What does real leadership look like in Round Rock?

It looks like Selicia Sanchez-Adame. Entrepreneur. Community builder. Bold voice for the future.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Selicia on the Rock Solid podcast. This conversation wasn’t your typical LinkedIn highlight reel. It was honest. It was rooted. And it revealed what makes her one of the most quietly powerful forces shaping Round Rock today.

Selicia didn’t just grow up in Round Rock. She grew into herself here. From the classroom to the Chamber, her story is about coming full circle and reaching back to lift others as she climbs.

She credits her confidence and early foundation to Round Rock ISD. A system that didn’t just educate her. It believed in her. That kind of support doesn’t just make an impression. It creates a mission. Today, she’s returning the favor.

Now stepping in as the 2025 Board Chair for the Round Rock Chamber, Selicia isn’t chasing titles. She’s building bridges. She’s creating a version of Round Rock where young entrepreneurs, future leaders, and underrepresented voices don’t need permission to belong.

She runs Think Group, the market research firm she founded at 26. Picture this. A young Latina woman walking into boardrooms filled with Fortune 500 execs and persuading them to bet on data over instinct. She didn’t ask to be taken seriously. She came prepared to prove why she should be.

And she did.

During our talk, Selicia opened up about those moments when she questioned whether her heroes even noticed her. Today, they’re her peers. She didn’t wait for the door to open. She knocked. Loudly. Then she held it open for the next person behind her.

Her advice to entrepreneurs? Get involved. Be curious. Ask questions. Want a foothold? Join the Chamber. Show up at 1 Million Cups. Attend Startup Day. Get certified as a woman-owned business. Every step builds momentum.

Her vision for the Chamber isn’t just growth for growth’s sake. When she says she wants 1,000 members, she’s not counting heads. She’s counting access. She’s counting the businesses that don’t even know what they’re missing yet.

We also talked about Texas State’s expansion and the ripple effect of regional institutions. Selicia doesn’t see it as competition. She sees it as collaboration. That mindset, that rise-together energy, is what gives Round Rock its edge.

Near the end, we talked about her mother, the founder of Round Rock Ballet Folklorico. At 75, she’s still teaching five days a week. Still showing up. Still a force. That legacy of resilience and pride runs deep in Selicia’s story.

And if you ask her what she wants for Round Rock, the answer is as powerful as it is simple.

Unity.

A community where culture is celebrated. Where every voice is welcomed. Where walking into the Chamber means being seen, heard, and supported.

Selicia’s words that stuck with me most?

“When you’re scared, that means it matters.”

That’s not fear. That’s a signal. That’s where the real growth begins.

Want to connect with Selicia? Visit thinkgroupaustin.com or find her on LinkedIn. She’s always up for coffee, especially if it means building something meaningful.

And if you want more conversations like this, subscribe to the Rock Solid podcast. The future of Round Rock is being written by people like Selicia. You won’t want to miss what’s next.