Mariana Atencio Profile Photo

Mariana Atencio

Keynote Speaker

Peabody Award-Winning Journalist; Bestselling Author; Media Entrepreneur; Inspiring Storyteller; Host and Moderator

Mariana Atencio is on a mission to help people supercharge their careers, their workplace cultures, and their happiness by embracing the power of authenticity. The Peabody Award-winning journalist and bestselling author of Perfectly You has had over 23 million views of her inspiring TEDx talk which chronicles her journey from Venezuelan immigrant to U.S. national news anchor. Mariana is a dynamic keynote speaker but also an extraordinary moderator, interviewer, and event host whose warmth and intelligence will elevate any program she’s part of.

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Mariana Atencio Profile Photo

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 from 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 for major events.

Featured Videos

Mariana Atencio Profile Photo
Mariana Atencio

Tedx – What Makes you Special with Mariana Atencio

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Mariana Atencio

What Makes You Perfectly You with Mariana Atencio

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Mariana Atencio

Mariana Atencio on Fork in The Road Moments

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Mariana Atencio

Stay Grounded in Times of Change with Mariana Atencio

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Mariana Atencio

A Life Changing Event with Mariana Atencio

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Mariana Atencio

What is Authenticity with Mariana Atencio

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Mariana Atencio

Authentic Organizations Inspire Trust with Mariana Atencio

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Mariana Atencio

Get to Know Mariana Atencio

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Mariana Atencio

Mariana Atencio Moderating, Interviewing & Hosting Reel

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Mariana Atencio

Mariana Atencio Speaking Reel

Mariana Atencio’s Speech Topics

  • Transformative Leadership: Building Trust Through Authenticity

    A title doesn’t make someone a leader. What makes a leader is followers. The challenge of leading today is that people are increasingly skeptical and distrustful. The job of every leader is to build trust through authenticity and transparency, guiding teams effectively through change and uncertainty. It takes courage to lead this way, but the benefits are undeniable. Leaders who inspire trust generate a sense of belonging and inspire people to deliver their best efforts and ideas.


    In this talk, Mariana Atencio helps people tap into the transformative power of embracing their true selves as leaders. She unveils the four core traits that define authentic leaders: unyielding courage, dynamic agility, powerful communication, and an unwavering growth mindset. Her transformative formula for unlocking leadership potential focuses on actionable tools that are immediately applicable to build a culture of trust, authenticity and leading with purpose.


    Key takeaways:

    • Develop the skills to identify, understand, and guide your team through change effectively.

    • Leverage your unique leadership abilities to build trust.

    • Communicate with clarity, empathy, and transparency to navigate uncertainty.

    • Unite your teams around a shared purpose to drive collective progress.

  • Communicating Confidently – Cut Through the Noise and Get Heard (Post-Keynote Breakout or Separate Keynote)

    For everyone in business, delivering a message efficiently – internally and in different media – has gotten infinitely more complex in the age of AI. This interactive presentation will help attendees sharpen their communication skills. Mariana equips leaders – from entry level to the C-Suite – with practical tools and tested principles to speak confidently, authentically, and effectively, whether it’s for client meetings, internal communications, Zoom, an important presentation, a traditional media interview, a digital clip and/or a conference stage. Mariana will share tips that took her more than a decade of television and social media experience to learn, working at two of the world’s biggest news networks, in Spanish and English. 45-90 Minutes


    Sample takeaways:

    • Learn to distill your main message so it resonates across all platforms.

    • Practical tips and pro tricks for in-person and virtual presentations.

    • Master the power of persuasion in an era of fleeting attention spans.

    • Better storytelling to create connection and leave a lasting impact.

    • Establish credibility and build trust in an era of misinformation.

    • How to navigate real-time interview scenarios with confidence.

  • The Power of Being Perfectly You

    It’s a fact: People are at their best – at work and in life – when they feel like they can be themselves. They’re more confident in the face of change and uncertainty, more engaged and resilient, and have a greater sense of purpose and well-being. But fear can sometimes keep us from being real. In this presentation, Mariana Atencio brings her energy, humor, and skillful storytelling to inspire people to embrace their authenticity and unleash the power that comes with being themselves. Being “Perfectly You” builds trust and connection – it attracts people like a magnet because authenticity stands out in a world of algorithms and A.I. content. Mariana’s unique personal story and infectious optimism energizes people with the courage to fully engage, adapt to constant change, and reach new levels of fulfillment at work and in life.


    Sample takeaways:

    • Unlock the secret of being our real selves, especially at work.

    • How to discover and harness the traits that make you “Perfectly You.”

    • Navigate change confidently. Increase your personal fulfillment and sense of purpose.

    • Why being vulnerable and leading with empathy inspires others, builds trust, and creates more meaningful relationships.

    • 4 steps authentic leaders use to cultivate transformation and innovation and enhance resilience in the face of change.

    • Help leaders create a culture of authenticity that spurs engagement, connection, collaboration, and performance.

  • 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 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.

What other organizations say about Mariana Atencio

Not many speakers can connect and engage with an audience like Mariana Atencio can. Her keynote, ‘The Power of Authenticity’ impacted our members on a very personal level and left them feeling empowered! Ms. Atencio’s message set the tone for the rest of the conference and left our attendees wanting more. For example, during our closing celebration two of our volunteer leaders referenced their ‘What makes you perfectly you?’ cards during their onstage remarks. Book Mariana – it will be the smartest decision you make for your conference or event.

Association

What other organizations say about Mariana Atencio

I am thrilled to share my highest praise for Mariana, who hosted our company’s Convention. Mariana’s performance as the event’s host exceeded all expectations, and her contributions were invaluable. Throughout the event, Mariana showcased her exceptional talent for engaging and captivating our audience. Her energy and enthusiasm were boundless, creating an electric atmosphere that resonated with everyone in attendance. Most importantly, she was able to think on her feet, listen, and absorb the right takeaways to weave one keynote with the next, creating the perfect throughline for our summit.

Association

What other organizations say about Mariana Atencio

It was a pleasure working with Mariana Atencio and her Team during our event. Not only was she highly engaged and accessible from the very beginning of the planning process, but flexible and open to ensure that her speech flowed well with the Summit’s overarching theme. She was inspirational, motivational and real, and we received wonderful feedback from the attendees. We would be happy to work with her again.

Beverage

What other organizations say about Mariana Atencio

Mariana’s communication training was phenomenal! It was practical, interactive and relatable. Her tips on effective communication were insightful, easy and actionable, just what our team of consultants and leaders were looking for. We learned more in 40 minutes than we ever thought possible! Her advice left the team inspired and confident to communicate with media and peers.

Medical Equipment

What other organizations say about Mariana Atencio

Mariana was powerful on stage, engaging, thought provoking and the perfect speaker for our flagship global annual conference. 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.

Banking

What other organizations say about Mariana Atencio

Absolutely blown away by Mariana’s captivating energy and unparalleled ability to engage the audience. Her speech not only hit the mark but soared beyond expectations, leaving everyone inspired and eager for more! She is a force to be reckoned with.

Automobiles

What other organizations say about Mariana Atencio

Mariana Atencio’s keynote, “Perfectly You,” was an unforgettable experience. Despite the size of the room, with over 126 attendees, she effortlessly connected with each person. By stepping down from the stage and engaging directly with the audience, she created an atmosphere where we all felt seen and heard. A standout moment was when she asked, “What’s the most impactful thing that has happened to you in your life?” This simple yet powerful question led to many emotional responses, with people moved to tears as they reflected on their personal journeys. It was a raw, vulnerable moment that made the message even more meaningful. Mariana’s blend of fun, energy, and deep insights kept everyone engaged throughout the session. Her authenticity and the genuine care she showed for the audience made her presentation not just inspiring but also enjoyable. By the end of it, I felt motivated to pursue the best version of myself. Mariana Atencio is an exceptional speaker, and I would highly recommend her to anyone looking for a transformative experience!

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Works by Mariana Atencio

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