We caught up with the brilliant and insightful Mariana Peña a few weeks ago and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Mariana , 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?
When I moved to the Netherlands, a predominantly white country, I quickly realized that if I wanted to build a successful career I had to get comfortable with being the only one in the room who looked like me. Leaving my home country meant that my identity shifted from being a successful Education professional at a top Mexican university to being just one more brown immigrant trying to find my place in a completely different environment.
It was not easy.
So much so that when faced with rejection after rejection I decided to take matters in my own hands and launch my online business.
I’ve learned that it takes more than courage or audacity to be successful when you are “out of place”.
It takes an enormous amount of self-awareness and confidence in your own skills.
The level of self-knowledge that will make me say “I know how to do that, and if I don’t I know how to figure it out”.
I said this to myself over and over again. Until it became a core belief that guides me.
Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?
¡Hola! Hi! I’m Mariana Peña, I could introduce myself as a learning designer; but that doesn’t quite fit the bill.
I’m the thinking partner to those who dream of changing the world.
With a blend of intellectual property consultancy and innovative learning design, I’m here to make your wisdom accessible, teachable, and impactful.
If you have ever felt like your expertise is a vast ocean, difficult to distill into teachable drops that’s where I step in.
I’m an expert at working with remarkable consultants, coaches, and revolutionary thought leaders.
Together we dive deep into your knowledge, extracting the essence of what makes your methods stand out in an overcrowded market.
My specialty is turning your hard-earned knowledge, processes and frameworks into profitable IP, group programs and course curriculums that are not just easy to understand but transformative for your audience.
Imagine having your life’s work crystallized into a process that not only brings results for your clients but also becomes a valuable asset you can sell and teach.
That’s the flavor I bring to the table.
If you had to pick three qualities that are most important to develop, which three would you say matter most?
My work is of interdisciplinary nature. I’ve found the sweet balance between Education, Social Sciences, DEI and Business principles. That signature mix has allowed me to market my learning design services as a tool to decolonize online courses and elevate the voice and work of my fellow BIPOC experts.
I would like to encourage everyone to find their unique interdisciplinary mix. Don’t be afraid to mix your multidimensional self into your work. That’s what sets you apart from your competition.
One of our goals is to help like-minded folks with similar goals connect and so before we go we want to ask if you are looking to partner or collab with others – and if so, what would make the ideal collaborator or partner?
I am always open to collaborate and work with experts who believe that education –and decolonial education– can change the world. If this work resonates with you please send me an email at hello@mypremiumcourse.com or message me on any of my social media platforms.
Contact Info:
- Website: mypremiumcourse.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mypremiumcourse/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/marianapenav
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marianapenavargas/
- Youtube: @mypremiumcourse
Image Credits
Photos by María-Inés Fuenmayor
