We were lucky to catch up with Marina Koetz recently and have shared our conversation below.
Marina, we’re thrilled to have you sharing your thoughts and lessons with our community. So, for folks who are at a stage in their life or career where they are trying to be more resilient, can you share where you get your resilience from?
My resilience comes from a combination of inner strength and the experiences I’ve had throughout my life. It started when I was a child, exploring art and feeling the joy it brought me. That passion for creativity is where I first found my determination. However, my true resilience was tested when I faced the challenges of moving to another country at the age of 21. Arriving in France without knowing the language, feeling isolated, and pursuing my dreams of studying graphic design, I knew that my inner strength was the key to moving forward.
Over time, I learned to turn moments of doubt and prejudice into sources of motivation. My resilience was further nurtured by the understanding that people may not always understand my background or my struggles, but that doesn’t define my path. I’ve learned to see each challenge as an opportunity to grow stronger and to keep pushing forward. Life’s challenges have taught me that resilience isn’t about just enduring, but about finding meaning and purpose in difficult times.
Great, so let’s take a few minutes and cover your story. What should folks know about you and what you do?
At this point in my life, I’m deeply focused on finding myself as an artist. After years of exploring different paths within design and art, I felt it was time to step back, take a breath, and ask myself: what truly resonates with me? That’s when I realized that my art needed to come from a more intimate place, a place of true expression, raw emotion, and genuine connection.
What excites me the most in this process is the journey of discovering myself through creation. Every piece I make is like a mirror that shows me a little piece of who I am, what I feel, and what I need to say to the world. It’s a sensitive journey, full of doubts, but also beautiful discoveries. The freedom to experiment with new techniques, new visual languages, and new ways of telling stories moves and inspires me to keep going, even when the path is uncertain.
Currently, I’m studying graphic design in France, in a process of both artistic and personal immersion. One of my most important projects right now is my end-of-year project, which involves a graphic and conceptual proposal for accessible makeup for visually impaired individuals. Through design, I aim to reflect on inclusion, sensory experience, and the right to beauty as a form of expression and empowerment. Using design as a tool for empathy and understanding has been transformative for me.
Additionally, I recently started an authorial project called Vers Bruts, where I share my poems texts that come from the same sensitive place that my visual art comes from. I am also developing Studio Koetz, a space where I plan to bring together my graphic work, from visual identities to more experimental projects.
Right now, my focus is on learning, growing, and, above all, listening to my own voice as an artist. I believe that what I create goes beyond just visuals, it’s an attempt to tell stories that touch other people, that spark something in them, just as art has always sparked something in me. I’m open to new opportunities, collaborations, and exchanges. And I hope that as I continue to grow, my work will keep evolving and be a space of connection between myself and others.
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, I think the three most impactful qualities in my journey have been resilience, curiosity, and empathy.
Resilience, because moving to another country, adapting to a new language and culture, and facing numerous challenges required a lot of persistence. There were moments when I wanted to give up, but my inner strength kept me going. Resilience is about not letting setbacks define you, but instead learning from them and using them to fuel your growth.
Curiosity has been another key factor. I’ve always had an insatiable desire to learn, whether it was mastering a new language or diving deeper into design and art. Being curious has allowed me to explore different areas, grow as an artist, and find my true path. I think curiosity is crucial for anyone starting their journey, as it opens up new opportunities and ideas that can help you move forward.
Empathy is the third quality that has played a huge role in my journey. Understanding others and seeing the world from different perspectives has helped me both in my personal and professional life. It’s important to be kind to others and yourself, especially when facing challenges. My advice to others is to develop empathy by listening, being open to learning from others, and showing compassion in all situations.
For those early in their journey, I would say: don’t be afraid to make mistakes, keep learning, and never stop being curious. Resilience and empathy will help you through tough times, and curiosity will drive you to keep growing. Focus on developing these qualities, and the rest will follow.
Who has been most helpful in helping you overcome challenges or build and develop the essential skills, qualities or knowledge you needed to be successful?
My mother Carin and my brother Rodrigo have been the most important people in helping me overcome challenges and develop the essential qualities and skills I needed to succeed. My mother, with her constant support and wisdom, has been my rock. Whenever I faced difficult moments or felt lost, she would remind me of my strength and the importance of staying true to myself. Her words of encouragement always gave me the courage to keep going, even when things seemed impossible.
My brother has also been a huge influence on me. He is always there to offer advice, help me stay grounded, and remind me to believe in myself. His perspective on life, his own experiences, and the way he approaches challenges have taught me a lot about perseverance and resilience. Both my mother and my brother have shown me, through their actions and words, that no challenge is too big if you have the right mindset and support.
Their love, guidance, and belief in me have been key to my growth, both personally and professionally. I owe a great deal of my success to them and their unwavering support.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://marinakoetz.wixsite.com/koetz
- Instagram: studio_koetz
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marina-koetz-9b2973171
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marinakoetz3367
so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
