Brandon Peña: From Fast Food to Leading Coffee Innovator, Honored by Google for AI Excellence
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Big news.
I’m incredibly honored to share that I’ve been named the winner of the 2025 Google Ads Impact Award for AI Excellence.
This isn't just a personal achievement; it's a testament to what's possible when perseverance meets purpose-driven innovation. This award is for every small business owner, every Latino entrepreneur, and every aspiring leader who believes in the transformative power of technology — and the human spirit.
Let me explain why this matters.
What are the Google Ads Impact Awards?
Every year, Google recognizes the top marketers and agencies in the U.S. and Canada who are pushing boundaries with data, creativity, and cutting-edge technology. These awards highlight visionaries who are shaping the future of marketing.
There are four main categories:
AI Excellence
Brand Building
App Growth
Performance Powerhouse
I was selected as the winner in AI Excellence (Individual) for my work at 787 Coffee, where we leveraged artificial intelligence AI not just for marketing, but to forge deeper connections and enrich our community. Deeper stories, storytelling, storyliving - Impact, connect and caffeinate.
Other incredible winners included:
Jasdeep Singh from Google for Brand Building
Agency: Tinuiti for Performance Powerhouse
Agency: Bungalow for App Growth
You can see the full list here: Google Ads Impact Award Winners
From Humble Beginnings to AI: My Journey
My first job was at a fast food restaurant, working to help support my family. I learned hustle, gratitude, and how to show up with purpose every day. These foundational lessons, forged in a fast-food uniform, unexpectedly became the bedrock for scaling a coffee empire and later, innovating with AI.
Years later, I became a TV host and producer at XEJ-TV in Mexico, creating stories that mattered. That work led me to Televisa in Mexico City, where I spent 8 months producing impactful shows that consistently ranked high in viewership. I fell in love with storytelling, with media, and with the power of connection.
Eventually, I opened my own advertising agency, then sold it — not for an exit, but to pivot towards a grander vision, one deeply rooted in tangible product and community: coffee.
787 Coffee: Innovation From the Ground Up
I bought a coffee farm in Maricao, Puerto Rico. We didn’t just grow coffee—we grew culture. We grew community. We grew a movement.
Today, 787 Coffee is one of the fastest-growing coffee companies in the Americas as per the Financial Times - with 30 coffee shops / locations and growing to 40 locations by the end of 2025. Collaborating and buying more coffee than ever from coffee farms in the Americas, and I’m proud to say we lead with creativity, innovation, and sustainability. A From Farm to our cafes in New York, El Paso, and Puerto Rico, we are powered by purpose.
And yes—by technology.
I’ve always been curious. Always willing to test what’s next. From using early 360 cameras like the Panono from Germany to the Oculus and now the Meta Ray-Bans, I experiment. I fail. I learn.
But I never stop innovating.
Why This Award Matters
When Google emailed me saying:
“Congratulations on winning the AI Excellence Award! Your work and innovative use of AI in digital marketing has set you apart. You’ve earned your place as one of the best in the digital marketing industry,' I felt a profound sense of validation.”
I felt proud.
This wasn’t luck; it was the culmination of years of dedicated work: rigorously testing AI tools, meticulously analyzing data, refining our strategies, and consistently optimizing creative. Above all, it was about creating AI with corazón – using technology to amplify human connection, not replace it."
We use AI to use our time wisely and do what matters - connect with humans deeply.
This award is proof that you don’t have to come from big tech to be a tech innovator. You just have to care. To commit. To stay consistent.
Let’s Connect On Social
To My Fellow Small Business Owners and Latino Entrepreneurs
This win is for you.
If you’re building with limited resources, if you’re figuring things out as you go, if you’re showing up tired but still passionate — keep going.
Your voice matters. Your ideas matter. And your work will get seen.
This is only the beginning. Let’s continue leading with passion, creating with intention, and building a future where AI empowers human connection, always with corazón.
I invite you to visit soybrandon.com or 787coffee.com to learn more about our journey and how we’re applying AI.
- Brandon
Ready to Build Your Own Legacy?
My journey, from the grill at McDonald's to an AI pioneer recognized by Google, is proof that extraordinary growth isn't reserved for a select few. It's about vision, consistent action, and the courage to embrace innovation.
If you're an entrepreneur ready to simplify your operations, quantify your impact, and significantly grow your revenue, I've poured years of experience and the strategies that fueled 787 Coffee's rapid ascent into Brandon Peña Business Labs.
Here, we don't just talk about growth; we equip you with the practical tools and frameworks to:
Simplify: Streamline your processes to reduce complexity and boost efficiency.
Quantify: Measure what truly matters, turning data into actionable insights for profit.
Make Money: Develop robust strategies for sustainable and impactful revenue growth.
Your ambition deserves a clear path to greatness. Let's work together to unlock your business's full potential.
Discover how you can accelerate your journey at soybrandon.com
✍️ Brandon Ivan Peña is a business coach, Latino entrepreneur, speaker, and founder of 787 Coffee and award winner author of the Creative Fucker book. He teaches leaders how to scale with soul, build teams that thrive, and grow with purpose. For more insights, workshops, and resources, visit soybrandon.com and follow him @soybrandon