Meet Abby HONDO” Alem | Founder, AMBESA Agency

We had the good fortune of connecting with Abby “HONDO” Alem and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Abby “HONDO”, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’ve always had a favorable strength of mixing of intuitive feel with analytical to articulate keen perspectives on how we move as people and why we connect. I’ve always had a knack for being able to connect with people and amplify a message. I may or may not necessarily have what some would consider “traditional” training and education but I’ve always been a good marketer. I come from a family of entrepreneurs from different walks of life. Growing up, I got to witness my parents rise, as immigrants of the U.S. via Zambia and Ethiopia by way of Eritrea, to ownership and operators of two gas stations and property owners in San Diego, CA. Hard work, education, and overcoming obstacles have grounded my upbringing. As a professional, I am very fortunate to have worked across a multitude of different functions on some of the largest global brands. I’ve gotten to work on a lot of big projects, manage and drive ROI on deployed resources, and do some really cool things for some very large companies.

I exited Corporate America in April 2022 and went full time on my entrepreneurship for several reasons: to escape a toxic culture that was on the verge of consuming and transforming me, an unsettled feeling that I had more to give to the world, the dire need for improved leadership capabilities, and lack of positive cohesive energy in Corporate organizational cultures. This energy led to the birth of AMBESA and the next leg of my career journey building a start up advertising, marketing, and creative strategy business.

What should our readers know about your business?
AMBESA is a full service creative agency specializing in advertising, marketing, branding, design, activation, strategy, business development, PR, & talent management services. AMBESA means lion in the Eritrean and Ethiopian native tongues. One thing about a Lions in their natural environment, you will never see them by themselves. We are moving culture forward through the creative arts with a spirit of togetherness and an omnichannel mindset. The agency sits at the intersection of brands, creators, culture, and community in the pursuit of the next generation of growth. Our mission is to inspire the world through creativity, innovation, storytelling, and memorable experiences throughout the consumer’s journey. We desire to re-image and advance society for the betterment of our world.

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?
Los Angeles is one of the coolest cities in the world. I’m blessed and super fortunate to call this place home. LA is a great town with rich history and an incredible energy but it, like many other places, isn’t great to everyone. There is so much depth and beauty beyond the glitz and glamor of the entertainment industry the world knows as Hollywood. If I had a friend coming to town to spend a week with me in the City of Angels, I’d be sure to get some time in at the beach and grab a bite to eat at Gjusta and a Vegan Spanish Latte at Menotti’s in Venice. We’d find some time to hit the underrated hiking trails of the city and get lost freely exploring the Santa Monica Mountain Range and/or the San Gabriel Mountains. We would be sure to catch a vibe by hitting up one of Brian Henry, Blue the Great, Joe Kay, Earry Hall, Rosegawd, or Andre Power’s DJ sets in the city. Downtown LA is buzzing with the creative spirit, there are so many amazing art installations and exhibitions, incredible restaurants, craft cocktail bars, and fashion pop up markets throughout the area. East Hollywood is a place I especially like hanging out with restaurants like Jitlada, Courage Bagels, and Go Get Em Tiger. Checking out the fashion shops in the Fairfax and Melrose District is always a good place to find inspiration when it comes to your look. Leimert Park and the West Jefferson neighborhood are buzzing with energy with all sorts of different events, activities, food pop ups, and hidden beauty parks. The Valley is where I call home, I love grabbing a bite from the fantastic culinary program at Black Market Liquor Bar, sushi from The Little IZAKA-YA by KATSU-YA, or ice cream from Salt & Straw. During the Summer, I make it a point to visit the Latin Jazz Fest at LACMA a few times and at least one show at the Hollywood Bowl during the season. And of course, we gotta catch a Lakers game in the House that Kobe Bryant built or a Rams/Chargers game at SoFi Stadium There’s something for everyone in LA, as someone who leads and curates experiences for a living, my goal would be to create an experience in alignment with my friend’s interests while opening opportunities to expand their mind through knowledge and experiences they can’t get at home.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
All the glory to God. I’m blessed to have a strong tribe, an amazing PRIDE, and a strong network of connections through friendship and fellowship. I’ve been inspired by so many people in my life to be the best version of myself. It’s really difficult to name just one. First and foremost, my 3-year old Son challenges me, daily. to realize my greatest self. He’s the greatest blessing ever. My younger sister, Abegaiel Alem, is an an exceptional marketing executive with incredible vision running Sports Marketing & Partnerships for AB InBev’s U.S. West Coast markets. I’ve also got a couple younger cousins that fuel me with with amazing stories of their academic journey, life experiences, and views on the world that keep me in awe of our collective future. There’s also some real cool nonprofits I work with that are doing some amazing things. Check out the work Our Our (OurOwn.com) is doing removing barriers and creating access for our communities.

Website: https://ambesa.co

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbyhondo/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/abby-alem-81639780/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/a.abeselom

Youtube: https://youtube.com/@AMBESAAgency?feature=shared

Other: @ambesaagency on Instagram

Image Credits
Photos courtesy of AMBESA, a full service creative agency.