Meet Maria Belen Cerviño

We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Maria Belen Cerviño a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Maria Belen, appreciate you sitting with us today. Maybe we can start with a topic that we care deeply about because it’s something we’ve found really sets folks apart and can make all the difference in whether someone reaches their goals. Self discipline seems to have an outsized impact on how someone’s life plays out and so we’d love to hear about how you developed yours?

My self-discipline comes from my passion. I love what I do, I love what I’ve created and I push myself everyday a bit more to be better at my job and to make my project grow each day. I found out that my motivation and self-discipline isn’t something to take for granted. My project has grown and still does because of my self-discipline, and my motivation gets me more creative. Sometimes when things don’t go as planned and my motivation is gone, it’s my self-discipline the one thing that keeps me going and fighting for what I love. It’s, in my opinion, my main pilar on my project and I find it really easy inside myself, because I know that I’m working and fighting for my dream. And in order to make my dreams come true, I have to work hard and be discipline.

Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?

Everything at Mandarina started as a joke. Like a game. I was finishing my studies in industrial design and working at an automotive company. I needed a new hobby, something to clear my head. I started studying jewelry and realized it was what I wanted to do with my life. I continued studying, and in 2020, in the midst of the pandemic, I decided to open my own brand and atelier. I began designing my pieces and teaching. Today, five years later, I have a school with more than 120 students, both in person and online, my pieces are exhibited in various locations, and I work with an amazing team. I try to show myself as I am on social media and always be very transparent, and I think that’s what makes for such a strong and friendly community. I try to show the truth behind every design, every process, every stepback and how I manage to overcome every rock on my way

If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?

I think my degree in Industrial Design, my years of teaching, and my tenacity have helped me every step of the way. Knowing how to run a small business and teach made things easier for me in the beginning. But the key is being clear about what I want to do with my life and what I want for Mandarina. Normally, I plan and organize everything in advance, but I’ve also learned to improvise and change course in a matter of days or even hours. No matter what happens, I always try to stay true to myself and what I want for this project. Having clear ideas and goals always helps me a lot. Because in those moments when I have to adapt my project and my deadlines, having clear ideas for Mandarina and feeling confident in my trajectory and my work reassures me that I’m still on the path I chose. I think that’s my advice: try to choose something you’re passionate about and always stay true to your goals, no matter what. Things are constantly changing; the challenge is staying the course.

What’s been one of your main areas of growth this year?

I’m thrilled to announce that Mandarina has grown tremendously over the past twelve months. Mandarina Atelier occupied an apartment with almost no free space or room to display my designs, and I felt I had reached the limit of my space. Last year (almost a year ago), I found a space, an old house. It was old and needed a lot of work and love before I moved, but in record time, my family, friends, and I worked hard and transformed that old house into a jewelry studio and school more beautiful than I ever imagined. I also expanded my team to continue growing as a business. I currently exhibit my designs in various locations and continue to think about and offer new options, such as events and workshops, to become a comprehensive jewelry school and studio.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mandarinajoyeria.com.ar/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mandarinajoyeria/