Meet Maribel Angulo Bender

 

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maribel Angulo Bender a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Maribel, so good to have you with us today. We’ve always been impressed with folks who have a very clear sense of purpose and so maybe we can jump right in and talk about how you found your purpose?

For most of my life, I lived searching for purpose in all the traditional places. I thought it would come through serving others, improving systems, or climbing the corporate ladder. I kept advancing, chasing titles and achievements, believing that’s where fulfillment lived. But the higher I climbed, the emptier I felt. Something was missing, and I couldn’t quite put my finger on what.

Everything changed when I became a mom.Suddenly, I understood what really mattered. Not fancy titles or corner offices, but those precious moments of connection with the people we love most. I’d always dreamed of creating something of my own, but motherhood gave me the motivation I’d been missing. Watching my little ones discover the world through books, seeing their faces light up during storytime, I realized this was my real purpose: creating something meaningful that brings families together.

Peek-A-Photo was born from that realization. These aren’t just books to me. They’re my way of honoring what matters most: family, connection, and those magical moments between parent and child. My children didn’t just give me purpose. They gave me the strength to finally pursue my dreams and create something that celebrates the love we share with our little ones.

Thanks for sharing that. So, before we get any further into our conversation, can you tell our readers a bit about yourself and what you’re working on?

I’m the founder of Peek-A-Photo, where we create lift-the-flap storybook albums that turn ordinary reading time into magical moments of family connection. What makes our books special is that they’re the first of their kind, combining interactive lift-the-flap elements with hidden photo pockets that families can personalize with pictures of their loved ones.

When your little one is reading along and lifts a flap to discover grandma’s smiling face, or daddy at work, or their favorite cousin, that moment of pure joy when they realize their family is literally part of the story is what Peek-A-Photo is all about.

What excites me most is seeing how these books help families stay connected, especially with loved ones who might be far away. We’re creating tools that introduce children to important people in their world through storytelling.

We launched in June, and it’s been amazing watching families discover our books at local farmers markets throughout San Diego. We’re also in four retail stores, and our books are patent-pending and safety certified for ages 0-3.

Right now, we’re collecting feedback from customers to improve our next round of products. There’s nothing more valuable than hearing directly from families about the special moments these books are creating in their homes. Every piece of feedback helps us make the next generation even better.

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?

Looking back, three qualities were absolutely essential to my journey: dedication, setting small tangible goals, and having a deep sense of purpose.

Dedication was everything. I was completely committed to seeing our books go from an idea on paper to an actual product in families’ hands. This meant putting in countless hours, working weekends, and pushing through moments when the path wasn’t clear. There were times when it felt overwhelming, but dedication means staying focused on the light at the end of the tunnel, even when it seems far away.

Setting small tangible goals kept me moving forward when the big picture felt impossible. Every week, I’d set achievable goals – sometimes as simple as picking a font for our business cards or researching illustrators. These small wins created momentum and made me feel like I was progressing, even when the journey felt endless. Breaking down something as complex as creating a patent-pending product into bite-sized pieces made it manageable.

Purpose was my fuel. I truly believe in our product and what it means for families. That emotional connection to the mission gave me the strength to persist through a three-year development process and patent application. If I was only in it for the money or didn’t feel deeply attached to what we were creating, I don’t think I would have had the endurance to see it through.

My advice for those starting their journey: Find something you genuinely believe in, break it down into the smallest possible steps, and be prepared to dedicate yourself fully to the process. The combination of passion, persistence, and daily progress will carry you further than you think possible.

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

If I only had a decade left, I would quit my full-time job immediately and dedicate every moment to what truly matters: my family and building a legacy my daughters can be proud of.

I wouldn’t abandon Peek-A-Photo; I’d work even harder to see it reach its full potential. The difference would be working on something that comes from my heart, something that could continue making a difference in families’ lives for generations to come.

I’d eliminate unnecessary stressors and spend our summers in Mexico, living simply. I want my daughters to experience a different way of life where community matters more than competition, where slowing down is valued, and where happiness isn’t measured by what you own but by the relationships you nurture.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve learned that less is more. I don’t chase money anymore; I chase peace, health, and happiness. I’d focus on giving my daughters the best decade ever, teaching them that they can create anything they set their minds to, and that true wealth comes from living authentically.

I want them to see their mom as someone who took a leap of faith, who chose purpose over paychecks, and who built something from love.

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