We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Maria Villegas. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Maria below.

Maria, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Let’s start with the story of your mission. What should we know?

The Story Behind MAVO:

We’re MAVO, a content creative studio founded by two Colombians who came to the U.S. to study and search for an idea that truly inspired us. Our journey led us to MAVO—a space where creativity meets purpose, and where storytelling extends beyond borders.

Our dream has always been to work with people around the world, bringing together diverse talents and giving opportunities to everyone, regardless of their background. When we take on projects, we intentionally build teams that reflect this vision, ensuring that creatives from different cultures, perspectives, and experiences have a seat at the table.

At MAVO, our roots remain strong. We work closely with talented professionals in Colombia, our home country, who play a key role in our post-production process. By doing so, we not only elevate our creative work but also create meaningful opportunities for skilled individuals in our industry.

For us, MAVO isn’t just about making great content, it’s about building a collaborative, inclusive, and global creative ecosystem.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers.

About MAVO & Our Story

MAVO was founded by a Colombian couple, Miguel and Maria, who share a deep passion for storytelling, creativity, and strategy. We’re both from Bogotá, Colombia, and moved to the U.S. about eight years ago in search of new opportunities to grow, learn, and develop a creative business that could make an impact.

Miguel is the creative visionary behind MAVO. As a cinematographer with extensive experience in advertising and film, he worked at BBDO, one of the world’s top advertising agencies, where he produced commercials for global brands like Gatorade, Pepsi, and Bancolombia, as well as many other top LATAM brands. His journey led him to the U.S., where he first studied English and later pursued a master’s degree in Cinema and Media Arts at Lindenwood University.

Maria is the strategic force behind MAVO. With a strong background in marketing, she worked at BBDO and Leo Burnett in the business intelligence department before moving to the U.S. She also studied English, completed an associate’s degree in photography, and is currently finalizing her MBA at Washington University in St. Louis.

When we first arrived in St. Louis, we were struck by the quality of local commercials and saw an opportunity to bring our expertise to medium-sized businesses. Over time, MAVO evolved into much more than a commercial production company. Given our backgrounds in both high-end production and strategic content creation, we realized that we could offer brands and artists a full content strategy that helps them amplify their reach and achieve their goals.

What We Do & The Problems We Solve

MAVO is a creative studio that bridges the gap between high-end production and fast, engaging content. We produce everything from large-scale commercials and cinematic music videos to short-form content for platforms like Instagram and TikTok. Our goal is to provide brands and artists with flexible content solutions that adapt to the ever-changing digital landscape.

We are also developing our own User-Generated Content (UGC) platform, where clients can connect with creators around the globe to produce authentic, organic content. In today’s fast-paced digital world, where brands and artists need to post daily to stay relevant, we offer a hybrid solution—balancing highly produced videos with quick, real-time content that resonates with audiences.

What Sets MAVO Apart

– A Global, Inclusive Approach – We collaborate with diverse creatives from different backgrounds, ensuring that our productions bring fresh perspectives and global appeal.
– Rooted in Strategy & Creativity – We don’t just produce content; we craft ideas that align with our clients’ goals, helping them maximize their content’s impact.
– Strong Ties to Colombia – Our post-production team is based in Colombia, allowing us to give opportunities to talented professionals in our home country while delivering high-quality work to our clients worldwide.
– Full-Spectrum Content Solutions – From polished, high-budget productions to agile, fast-turnaround content, we help brands and artists stay relevant in a digital-first world.

What We’re Most Proud Of

We’re proud of the creative ecosystem we’re building—one that fosters collaboration, innovation, and inclusion. From working with businesses to help them tell their brand stories to collaborating with artists to bring their visions to life, MAVO is more than a production company. It’s a creative partner that helps our clients stand out, adapt, and thrive in the digital era.

Let’s talk about resilience next – do you have a story you can share with us?

Moving to the U.S. was one of the biggest challenges of my life. I arrived without knowing English, stepping into an entirely different culture, far from my family and everything familiar. Adapting wasn’t just about learning a new language, it was about rebuilding my life from scratch in a place where I had no network, no safety net, and no certainty about what the future held.

Despite the challenges, I kept pushing forward. I worked hard to improve my English, embraced the culture, and pursued opportunities that once seemed out of reach. That resilience led me to something I never imagined when I first arrived, I earned a place at one of the top business schools in the U.S. and am now preparing to graduate with an MBA from WashU.

Starting a business in a foreign country has been another major challenge. MAVO is still in its early stages, but it’s a vision we’re building with passion and purpose. Launching a startup in a new market isn’t easy, but every challenge is an opportunity to learn, grow, and adapt. Right now, we’re laying the foundation, refining our services, and bringing our vision to life.

Can you tell us about a time you’ve had to pivot?

Right now, we’re in the middle of a major pivot at MAVO. Originally, we positioned ourselves as a video production company, focusing on high-quality, highly produced content. However, through over 60 customer discovery interviews with marketers last summer, we uncovered a critical challenge that many brands face, the need for a steady flow of content to stay relevant on social media.

Marketers shared that while they value high-end production, they struggle to publish consistently. The demand isn’t just for polished commercials or cinematic videos, it’s also for organic, authentic, and frequent content that keeps them connected with their audience. They want a balance between premium production and fast, engaging social media content.

This insight led us to rethink our entire approach. Instead of just being a production company, we’re now developing a platform that connects brands and music artists with creators around the world to produce more authentic, real-time content while still offering high-end production when needed. This pivot is about aligning MAVO with today’s content landscape, where brands and music artists must post daily to remain visible and drive engagement.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://themavogroup.com
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/themavogroup/
• Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themavogroup
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maria-a-villegas/
• Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@mavogroup7689

Image Credits

Photos by Mavo and Tiff Banks