How Faith, Grit, and Creative Vision Built Royilda & Co.

From a small Albanian village to a thriving Las Vegas agency, Royilda’s story is one of faith, resilience, and purpose.

I was born in a small village in Albania, where mornings began with the sound of roosters and days were spent tending to farm animals and enjoying the fruits of our land, especially figs and grapes. It was a simple, beautiful life, but even as a child, I knew that if I wanted a future full of opportunity, I’d have to leave. I grew up watching American TV shows and dreaming about the freedom women in the U.S. have: the ability to study what they love, drive their own cars, and choose their own paths. I knew deep down that America was where I was meant to be.

By the grace of God and the help of many angels along the way, I made that dream come true. At 21, I arrived in the U.S. to study at a university in Rexburg, Idaho, transitioning from nursing in Albania to accounting. It wasn’t easy, but the challenges felt lighter knowing I was building a new life. Somewhere along that journey, I met the love of my life, Marlon, and together we moved to his hometown of Las Vegas.

At that time, Marlon was working in corporate marketing while building his own agency on the side, which he hoped would one day change our lives. I was eager to contribute, but I was still waiting for my work permit, so I couldn’t work traditionally. Instead, I started learning about marketing to help him however I could. At first, I didn’t love it. Honestly, I found it a bit overwhelming, but as our first few clients came in and trusted us with their brands, something changed. I realized how powerful marketing could be in transforming businesses and people’s lives. From that moment, I was all in.

We immersed ourselves in everything: paid ads, branding, social media growth, web design, and storytelling. Even corporate gifting at one point. It wasn’t glamorous at first. It was trial and error, late nights, and a lot of learning on the go. But each challenge sharpened us. And as platforms like TikTok changed the marketing world, we adapted fast, cracking the code to virality and building strategies that reached millions organically.

Today, our agencies, Golden Medina Services and Royilda & Co., provide complete marketing and media solutions for businesses at all stages of growth. From cinematic commercials and viral social media campaigns to brand strategy and press coverage, we handle it all in-house with a team that truly cares about our clients’ success.

What sets us apart is our dedication. We don’t just deliver content, we build relationships and results that last. We understand what it’s like to start from nothing, and that’s why we work as if every client’s success is our own.

I’m incredibly proud of how far we’ve come and grateful for the people who’ve trusted us along the way. I’m excited for what the future holds!

The Unexpected Challenges That Built Us

In the early days of our business, everything happened from home. It was just my husband and me. Two dreamers, a couple of laptops, and a handful of small clients. Budgets were razor-thin, but our faith was unshakable.

When things finally began to look up, we decided to take a leap and rent our first office, a 100 sq ft executive space. It was tiny, but it was ours. After years of working out of a cramped studio apartment, hanging our business plaque on that door felt like watching our baby take its first steps. We hunted through thrift stores and Facebook Marketplace for furniture, determined to make that space special. I still remember the pride on my husband’s face as he turned the key for the first time.

Months later, with a few more clients under our belt, we dared to dream bigger and upgraded to a slightly larger office. It stretched our budget thin, but we believed growth required sacrifice. Then, out of nowhere, our biggest client parted ways with us. Just like that, the numbers stopped making sense. We found ourselves choosing between paying our apartment rent on time versus paying our office rent. We chose the office.

That season tested everything we had. My husband carried the weight on his shoulders, and I knew he needed my strength as much as I needed his. We took side jobs, stretched every dollar, and held onto faith when logic said to quit.

Then something remarkable happened. We added photography to our services, something I’d only ever done as a hobby. I was nervous, but my husband believed in me. That one decision changed everything. Photography became the door that opened countless others.

Soon, our agency was growing faster than we could keep up. Still, I kept my day job, afraid to let go of that “safety net.” But the Lord had other plans. One day, completely out of the blue, I was let go from that job. I was shocked—until my husband called with news that flipped everything: we’d just landed our largest client ever, and he needed me back at the agency full-time.

Not long after, COVID hit, and the world turned upside down. We had to let go of our office and return to our apartment. But instead of giving up, we leaned in. Businesses everywhere were desperate for marketing help, and we were ready. That “tiny apartment agency” suddenly became a lifeline for others. We hired our first team member, then another, then another.

Today, we have a full creative team, a beautiful office overlooking the Las Vegas Strip, and clients ranging from professional athletes to presidential teams and more. But I’ll never forget where it all started. Two ambitious newlyweds in a studio apartment, working late nights and believing that faith, perseverance, and love could build something out of nothing.

The Importance of Staying Resilient

My journey to the United States was only possible through the grace of God, but that doesn’t mean it was easy. I had a deeply personal spiritual experience with my Savior that confirmed I was meant to study in the U.S. From that moment, I committed everything I had to making it happen.

I worked long hours at a call center, saving every bit I could while still setting aside money for tithing. I spent countless days filling out forms, studying for exams, and praying for guidance. But weeks went by, and I was still far from being able to afford the trip. I even failed a few key tests that I needed to pass, and for a moment, I wondered if I had misunderstood God’s plan. Still, I refused to give up. I studied harder, prayed more, and pushed forward with faith that somehow, it would all work out.

Then, when I least expected it, the windows of heaven opened. I reconnected with an old friend, an American student who had once visited Albania for an internship. In our conversation, I told him with full confidence that I would be coming to the U.S., even though I had no idea how it would happen.

He later told me that his mother wanted to sponsor me. I was stunned. It turned out that during his stay in Albania, I was one of the few people who had shown him kindness and made him feel at home. His mother, deeply touched by that, wanted to return the favor, and she paid for all of my schooling and travel expenses.

That experience changed my life forever. It taught me that when you walk by faith, serve others sincerely, and refuse to give up, miracles truly can find you when you least expect them.

A Message from Royilda

If there’s one thing I’ve learned through every twist and turn of my journey, it’s that faith and perseverance will take you where fear never could. I came from a place where dreams like mine were almost impossible, but I’ve seen firsthand that with God, nothing is out of reach.

To anyone reading this who’s building something, whether it’s a business, a brand, or a new beginning, remember this: your story matters. You don’t have to do it alone. That’s what we’re here for.

At Royilda & Co. Marketing, my team and I are passionate about helping you turn your vision into something tangible, beautiful, and lasting. Whether you’re launching your first brand, leveling up your marketing, or reimagining your business entirely, we’d be honored to be part of your journey.

Let’s create something that reflects your purpose, your voice, and your future.
Reach out to us today and let’s start building your story together.