Keynote SpeakerMariana Atencio

Peabody Award-Winning Journalist, Bestselling Author, Entrepreneur, Inspiring Storyteller, and Host/Moderator

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Watch Mariana Atencio in action

Mariana Atencio - Speaking Reel
Mariana Atencio - Be Authentic. Stop Covering
Mariana Atencio - Hosting Reel
Rethinking Storytelling To Help People Care | Mariana Atencio | TEDxUniversityofNevada
What makes you special? | Mariana Atencio | TEDxUniversityofNevada
Perfectly You: Authenticity is our best currency | Mariana Atencio | Talent Connect 2019 (CC)

Popular Talks by Mariana Atencio

The Power of Authenticity: Supercharge your Career, your Workplace Culture, and your Happiness

It takes seven seconds for people to form an opinion about you. That’s why most of us are taught to fit in a box instead of embracing those parts of ourselves that stand out. As a budding national TV journalist, Mariana was often encouraged to leave parts of herself at…

It takes seven seconds for people to form an opinion about you. That’s why most of us are taught to fit in a box instead of embracing those parts of ourselves that stand out. As a budding national TV journalist, Mariana was often encouraged to leave parts of herself at the door. But ‘covering’ did not lead to real belonging, especially in the workplace. Embracing her uniqueness did – and Mariana’s passion is empowering others to discover how to do the same. When people feel safe to be themselves, that authenticity builds trust, fulfillment, and credibility at work and in life. They’re able to embrace a mindset of transformation to meet change more resiliently. And leaders find fostering authenticity on their team spurs engagement, collaboration, innovation, and community.

Key takeaways:
– Why most of us find it so hard to be authentic, especially at work.
– Discover the traits that make you “Perfectly You” and harness them.
– One way to increase your personal fulfillment and a sense of purpose.
– How being vulnerable inspires others, builds trust, and creates meaningful relationships.
– Mariana’s 3-UP METHOD to inspire a workplace culture of innovation and openness.
– Easy steps to cultivate transformation, impact outcomes, and enhance resilience in the face of change.
Moderating/Interviewing/Hosting

With experience as a national network news anchor and reporter, Mariana brings warmth and intelligence to each hosting, moderating, and interviewing assignment. Mariana’s curiosity and poise help her get the most out of those on stage with her. The breadth of Mariana’s experience speaks to her versatility. She’s moderated conversations…

With experience as a national network news anchor and reporter, Mariana brings warmth and intelligence to each hosting, moderating, and interviewing assignment. Mariana’s curiosity and poise help her get the most out of those on stage with her.

The breadth of Mariana’s experience speaks to her versatility. She’s moderated conversations on embracing a mindset for change at Microsoft, on the rights of women in Iran, on gender inequality at Foreign Policy magazine’s HERPower summit, on media representation at the Paley Center for Media, on financial literacy at Nasdaq, on building a personal and professional brand at Columbia University, a panel on geopolitics and economics at Citi Private Bank’s autumn dialogues with three heads of state from Latin America, a session at the United Nations General Assembly meeting on global healthcare inequity, plus the Congressional Hispanic Caucus, PepsiCo, JP Morgan, Accenture, Spotify, Google, YouTube, Clorox, AT&T, Spectrum, and more.

More talks

What Makes You Perfectly You?
Vulnerability is a Strength
Being Human Unites Us
Look Up, Speak Up, Pull Up
Shifting Your Attitude
The Upside of Authenticity
It’s Painful Being Different
Don’t Let Differences Define You
Belonging Takes Work
Igniting Change
Your Unique Insights Matter
Recognizing Our Blind Spots
Constructive Conflict Resolution

Biography

Mariana Atencio is on a mission to help people supercharge their careers, their workplace cultures, and their happiness by embracing the power of authenticity. Coming to America from Venezuela as a young girl, Mariana learned first-hand how feeling self-conscious about being different kept her from engaging. After graduating Columbia University, Mariana wanted to take that experience into her journalism career and tell stories that build bridges and foster understanding. She became a national news anchor and correspondent, earning a Peabody Award for reporting which took her from Haiti to Hong Kong to the Syrian border. The success of her TEDx talk, “What Makes YOU Special?”, viewed over 23 million times, catapulted Mariana into a new storytelling outlet: speaking. Her first book, Perfectly You: Embracing the Power of Being Real, is a bestselling call to action to unleash the magic of personal and professional authenticity to find purpose and break barriers.

Currently head of her own media production company, Mariana pursues stories that capture her curiosity. She also continues to deliver inspiring keynotes and moderate/host at major events.

But to start at the beginning, Originally from Caracas, Venezuela, Mariana Atencio graduated from Merici High School and received a journalism degree from Universidad Católica. When the government of Hugo Chávez shut down independent media outlets in her home country, she participated in student protests for democracy. After being assaulted in an armed robbery, Mariana left for the United States when she received a full- merit scholarship to Columbia University’s Journalism School and received her master’s degree in broadcast journalism.

Mariana Atencio got her big break anchoring and reporting at Univision, where she also filed stories for the Documentaries and Investigative Unit. She won a Peabody Award and an Investigative Reporters and Editors (IRE) Award for her work uncovering illegal weapons sold across the border in Mexico. She also won a Gracie Award for directing, writing, and reporting PRESSionados, a documentary about press freedom in Latin America.

She then went on to host The Morning Show on Fusion, the Disney and Univision joint venture, and co-anchored the 2016 Democratic Presidential debate. Mariana made the crossover from Spanish to English-speaking television as a national correspondent for NBC News where she was known for her boots-on-the-ground, engaging, and empathic field work. Her investigative work on Latin America, the Latino community, cartel violence, women’s and migrants’ rights earned her three Emmy nominations, a Hillman Prize, and the National Association of Hispanic Journalists Presidential Award.

In the course of her broadcast career, Mariana has reported from places like Haiti, the Syrian border, and China, underscoring the common threads in our humanity and that we are all more alike than different. She has interviewed dozens of notable figures, including Pope Francis, President Joe Biden, King Felipe VI of Spain, Nancy Pelosi, chef and humanitarian José Andrés, author Yuval Noah Harari, and director Francis Ford Coppola.

Mariana’s journey is featured on the award-winning HBO series Habla, and People magazine called her storytelling platform “a media empire.” Ten years after she arrived in the United States, Mariana won Columbia’s First Decade Award for her impressive career as a journalist.

Mariana Atencio is a 2021 Henry Crown Fellow at the Aspen Institute and spokesperson for the American Latino Museum in D.C. In 2022 she launched the hit true crime podcast series Lost in Panama, an investigation into the disappearance of Kris Kremers and Lisanne Froon, shedding light on the issue of missing women and girls in the region. Lost in Panama made Apple Podcasts’ top #10 list, and Mariana headlined Foreign Policy magazine’s HerPower summit on tackling gender inequality in the Americas.

Mariana’s TEDx talk “What Makes YOU Special?” is one of the top ten most-watched videos on YouTube. Doubling down on her message, she wrote her bestselling memoir, Perfectly You: Embracing the Power of Being Real.

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What clients say about Mariana Atencio

“Mariana provided some wonderful lessons and insights into her journey and how each of us can celebrate and share what makes us different. It was a fantastic opportunity for our employees to be inspired and to learn more.” Director, Global Executive & Employee Communications, Microsoft

“Mariana was powerful on stage, engaging, thought provoking and the perfect speaker for our flagship global annual conference held in Miami. She was such a pleasure to work with that she ended up interviewing and moderating two very critical panels for the agenda. Mariana’s experience and professionalism will make any company that chooses to work with her look great.” Director, Marketing & Communications Head, Citi Private Bank

“In a time when dramatic change has brought about immense uncertainty, Mariana’s C.O.N.T.R.O.L. framework provides tangible guidance on how to move forward with intention to build a life that honors our unique purpose. This complete framework helps you evaluate your life with clarity, empower yourself to break through ruts, and make meaningful progress. It’s a true gift to be able to share this framework with our employees.” Director of Practice Management & Co-Founder of Latinos @SAP Concur

“Given the uncertainty of the post-pandemic world, you and your organization are in the best hands by hiring Mariana and her GoLike team. We have booked Mariana for motivational keynotes aimed at employees, voice-over work, community programs, and social media campaigns and she has over delivered every time. Her creativity and attention to detail will make your brand stand out in a unique way! She is very dynamic and great at keeping the audience engaged.” Senior Manager, Ford Motor Company

“Mariana Atencio brought such energy and honesty to our company-wide event. Mariana’s authenticity allows her to connect with others almost immediately. Thank you for providing us with the tools to be resilient and proud of what makes us Perfectly Unique!” Director, Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Rapid7

“For the last two years, Mariana has been the host of AT&T’s annual Hispanic Heritage Month events, celebrating employees’ authenticity and contributions toward the customers and communities we proudly serve. Mariana brings employees’ stories to life through her unique engagement and connection with our teams while creating a welcoming, energetic, and memorable atmosphere. Her dynamic stage presence, storytelling, and facilitation skills have positively impacted our events and attendees. We appreciate her commitment to amplifying our brand’s values as well as her partnership and collaboration in delivering unique experiences that support our mission of connecting people to greater possibilities!” Chief Strategy and Development Officer, AT&T Inc.

“Mariana’s authentic, relatable, engaging style enabled her to immediately connect with our audience. Through a series of stories, she shared uplifting, relevant, and empowering learnings that all of us can embrace as leaders.” VP, Google Cloud Consulting

How to book Mariana Atencio as a keynote speaker

How do I book Mariana Atencio for a keynote speech?

You can book Mariana Atencio through London Speaker Bureau by submitting the enquiry form on this page or calling our team. One of our consultants will respond promptly with Mariana's current availability, speaking fees and any specific requirements for your event.

What are Mariana Atencio's speaking fees?

Mariana Atencio's speaking fees depend on the event format (in-person or virtual), the location, the length of the engagement and the level of customisation required. Please contact London Speaker Bureau for an up-to-date fee quote for Mariana tailored to your event.

What topics does Mariana Atencio speak about?

Mariana Atencio speaks on Authors, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Facilitators & Moderators, Future of Work. Talks can be shaped around your audience, industry and strategic objectives - share your event brief with London Speaker Bureau and we will work with Mariana to align the content with your delegates and goals.

Is Mariana Atencio available for international events?

London Speaker Bureau can book Mariana Atencio for events worldwide, subject to Mariana's schedule. Please send us your event date, location and format and we will confirm availability and handle travel and logistics on your behalf.

Does Mariana Atencio deliver virtual or online keynotes?

Virtual and hybrid keynotes are now a standard part of the speaking industry. Please contact London Speaker Bureau to confirm whether Mariana Atencio is available to deliver a virtual session for your event and on which platform (Zoom, Microsoft Teams, a bespoke studio or your own).

How long is a typical keynote by Mariana Atencio?

Most keynote speeches run between 45 and 60 minutes, often followed by a 15-30 minute Q&A. Other formats - shorter conference slots, panel appearances or longer workshop sessions - may also be possible. Share your agenda with London Speaker Bureau and we will confirm what Mariana can accommodate.

Can Mariana Atencio tailor the keynote to our industry and audience?

London Speaker Bureau will brief Mariana Atencio on your audience profile, sector and objectives so the keynote can be shaped around your event. The level of customisation possible depends on the speaker and the lead time - contact us with your brief and we will confirm what Mariana can offer.

What languages does Mariana Atencio present in?

Mariana Atencio delivers keynotes in English, Spanish. This profile may not list every language available; ask London Speaker Bureau to confirm. If you require simultaneous interpretation or a multilingual format, please mention this in your enquiry and London Speaker Bureau will arrange it for you.

What makes Mariana Atencio a strong fit as a keynote speaker?

Mariana Atencio's areas of expertise include Authors, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Facilitators & Moderators, Future of Work. To get a clear sense of Mariana's style, credentials and how they engage an audience, please review the biography, popular talks and any videos or testimonials shown on this page, or request a detailed speaker brief from London Speaker Bureau.

What kind of events can Mariana Atencio speak at?

Mariana Atencio can be booked through London Speaker Bureau for corporate conferences, leadership events, internal team meetings, association gatherings and private client engagements where expertise in Authors, Communication, Conflict Resolution, Facilitators & Moderators, Future of Work is relevant. Details of Mariana's background and previous engagements are included in the biography above; contact us if you would like a more detailed list of past clients or case studies.

Does Mariana Atencio offer workshops, panels or fireside chats in addition to keynotes?

Beyond keynote speeches, many of the speakers on our roster also take part in workshops, executive masterclasses, panel discussions and fireside chats. Contact London Speaker Bureau with your preferred format and we will confirm what Mariana Atencio is able to offer alongside or instead of a keynote.

How far in advance should we book Mariana Atencio?

We generally recommend enquiring at least three to twelve months in advance to secure your preferred date with Mariana Atencio, particularly during peak conference seasons. Where possible we also accommodate shorter lead times - please contact London Speaker Bureau to check Mariana's current availability for your dates.