Meet Hilda Mateiu

We recently connected with Hilda Mateiu and have shared our conversation below.

Hilda, looking forward to learning from your journey. You’ve got an amazing story and before we dive into that, let’s start with an important building block. Where do you get your work ethic from?

I developed my work ethic in basketball through a combination of personal experiences growing up in a low-income community and the transformative role the sport played in my life. I played competitively for eight years from my middle school through high school, crediting basketball with keeping me out of trouble and helping me feel integrated as a young person. This hands-on involvement instilled discipline, resilience, and a dedication to consistent practice, which i want channeled into San Marcos Basketball 501c3 nonprofit to provide similar opportunities for underserved kids in San Marcos, California.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I was born in Cluj-Napoca, Romania, and moved to the U.S. as a teenager, settling in sunny San Diego County. Growing up, I dove headfirst into basketball—it became my outlet, my discipline, and honestly, my joy. I played for eight years through middle and high school for Marilena Pop and Horea Pop for the national team of Romania, honing skills that taught me way more than just the game: resilience, teamwork, and that drive to keep pushing even when the shot doesn’t fall. After high school, life took me down a parallel path in tech and marketing. I earned a degree in Computer Science, followed by Business Management and Marketing. Fast-forward a decade, and I’ve built a career as a San Diego-based SEO specialist, helping local businesses—like law firms, medical practices, and e-commerce sites—boost their online visibility and drive real growth. It’s analytical work, much like breaking down a defensive play, but it pays the bills and lets me flex that strategic side of my brain.
But professionally, my heart’s been pulling me toward something more hands-on and community-driven. Founding SMBBALL—San Marcos Basketball, a nonprofit dedicated to youth hoops. It’s where my worlds collide: the structure of my tech background keeps the organization running smoothly, while my love for the court fuels everything else.

There is so much advice out there about all the different skills and qualities folks need to develop in order to succeed in today’s highly competitive environment and often it can feel overwhelming. So, if we had to break it down to just the three that matter most, which three skills or qualities would you focus on?

Reflecting on my path—from playing basketball as a kid in a challenging environment, to building a career in tech and marketing, and ultimately founding SMBBALL to give back—three elements stand out as truly transformative. These weren’t just tools; they were the foundation for turning personal passion into community change. Here’s what they were and why they mattered:

Resilience in the Face of Setbacks
Basketball taught me early that failure isn’t final—it’s feedback. Whether it was missing a crucial shot in a game or facing financial hurdles while starting SMBBALL as a volunteer-driven nonprofit, resilience kept me pushing forward. This quality turned obstacles, like limited resources for our programs, into opportunities for creative problem-solving, such as partnering with local trainers and securing scholarships for tournaments. Without it, I wouldn’t have grown our teams to compete in high-stakes AAU events, where our kids learn to bounce back stronger.

Building and Nurturing Passionate Networks
No journey happens in isolation, and mine thrived on connections with like-minded coaches, players, and community leaders who volunteer their time unpaid. From my days as a webmaster collaborating on projects to recruiting fellow high school/college alumni for SMBBALL, this skill in forging genuine relationships amplified everything. It helped us create a supportive ecosystem where kids not only learn dribbling but also teamwork and mentorship, directly leading to our program’s growth and tournament wins.

Discipline and Time Management
Juggling basketball practice with school, then a full-time SEO career with nonprofit leadership, demanded ruthless prioritization. This area of knowledge ensured I could deliver consistent value—whether optimizing websites for clients or designing balanced training camps that fit families’ schedules. It was key in making SMBBALL sustainable, from planning free clinics to balancing budgets for gym fees and travel, all while keeping the focus on holistic player development.

Advice for Folks Early in Their Journey: How to Develop or Improve on These

If you’re just starting out—whether in sports, entrepreneurship, or community work—don’t wait for perfection; start small and iterate. Here’s targeted, actionable advice based on what worked for me:

For Resilience: Embrace “controlled discomfort” daily. Early on, I forced myself to review every loss (on the court or in business) by journaling three lessons learned and one action step—no matter how tough. Seek out mentors or join groups (like local sports leagues or online forums) where sharing failures normalizes them. Over time, this builds mental toughness; aim for one “bounce-back” practice per week, like running drills after a bad game or pitching ideas after a rejection.

For Networking: Shift from “collecting contacts” to “creating value.” At the start of my career, I volunteered for web projects in exchange for advice, which snowballed into SMBBALL collaborators. Attend 1-2 events monthly (e.g., community sports meetups or industry webinars) and follow up with a specific offer: “I saw your work on youth programs—here’s how I could help with marketing.” Tools like LinkedIn or local Facebook groups are gold; focus on quality over quantity—nurture 5 deep connections before chasing 50 shallow ones.

For Discipline and Time Management: Use the “basketball playbook” approach: Break your week into “quarters” with clear goals (e.g., mornings for skill-building, evenings for reflection). I relied on simple apps like Google Calendar to block time for priorities, starting with 15-minute daily habits like skill drills or budgeting reviews. Track progress weekly—what got done vs. what didn’t—and adjust without self-judgment. Books like Atomic Habits by James Clear were game-changers for me; pair reading with accountability buddies to stay consistent.

How would you spend the next decade if you somehow knew that it was your last?

Celebrating 10+ years of selfless service to smbball.org and San Marcos youth. A permanent home court for our kids is what i would do – built to honor basketball at heart and keep the game alive for generations to come.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.smbball.org/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sanmarcosthunder/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/smbball/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@sanmarcosthunder