Interested in starting your own entrepreneurial journey but unsure what to expect? Then read up on our interview with Noel Roque, CEO of World Dance Group, located in San Juan, Puerto Rico.

What's your business, and who are your customers?

My company, the World Dance Group, is dedicated to improving the world by sharing the beauty and passion of dance with artists and fans worldwide. We provide multiple solutions for dancers globally, whether it is for performance, training, or simply to enjoy the art of dance. Through the production of our award-winning World Salsa Championships TV shows since 2005, we have been helping dancers' careers go global. In addition to our partnership with ESPN, our dancers have been featured in multiple shows like Americas Got Talent, NBC World of Dance, So you think you can Dance, Univision's Mira Quien Baila, The World Games, and others.

Tell us about yourself

I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. After twenty years of living and working in Atlanta, Georgia, for the Coca-Cola Company, I have returned to my roots in Puerto Rico. I am proud to say that Coca-Cola gave me the opportunity to take on multiple international executive positions. It was an experience I will never forget. My time at Coca-Cola was truly a journey. I had the chance to develop numerous programs with the company's assets. i.e., Olympics, FIFA, Latin Grammy, Billboard, American Idol, Disney, and others. I was able to travel to multiple countries and work with various Global brands like McDonald's, Burger King, Domino's Pizza, Hilton, 7-11, and multiple other international teams. I learned so much from these amazing experiences. During this time, I also had the opportunity to understand different cultures, develop new business strategies for my customers, and retire with the highest honors, being a finalist in the Coca-Cola Global Marketing and Commercial Awards, the company's most important competition rewarding marketing executives.

After retiring from Coca-Cola in 2015, I devoted myself completely to one of my dreams, the creation of a new global dance sport- the World Salsa Championships, a brand I co-founded and acquired its full rights to in 2005. In 2016, I relaunched the WSC brand under the slogan "The Salsa Olympics," achieving top ratings on ESPN and other networks. Since 2015, I have been the CEO and founder of World Dance Group, a multinational firm that strives to give dancers an opportunity to showcase their abilities to the world and develop a global community of fans and artists. As a consequence of my time at Coca-Cola, I can apply everything I have learned to this ambitious venture, and salsa dancing may possibly become a future Olympic Sport. Leveraging the latest technologies like artificial intelligence and VR/AR, I am also fully dedicated to creating what I call "the future of dance."

What's your biggest accomplishment as a business owner?

A few years ago, it was unthinkable to see a salsa dance competition on an international network like ESPN. My biggest achievement as an entrepreneur has been introducing salsa dancing to the global community and competing with the big marketing goliaths, who have always had limited resources. In 2016, I made a huge move to reintroduce the World Salsa Championships after a seven-year hiatus. Despite many uncontrollable forces, the Atlanta event was a huge success and was featured in numerous publications, making it one of the world's greatest festivals, according to Rad Travel magazine. Because of this, I was also nominated for Small Business of the Year in Atlanta.

What's one of the hardest things that comes with being a business owner?

Even when macro forces (economy, politics, health, etc.) sabotage your business plan, you must stick to your plan and quickly pivot to meet the demands of your customers. Operating in a little and fragmented community, you must be ready for the dangers and difficulties that come with being the leader in the category. Your brand's most important asset—its intellectual property—must always be protected. My utilitarian belief is that "actions are right insofar as they promote happiness and that the greatest happiness of the greatest number should be the guiding principle of behaviors." I want the community to understand how our mission will benefit them and the community as a whole. I call this: "social victory."

What are the top tips you'd give to anyone looking to start, run and grow a business today?

Starting a business may be exciting but comes with risks and challenges. My top three tips would be:

  1. Never regret something you never tried. If you or your team wins, it's "great," if you don't, it's either "experience" or simply "another stripe for the tiger."
  2. Walk before you run. Test your MVP with your community before investing in it.
  3. Play to your strengths and focus on your core business. You should not try to be Batman and Superman at the same time. There are numerous heroes in life, and not everyone is good at dancing, for example.

Where can people find you and your business?

Website: https://worlddancegroup.com/
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/WorldSalsaChamp/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/worldsalsachampionships/
Twitter: https://twitter.com/worldsalsachamp
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/noelroque/

If you like what you've read here and have your own story as a solo or small business entrepreneur that you'd like to share, then please answer these interview questions. We'd love to feature your journey on these pages.

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