped our journey and worldview. Let’s jump in with a fun one: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
I don’t really talk about this too much, there are people who don’t understand why I was in that position, or why I didn’t get out sooner, but it is so much more complicated than that.. I went through an extremely physically and mentally abusive relationship, 4 years that broke me in ways I didn’t know could be broken. It took everything in me to rebuild not just my life, but my sense of self, and even now, it’s still something I carry with me, I don’t think it ever leaves you to be honest.
I’m happy I didn’t let that experience change the way I love or how I want to live. I think that takes even more courage, to not just put my walls up and hide from every opportunity. I actually used it to help me, I call it my superpower, not only to be able to see a person with bad intentions from miles away, but I also use it in situations where I’ve felt scared, small, or insecure. But how does it translate to helping me with the business we created? By not being scared to say yes and jump at every opportunity, even when I’m not “ready”, I know I will do everything to be ready. I just need to start. Even when the voice in my head says “you’re not enough” or “you won’t make it.
That’s how it felt to start our business… our first social media page looked terrible. Looking back, I don’t even know what we were thinking when we made it and thought, “this is IT”. Would I have done it differently if I started today? Sure, but it was our first step, and I don’t regret it for a second because it got us our first clients and it got us to where we are now. Like I said, I just needed to start.
There’s a constant battle with imposter syndrome, especially in business. It loves to sneak in at the worst times. But I’m proud that I haven’t let that stop me. People might see the brand, the work, the “success”, the growth, and I’m not saying I’m not happy or proud about that, I am extremely proud of it, but what they don’t see is the version of me I had to fight for, just to get to a place where I could build a life I love. One I’m actually happy in. One that gave me the chance to create a business I believe in and want to keep growing.
By the way, I’m just talking about my own inner journey here, but the truth is, without my family, my husband, my business partner (who’s also one of my best friends), and my friends… It would’ve been a lot harder. Way lonelier. And honestly? Probably a journey I wouldn’t have even wanted to make on my own.
But yes, what I’m most proud of building, or more like rebuilding, is me.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
Hi! I’m Melisa, co-founder of The DM Duo, a boutique digital marketing agency built from scratch. We’re the team people call when they’re done DIY-ing the website for their business and ready to stop Googling “how to grow on Instagram” at 2 a.m.
We work with all kinds of businesses, clinics, law firms (so many lawyers), flower shops, car repair shops, brokers, realtors, juice brands, even an automation company, and we love it. It keeps our ideas fresh, our brains buzzing, and lets us cross-pollinate creative strategies that no one sees coming. What works for a flower shop might just crush it for a personal injury lawyer.
We’re not a massive, ticket-based agency where you wait days to hear back, and we’re not a one-person show either. We’re a growing team of 8 specialists—each amazing at what they do—and when you work with us, you talk to us. No outsourcing. No AI bots pretending to care. Just real people, real strategy, and really good marketing with a team that really wants your business to succeed because that means our work is working.
Okay, so here’s a deep one: What was your earliest memory of feeling powerful?
Oh wow. I don’t know if “powerful” is the right word, but saying I was going to build my own business, and actually doing it? That’s something. It’s not easy, and it’s definitely not for the faint of heart.
It’s terrifying knowing everything depends on you: your clients, your own paycheck, your team’s paychecks, your reputation… the list goes on. I’ve had so many nightmares about losing it all. A monthly panic attack is practically scheduled. My stress levels? Off the charts—literally. One time my Oura ring was concerned because I had a seven-hour stress streak (not a flex).
There have been ugly crying sessions. Full spirals. And sure, stress comes with any job, but when the business has your name on it, when it’s your dream on the line? It hits way harder.
Oh, and then there was that time a huge marketing agency tried to poach some of our clients. They sent out a blast claiming a bunch of our clients were already leaving us (they weren’t). Our clients immediately sent us the email, and yes, we were pissed—but also a little proud.
We’ve never had to steal a single client. People come to us. We’re a small agency, and they’re a big one… but the fact that they saw us as competition? That was kind of cool. Even if it was just a template email.
What’s something you changed your mind about after failing hard?
I wouldn’t call it failing, because it was completely out of my control. But it was… hard. I don’t even know if I have the right words for it.
A year ago, my husband and I were trying to have a baby. We had the plan. Everything was in place. And a month later, we got the news, we made it. But just a few weeks after finding out, we lost it.
It was heartbreaking to say the least. The dream, the timing (which I was so attached to), the perfect plan I’d built in my head… it all collapsed.
We’re still trying. We know it’ll happen, it’ll just take more time. But letting go of my (now I think stupid) idea of “perfect timing” was one of the hardest things I’ve had to do. Especially for someone like me, who loves to plan. I mean, I’m scary good at it. My whole life has basically run on strategy and timelines.
But this? This reminded me that some things are just not ours to plan. Sometimes, life takes the wheel, and letting go isn’t giving up, it’s trusting the road ahead. Letting go has been the lesson I didn’t ask for, but definitely needed.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. What truths are so foundational in your life that you rarely articulate them?
How much I rely on my family, not just for support, but as a core part of who I am.
No family is perfect, ours definitely isn’t. We’ve got our fair share of wild stories. But I got so incredibly lucky with mine. The love I have for them is just… ahh. They know.
I grew up in a big, loving Venezuelan family where showing up for each other wasn’t something we said, it’s just something we did. Every stage of my life has been filled with love. My parents, my sister and brother, both sets of grandparents, aunts, uncles, the whole package.
And even after immigrating, we stayed together. Most of us, at least. And that closeness, that unity, has given me such a rich life. Even in my worst moments, during those four years I’ve mentioned before, they were there. Not just watching, but holding me up, picking me up, loving me through it.
They don’t take. They give. Always. They don’t drag me, they uplift me, and help me reach higher. And yes we fight, what family doesn’t? But at the end of the day, they are the first ones there to support, to help, to be a family.
There’s so much more I could say, but honestly… words fall short for this kind of love.
I was lucky enough to find a husband with the same values and the same type of family, so now I have twice the love, support, and chaos, and I wouldn’t trade it for anything.
Okay, so before we go, let’s tackle one more area. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
I think neither.
I never had a huge, clear dream of becoming something specific. I know people who always wanted to be doctors or lawyers, but I was never that person, and I was okay with that. Also, I’ve always been really bad at math, so that helped with my career choice.
My family has a business, Industrial Controls & Automation, 30 years and counting, so I guess there was a bit of an unspoken expectation that I’d continue with it. And I did, for a while. I was grateful for the opportunity, but the truth is… I wasn’t happy. It just wasn’t me.
No one forced me into it either. My mom always made it clear she just wanted me to do something that made me happy, but to be smart about it, because life is expensive. My dad said the same. Happiness first, but paired with practicality.
When I started The DM Duo as a side hustle, I never expected it to take off the way it did. And when the time came to leave the family company and focus fully on my own thing, it was bittersweet. I know it hurt my mom a little, but she was proud. And the truth is, I couldn’t have done it without their support, letting me build my dream while working on theirs. By the way, I did not abandoned the family business completely, they are now our clients too and I love it.
So no, I’m not doing what I was told to do. And I’m not sure I was “born” to do this. But I chose it. And that makes it even more meaningful to me. So I guess I’m doing what I want to be doing.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://thedmduo.com
- Instagram: thedmduo.com
- Other: Google Business Listing:
https://g.co/kgs/SAvnM7c
Image Credits
Andrea Menendez
