Award-Winning journalist,
motivational speaker,
& best-selling author.

about

Ximena Velez is a dynamic first-generation Latina who came to the United States at the age of 27. She is known for her vibrant approach to storytelling and advocacy, dedicating her career to empowering the Latino community through insightful writing and a strong social media presence.

Ximena’s journey is a blend of personal resilience and professional accomplishment. Her academic background includes revalidating her credentials from Colombia to practice her career in the United States. This achievement showcases her determination, even as she navigated challenging personal circumstances, such as supporting her family through her father’s health crisis. In her professional roles, Ximena has served as Director of Communications and Director of Education for a nationwide nonprofit organization based in New York. She has also acted as a spokesperson, provided media training, and developed communication and marketing strategies to help brands and organizations effectively reach the Latino market.

With a talent for powerful storytelling, Ximena crafts compelling blogs and articles addressing critical issues such as human rights and access to education in the United States. Her writing, characterized by a clear, engaging, and approachable style, resonates deeply with her audience, making complex topics accessible and relatable.

Beyond her writing, Ximena is a proactive voice in the digital space, curating content that combats misinformation and destigmatizes professional development and executive positions within the Latino community. Her Instagram page, @ximena_cuenta, serves as a beacon of information, offering guidance on professional goals, educational pathways, and the validation of professional titles for Latinos in the U.S. This platform, based in New York, is a go-to resource for many seeking to navigate their professional and educational journeys.

Ximena’s upcoming podcast is another exciting venture, where she plans to delve into topics like mental health, abortion access, and the digital divide affecting Latinas. Her goal is to create a space for honest and impactful conversations, bridging gaps and fostering understanding.

Through her blogs, social media, and forthcoming podcast, Ximena Velez continues to inspire and uplift her community, demonstrating that with passion and purpose, any challenge can be transformed into an opportunity.

journalist

Mariana came to the U.S. on a full-merit scholarship to study journalism at Columbia University. 

She got her big break anchoring and reporting at Univision, where she also filed for the Documentaries and Investigative Unit. She won a Peabody Award and an Investigative Reporters and Editor’s (IRE) award for her work uncovering illegal weapons sold across the border in Mexico; as well as a Gracie Award for directing, writing and reporting ‘Pressionados’, a documentary about press freedom in Latin America.

She then went on to host The Morning Show on “Fusion”, the Disney and Univision joint venture, and co-anchored the 2016 Democratic Debate.

Mariana made “the cross over” from Spanish to English-speaking television as a national correspondent for NBC News and MSNBC. Her investigative work on Latin America, the Latino community, cartel violence, women and migrant’s rights earned her 3 Emmy nominations, a Hillman Prize, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Presidential Award.

On the originals front, in 2022 she launched the hit true crime podcast “Lost in Panama”, an investigation into the disappearance of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, shedding light on the issue of missing women and girls in the region. “Lost in Panama” made the top #10 list on Apple Podcasts week of release.

Ten years after she arrived in the United States, Mariana won Columbia’s ‘First Decade Award’ for her impressive career as a journalist.

speaker about

Mariana is a top motivational speaker, a trailblazer with a fresh, global perspective on how to get what you want in life by being your authentic self.

After speaking to everyday people overcoming challenging situations during her journalism career, she has developed tested frameworks for staying in control of your authenticity, and fostering resiliency and belonging no matter the circumstances.

Mariana crafts every keynote to create an energetic, relatable and action-driven experience for each corporate client, whether it’s virtually or in-person. She takes the audience on a journey to discover what makes them special, empowered with tools and takeaways that are easily applicable in their day to day.

Some of the world’s leading companies and institutions have hired Mariana to share her transformative message with their workforce, such as JP Morgan, Deloitte, YouTube, Pepsico, P&G, Nasdaq, Airbnb, UBS, Spotify, Citi Private Bank, LinkedIn, Pepsico, Wells Fargo and The United Nations. She can customize keynotes, motivational speeches, digital corporate content, consulting, hosting, and/or break out style sessions.

In the post pandemic, she launched a global digital series with Microsoft interviewing thought-leaders, business owners and employers on ways to authentically strengthen corporate culture and create community.

Resources

E-book

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Consultancies

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Newsletter

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Blog

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit. Ut elit tellus, luctus nec ullamcorper mattis, pulvinar dapibus leo.

Contact Ximena

Contact