Gina Marciniak on Life, Lessons & Legacy

Gina Marciniak shared their story and experiences with us recently and you can find our conversation below.

Gina, so good to connect and we’re excited to share your story and insights with our audience. There’s a ton to learn from your story, but let’s start with a warm up before we get into the heart of the interview. What’s more important to you—intelligence, energy, or integrity?
I think intelligence, energy, and integrity all matter, but for me, integrity is the one underpinning all the rest. It is the groundwork of a life well-lived.

Integrity to me is doing what is right when no one is looking. Being able to be honest with yourself and real and consistent to who you are and to have the strength and courage to be that every day. You can be brilliant, and you can light up every room you walk into, but if you’re not rooted in integrity, none of that really lasts.

I’ve learned that real connection, whether it is in friends, love, or work, cannot survive without trust. And integrity is built on trust. It is not about perfection. It’s about authenticity, showing up as yourself, and being faithful. That’s when real connection starts.

Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’ve always been interested in why people are drawn to one another. Through the years, that curiosity grew into my career, and for the past 14 years, I’ve been helping people find real, lasting love.

I am a Certified Executive Matchmaker and Relationship Coach with LUMA Matchmaking. We represent clients who are successful and sensible and who know that the people who call us are very sincere in wanting a life partner. What sets LUMA apart is its personal approach. There is no algorithm, no swiping, no games. It’s about real people, not just reaching out, but with an element of real intent.

What I like best is learning someone’s story. I want to know what’s true for them, what really matters to them, what they want, and what is the best thing for them. Then I search for someone where it just feels natural. It’s not going to be about trying to manufacture chemistry. It’s about making room for that to occur.

My name is Gina Marciniak, and I couldn’t feel more accomplished when two people meet for the first time and know that they have found something special. I am still building my clientele now, doing what I love—helping people identify and apply the kind of love that is peaceful, thrilling, and true.

Because love is not meant to be a mystery. It is supposed to feel like home.

Okay, so here’s a deep one: Who taught you the most about work?
My best education has come from clients and colleagues I’ve worked with over the years. Every client, every story, has taught me something new about timing, patience, communication, and what it actually means to be ready for love.

If I had to pick one thing, it’s the straightforwardness of a lot of the people who have believed in me that has taught me so much. The ones who were brave enough to tell me what they’re afraid of and where they’re getting stuck. They taught me that matchmaking is not just about finding the right match; it’s about being willing to train someone for the love you already know they deserve.

This work has reminded me again and again of how very human we all are. And the learning never stops.

What did suffering teach you that success never could?
We’ve all had our challenges. For me, it was uterine cancer in my 30s that turned my world upside down. It taught me what it is to really keep going when everything feels shaky and uncertain.

There were days when the only thing I could manage was to keep moving forward, putting one foot in front of the other, with no clue how I was going to make it through. It forced me to work on empathy and patience, not just with others, but with myself too. And perhaps most important, it required me to finally own up to the fact that no one is perfect… not me, not anyone!

I’ve learned that success isn’t always going to come wrapped up with a nice bow. It can be messy and chaotic! Some days can feel irritating, some days can feel so rewarding. Occasionally it takes you down and then lifts you up. What I’ve learned is that healing, like success, involves embracing your struggles and recognizing that your journey, your experiences, are real.

The same goes for love. It’s not about someone who ticks all the boxes or matches the ideal image. It’s about connection, acceptance, and the way we are seen in an authentic way, even in the parts of ourselves we’re often the most afraid to show.

That belief is at the heart of my matchmaking! I work with people who have known heartbreak, who have grieved, who have been disappointed, but they show up hopeful. They’re seeking something real! Their struggles don’t define them; they’re simply chapters of their story. Those experiences have prepared them for a deeper, more meaningful love.

I don’t view matchmaking as a numbers game or a checklist. It’s about seeing the whole person, honoring the resilience born from pain, and making space for the part of us that remains open to love, even when it’s complicated. That’s the work I embrace every single day. I approach it with respect and a great deal of devotion.

I think our readers would appreciate hearing more about your values and what you think matters in life and career, etc. So our next question is along those lines. What’s a cultural value you protect at all costs?
The value I protect at all costs is dignity. Every person who walks through my door, no matter what they’ve been through or where they are in their journey, deserves to be met with kindness and respect. That belief guides every part of my work.

In this profession, people share some of the most vulnerable parts of themselves like their disappointments, their hopes, the moments they’re proud of and the ones they rarely speak about. My job is not just to find a match, it’s to create space for all of that to be seen and valued.

This is not a numbers game. It’s not about profiles or statistics. It’s about honoring someone’s story and holding it with care. It’s about creating a space where people feel safe to be exactly who they are, without having to earn love by being perfect.

Because at the end of the day, we all want connection. We all want to love and be loved. And no one should ever have to trade in their dignity to get there. That is something I will always protect. Without exception.

Okay, we’ve made it essentially to the end. One last question before you go. What do you understand deeply that most people don’t?
What I understand, and what most people don’t always realize right away, is that love doesn’t show up just because you want it. It shows up when you’re truly ready to let yourself be seen.

We think ‘The One’ is about timing or chemistry, having a solid checklist or good communication skills. But the real magic comes in when you shed the armor, when you stop performing and start getting real about who you are and what you need. That kind of openness? That’s where love lives.

Out of fear of rejection, fear of getting hurt, or being misunderstood, I’ve seen people with the most incredible lives and the biggest hearts hold back. I’ve also seen others who’ve been through the hardest things say “I’m done pretending.” THAT is when the shift happens! That’s when love has a chance to land.

Connection doesn’t come from perfection. It comes from showing up, being present, fully, as yourself. THAT is the heartbeat of the work that I do.

Contact Info:

Suggest a Story: BoldJourney is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems,
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
Highlighter Series
What do the first 90 minutes of your day look like?

Coffee? Workouts? Hitting the snooze button 14 times? Everyone has their morning ritual and we

Highlighter Series
What have been the defining wounds of your life—and how have you healed them?

Our deepest wounds often shape us as much as our greatest joys. The pain we

Highlighter Series
Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?

Culture, economic circumstances, family traditions, local customs and more can often influence us more than