Natalia Martins of Los Angeles, California on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Natalia Martins shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Hi Natalia, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: What are you most proud of building — that nobody sees?
What I’m most proud of building — and that few people see — is the community we’ve created with KNinglés. It grew organically, without massive campaigns, just with consistency, love, and a genuine commitment to always giving our best.

As first-time parents, entrepreneurs, and living far from our homeland, we’ve gone through highs and lows that have taught us to be stronger, more patient, and more mindful about building something with purpose. KNinglés is not just an English-learning project — it’s a culture of effort, dedication, and care, where every resource, every book, and every video carries hours of quiet work filled with intention. There are no tricks or shortcuts — only consistency, diligence, and a deep desire to serve our community.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
My name is Natalia, and together with my husband Kelvin, we created KNinglés — an English-learning project born from our shared passion for helping the Latin community. As first-time parents living abroad, we’ve learned how to balance family life with building something meaningful from the ground up.

We developed a unique method that adapts English pronunciation to Spanish, creating over 19,000 English words phonetically transcribed in Spanish, so learners can speak more naturally and confidently. What began as a simple idea has grown into a thriving community of more than 15,000 people, with over 3,600 educational YouTube videos, 30+ published books, and more than 6,000 copies sold — all achieved with 100% organic growth in under two years.

Our content ranges from basic vocabulary to profession-specific guides for cleaners, plumbers, cooks, construction workers, and many more. We’ve reached over 1 million views on YouTube, and thousands of learners have downloaded our free book.
KNinglés is more than just an English-learning project — it’s a culture of consistency, love, and dedication. Every book, every video, and every word we’ve created carries our intention to serve, inspire, and make English truly accessible for every Latino, no matter their age, background, or profession.

Looking ahead, we’re working on an interactive app, board games, a one-of-a-kind bilingual dictionary, personalized digital books with the topics you choose, and much more.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
Both Kelvin and I were born with an entrepreneurial spirit and a genuine desire to help people and bring something valuable to the world. Our parents played a key role in shaping our values and discipline, and later in adulthood, we went through experiences that molded us and allowed us to put into practice what we once only knew in theory.

Since the day we met, we’ve complemented each other’s skills and knowledge, learning from one another and improving in many ways. We’ve faced challenges and made mistakes, but always with an optimistic perspective — seeing every failure as progress. For us, working together has been not only a challenge but also the greatest source of both professional and personal growth.

Was there ever a time you almost gave up?
There were many moments when we almost threw in the towel. Entrepreneurship is not this romanticized idea where you simply make money, have happy clients, and receive recognition. Real entrepreneurship requires tremendous discipline, because there’s no boss or anyone telling you what to do. It’s you against yourself — a daily battle with a lazy mind and excuses.

In the beginning, moving forward means dedicating countless hours to something without knowing if the audience will even like it. It’s an act of faith, paired with courage and resilience. As parents without the support of grandparents, uncles, or friends, the mental and physical exhaustion can be overwhelming. And when the numbers weren’t coming in, everything seemed to push us toward the decision to quit and take another path.

But it’s in those very moments—when you most want to give up—that if you hold on just a little longer, things start to shift. You surprise yourself. You rediscover your motivation. Without a doubt, it’s a path that demands mental strength, where every single day you choose to rebuild yourself with courage, renew your motivation, and pour your best energy into serving your community.

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. What are the biggest lies your industry tells itself?
The English-teaching industry has been around for a long time, and one of the biggest lies it tells is that by following “X” method, in “X” days, you’re guaranteed to speak like a native. From our own experience—both learning the language ourselves and working with our community—we’ve learned there’s no magic formula and no quick fix. The real key is commitment, and that commitment must walk hand in hand with motivation. Because if you truly have the hunger to learn—whether out of passion or necessity—you’ll always find a way and make the most of every learning resource you have in front of you.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What my husband and I deeply understand—something most people in our industry overlook—is the importance of truly standing in our community’s shoes. That means we’re not just “creating content,” we’re constantly polishing our method, refining every detail, and making sure our tools are genuinely effective. We review our books again and again before they reach our learners. We make sure there’s always fresh, practical content on YouTube. And above all, we look for ways to make learning easier and more accessible—because when you understand the challenges your community faces, every decision you make changes for the better.

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