Mariana Atencio

The coronavirus pandemic has forced everyone to adapt and transform, whether we wanted to or not. For Mariana, a breaking news journalist with over a decade of experience covering natural disasters, protests, and mass shootings, the ability to be nimble and reinvent oneself has always been key to survival. Through her interactions with people during some of the worst days of their lives, Mariana has learned about kindness, forgiveness, and resilience. In this timely talk, she shares her insights and provides practical strategies for audiences to react to the current changes, reclaim their power, embrace failure, and reinvent themselves.

Mariana's powerful speech on authenticity explores the innate human desire to fit in and the tendency to minimize unique traits over time. She discusses how this process can result in a loss of sense of self and how it hindered her own success in the marketplace. Mariana shares how recognizing and celebrating her differences helped her to stand out and how this can be done by others as well. She emphasizes the power of authenticity in strengthening teams and making an impact on the world, and also provides insights on how to tap into one's authenticity in an age of filters and social media.

With a decade of experience in traditional television and social media and a Peabody award for journalism under her belt, Mariana knows how to craft authentic stories that build bridges and create change. In this talk, she shows how the principles of authentic storytelling used in television can be applied by brands to engage customers and employees. Mariana emphasizes the lasting impact of an authentic message, whether it is spoken, written, or recorded, and provides guidance on how to create a message that sticks and leaves a lasting impact.

One of the biggest challenges facing executives today is fostering a sense of belonging among their diverse and inclusive workforce. When employees feel connected and valued, they are more likely to express themselves freely and share their ideas, leading to greater creativity and a willingness to take risks. In this talk, Mariana, the only Latina National correspondent on NBC news, shares insights and tools for executives on how to attract diverse talent in the 21st century and cultivate a sense of belonging within their organizations. She discusses the importance of championing and celebrating different cultures and perspectives and provides exercises like "Your Top 3s" to help attendees discover and embrace their own unique qualities. Through her experience leading global conferences like the Spotify Annual Conference and the United Nations Girl Up Summit, Mariana guides attendees on how to create a sense of belonging that supports and empowers their workforce talent.