We recently connected with Macki and have shared our conversation below.

Macki, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Do you think your parents have had a meaningful impact on you and your journey?

Both born in Cuba, my parents immigrated to the United States at a young age to escape Fidel Castro’s new regime. Being Cuban and first generation American, I’ve always instilled my parents work ethic into everything I do. America is filled with opportunity and dreams are achieved every day – but only after years, decades of hard work. My mother is a creative, while my father has been a lawyer for the past 30+ years, providing me with the ultimate balance of reaching for the stars while finding a practical way to land on one. I credit this mindset to anything I’ve accomplished thus far – believing in myself no matter how daunting my own imagination can be, but placing one foot in front of the other with logic and strategy to achieve it. Growing up, my mom always repeated “those who are successful are never the most talented, but the one’s who want it the most. It is always 10% talent, 90% hard work.”

Macki, love having you share your insights with us. Before we ask you more questions, maybe you can take a moment to introduce yourself to our readers who might have missed our earlier conversations?

My story starts from a very young age, but truly kicks off within the 6th grade hallways. It was then that I began hand painting and selling personalized canvas tote bags for my friends, designing their own character infused with their personality. Soon I started to screen print my designs, adding additional products and selling them across stores all over the east coast. Macki and Company was in full bloom until the economy dropped in 2008 – and I decided to take a step back and just be a normal teenager.

Throughout high school I focused more on traditional art, until joining the Iovine and Young Academy’s first cohort at the University of Southern California. With the Academy, I learned and experienced more than I ever imagined possible, primarily from those I saw as the missing puzzle pieces around me – my classmates and best friends. During this time I re-discovered Macki and Company with more knowledge, and a new outlook.

After graduation, I continued to work on my so-called “company” struggling for many years in the process. Creating a world with characters that are born from your inner dialogue, is the most challenging feat I have ever experienced. So much of who I am is planted in this brand, that I’ve spent the past six years simultaneously detangling myself, in order to figure out who and what this world is about.

It wasn’t until this past year that I finally feel ready to share this reality with “Macki” – my mini me! She is my best friend, and hopefully someone who you’ll connect with that will help you create your own.

What do you think is the goal or mission that drives your creative journey?

It’s as simple as I’ve never been more confidant in anything than knowing that building this world is my purpose! I’ve felt this since a very young age and that feeling has never wavered. I’ve never quite known how, or when, but the why has remained a peaceful anchor throughout my life. I hope and plan to make an impact on kids who experience the same jumble of emotions that I felt (and still feel) growing up by instilling a stronger foundation that recognizes yourself in a way I wish I had believed back then.

What do you find most rewarding about being a creative?

Feeling! My emotions have always been my strongest flaw, but also my greatest super power. Some of the darkest times have been the best times of my life, because I had never felt luckier to feel so deeply. That type of life is obviously unsustainable, which is where most of the hard work has been in nurturing feelings, rather than turning them into permanent emotion. Once I began to *truly* feel feelings – ah, there’s nothing more rewarding on this earth than that!

Contact Info:

• Website: https://www.macki.online
• Instagram: @__macki
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/macki-alvarez-mena-629078bb/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCoU0LDo1Bj2tyHuGjH26EGg
• Other: https://www.tiktok.com/@__macki