Meet Marina Gavric

We were lucky to catch up with Marina Gavric recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Marina, so excited to talk about all sorts of important topics with you today. The first one we want to jump into is about being the only one in the room – for some that’s being the only person of color or the only non-native English speaker or the only non-MBA, etc Can you talk to us about how you have managed to be successful even when you were the only one in the room that looked like you?

Being the only one in the room has never been new to me. I learned early on that survival meant adapting, thinking quickly, and pushing forward, even when everything around me felt uncertain. The war in Kosovo forced me to grow up suddenly, stripping away any illusion of childhood. I had no choice but to think rationally, with little room for emotion. When I fled to one of the biggest cities in Serbia, I had to rebuild my life from nothing. I became a mother, created a home, and found a way to move forward, even as
the past lingered in the background.
Then, I had to start over again-this time on a different continent. Moving to the United States meant entering rooms where no one looked like me, where my accent, my history, and my perspective set me apart. But I had already learned that standing out wasn’t a weakness, it was my strength. I listened, I observed, and I adapted. I didn’t wait for permission to take up space, I made sure l belonged.
Success for me has never been about fitting in. It has been about resilience, about making decisions even when I was afraid, and about proving, again and again, that I am capable.
No matter where I am, no matter how different I may seem, I refuse to shrink. I know who lam, and that is enough.

Let’s take a small detour – maybe you can share a bit about yourself before we dive back into some of the other questions we had for you?

I am the founder of MG Body Space, a wellness and body sculpting studio that brings a unique European approach to health, beauty, and recovery. When I started this journey, I knew I wanted to create something different-something that blended advanced wellness technology with a holistic approach to self-care. MG Body Space was only the third location of its kind in the United States, introducing methods that have been widely used and trusted in Europe but were still new to many here.
What makes MG Body Space special is that it’s not just about aesthetics, it’s about overall well-being. We incorporate innovative techniques such as infrared therapy, lymphatic drainage, and vacuum compression, all designed to enhance circulation, detoxify the body, and promote natural healing. These are treatments that have been popular in Europe for years, and I wanted to make them accessible to people here who are looking for something beyond traditional fitness and beauty routines.
The most exciting part of this journey has been seeing how these methods transform not only bodies but also confidence and mindsets. Our clients come in for the physical benefits, but they leave feeling empowered, refreshed, and reconnected with themselves.
As we continue to grow, I am excited to expand our offerings and introduce even more cutting-edge wellness solutions. MG
Body Space is more than just a studio, it’s a space for transformation, for people to take care of themselves in ways they may not have experienced before. I’m proud to be part of this movement, bringing something fresh and effective to the wellness industry in the U.S.

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

Looking back on my journey, three qualities have been the most impactful: resilience, strategic thinking, and adaptability.
My father always told me that anything is possible with a plan and enough determination. That mindset shaped the way I approached every challenge. When I had to flee my home due to war, then rebuild my life in a new city, and later start over on a different continent, I didn’t let fear or doubt hold me back. Resilience kept me moving forward, seeing obstacles as part of the process rather than barriers to success.
Strategic thinking has also been essential.
Hard work alone isn’t enough, you need a clear vision and a plan to make it happen. Whether I was creating opportunities for my family or launching MG Body Space, I focused on learning, making intentional decisions, and taking calculated risks.
Success rarely happens by accident, it’s built step by step.
Finally, adaptability has been key. Life rarely goes as planned, and the ability to adjust has made all the difference. Moving to the U.S. and introducing European wellness concepts in a new market required me to be open-
minded and willing to pivot. Instead of resisting change, I embraced it, using every new experience as an opportunity to grow.
For those early in their journey, my advice is this: Have a vision, make a plan, and stay flexible. Surround yourself with people who push you forward, keep learning, and don’t let setbacks define you. If you want something badly enough and are willing to work for it, you can make it happen.

What was the most impactful thing your parents did for you?

The most impactful thing my parents did for me was teaching me how to survive, both physically and mentally, when life gave me no other choice. At 17, they took me out of the war, away from the bombing of my birth city, but survival didn’t just mean escaping.
We lost everything-family, friends, homes, even the pets l had grown up with. There was no time to grieve, no space for self-pity. I had to step up, not just for myself but for my family.
On top of everything, I lost my brother-not in the physical sense, but to schizophrenia and PTSD. Watching him slip away from the person I had known was another kind of war, one I had no control over. I had to grow up not only for myself but for him too, filling the gaps where he could no longer stand on his own. In many ways, I became the steady force, carrying a weight I never imagined l’d have to bear.
I adopted a mindset of strength, one that didn’t allow for fear or unnecessary emotions. I couldn’t afford to be a “drama queen” or let pain slow me down. My father always told me, “God would never let you dream if He didn’t think you could make it a reality.” Those words stayed with me through every challenge. They reminded me that if I had a dream, if I had even the smallest spark of hope, it meant I was capable of making it happen.
That lesson shaped everything l’ve done since. It gave me the resilience to build a new life, to move forward even when the past weighed heavy on me. My parents gave me more than just a second chance at life-they gave me the mindset to make something of it.
The best advice I can give is this: when something is good, it will pass, and when things are bad, that will pass too. Always keep your head high-everything comes to an end, but how you carry yourself through it is what truly matters.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://mgbodyspace.com
• Instagram: mgbodyspace