I’ve never trusted straight roads.
Some of my earliest memories are the winding roads to my grandfather’s farm in Guapotá, Colombia. Four hours of curves through the mountains, crossing rivers that seemed endless, always wondering what was waiting after the next turn. Looking back, I think those roads shaped me more than I realized. They taught me that the most meaningful journeys rarely follow the shortest path.
If there’s one thing my journey has taught me, it’s that gratitude keeps you grounded while ambition keeps you moving.
I grew up surrounded by a very clear script of what a woman was supposed to be: how she should look, behave, speak, dream, and even how much space she should occupy. Playing it safe was admired. Taking risks wasn’t. Questioning that script has been one of the hardest (and most empowering) things I’ve ever done. Every meaningful chapter of my life began when I chose the road that felt less certain but far more exciting, and being frank, also when I realized I was too comfortable and somewhat “stuck”.
That mindset has shaped almost every decision I’ve made. It led me to an amazing experience before the United Nations, to work on community and social impact initiatives, to build my career as a corporate labor lawyer at some of Colombia’s leading law firms, and eventually to earn an excellence award to pursue my MBA at ESADE.
The funny part? None of it ever felt like the obvious choice.
Leaving law for business school certainly wasn’t. I was a corporate lawyer from Colombia with zero business background. I wasn’t even comfortable using Excel. I knew I would probably struggle more than many of my classmates (and bummer: I did, both on a personal and academic level). But I’ve learned that whenever something makes me feel slightly underqualified, it’s usually because it’s about to make me grow.
I still don’t know exactly what comes after the MBA for me, and at this time, I’m genuinely okay with that. I no longer want to chase a job title as much as I chase a life that keeps me curious, passionate, challenges me in ways that also make me nervous, and allows me to create real tangible impact. I believe businesses have an extraordinary responsibility: not just to generate economic value, but to improve people’s lives and the communities they touch. That’s the kind of work I hope to contribute to.
I feel most alive in places that remind me of how immense the world is: hiking through mountains, diving in the ocean, driving endless road trips, riding horses, or standing in front of a stage listening to live music. Nature is where I go to recalibrate. Whenever life feels overwhelming, I look at mountains and trees and ask them for strength. Every single person who truly matters/mattered in my life has, at some point, shared a mountain with me (and believe me, I also take this kind of experiences seriously and refuse to share them with random or irrelevant people). There’s something about long hikes, silence, unpredictable weather, and discomfort that strips away titles and expectations. That’s when people become themselves.
I love seeing people en su salsa, as we say in Colombia: completely immersed in what they love and who they are. Maybe that’s why I think envy is one of the most dangerous emotions we can carry. It keeps us so busy comparing ourselves that we forget to admire, learn from, and genuinely celebrate others.
The MBA has challenged me far more than I expected. Ironically, its greatest gift hasn’t been learning finance or strategy; it’s been meeting people who constantly push me to become better while reminding me to stay true to myself. It has also brought me back to something I had forgotten for years: how deeply connected I am to Colombia. Today, one of my favorite things is cooking Colombian food, introducing friends to my country, and realizing that where I come from is one of my greatest strengths, and not a place to leave behind, but one to build from.
So, what is invisible but essential to me? The quiet decision to keep choosing the road that seems scary, challenging and never ever shelter in fear. To challenge myself before life forces me to. To find something that genuinely makes me come alive and pursue it, even when it doesn’t fit the mold, even when it requires sacrifices that other people don’t understand. To be deeply honest with myself before trying to show being honest with anyone else.
I think the business world talks a lot about networking and not nearly enough about honesty (and they’re very much related!). Every personal, business, academic and professional opportunity that has changed my life started with an honest conversation, genuine curiosity, and the willingness to admit that I didn’t have all the answers.
If I could leave one thing behind, it would be this: dream big enough to scare yourself, find what you love and pursue a path that makes sense to you (and challenge yourself to change it too!), stay humble enough to keep learning, and never lose the ability to be genuinely grateful, for the people who walk beside you, the places that shape you, and the chance to give something back.
Invisible but Essential 