By Ioana Gaganelova | Talon Contributing Writer
Mica Cortez has never forgotten the business conventions she attended as a child with her parents. Keynote speakers motivated her as an 8-year-old girl, “telling her to get her life together.”
Cortez is now 18-years-old and a full time college student at Florida State University, while owning her business, Matchamango. Her anime and K-Pop inspired bucket hats and keychains have impacted those who love Matchamango. Cortez plans to one day start selling jewelry and appeal soon.
Cortez said she started watching small business YouTube videos to see how the small business owners she loved achieved their goals. Her life plans have always included starting her own business; it was only a matter of when.
“A little 8-year-old me was hearing like 40-year-old men say you need to start your life now,” Cortez said. “You need to be motivated and driven so that you can actually do whatever you want to do.”
Cortez said she chose the name Matchamango because matcha gives her a soothing and comforting feeling and she wants to stay motivated to give her customers the same feeling matcha gives her when they open up their packages. Cortez said she chose to include mangos because her family is from the Philippines and mangos are a huge contributor to the economy there.
Matchamango’s Instagram page has 2,000 followers and is where Cortez posts her items for sale. In October, she posted a “Meet the Creator” post that generated several comments.
“I love this so much!! I wear my calcifer necklace from your shop all the time, it’s one of my favorite pieces of jewelry. I love the idea of wearing subtle pieces with a special meaning,” wrote one follower.
Matthew Cortez is the cousin of Mica Cortez and has seen her struggle and succeed throughout her entrepreneur journey. Matthew Cortez said Mica Cortez has always had a CEO mentality and has always aspired to own her own business and help or inspire others.
“It was never a matter of if she would start a business, only a matter of when,” Cortez said. “Mica is definitely one to always want to be busy and productive, that’s how she has been since we were little.”
Ioana Gaganelova wrote this story about her roommate Mica Cortez. Ioana is a first-year student at Tallahassee Community College from Saint Petersburg, Florida. She plans to study Digital Media Production and Criminology at Florida State University.
