Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Cristina Morara. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.
Cristina, thanks for joining us, excited to have you contributing your stories and insights. Risking taking is a huge part of most people’s story but too often society overlooks those risks and only focuses on where you are today. Can you talk to us about a risk you’ve taken – it could be a big risk or a small one – but walk us through the backstory.
I’ve been dancing with risk for as long as I can remember: leaving important jobs that didn’t feed my soul, moving across the country on a dime and a prayer and chasing ideas that I believed in. Being relentlessly curious, optimistic and eager to get the most out of life takes fortitude. All of my risks have felt like adventures. One of the most beautiful risks I’ve ever taken was moving to Italy in my late 20’s. At the time, I was working in casting in LA, had a wonderful social life, lived in Venice Beach but felt like something was missing. I wanted to be true to myself and probe. So, while my friends back home were getting hitched and buying homes, I was traveling and living la dolce vita steeped in rich culinary, culture and connections. I was happy, single and 35. Was I ‘squandering my youth’ as my father used to say. Did I have a plan? A chill of fear crept in. I had no answers, but I knew moving back was not an option. I challenged myself to own parts of my story that were inconvenient and get clear with what I really wanted. Once I did, the love of my life appeared. It helped that I was happy, fulfilled and wearing stilettos at the time. Meeting my husband when I did required me to have unwavering faith in myself and my choices. This personal risk is the gift that keeps on giving!
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.
It was our sweet, little wine bar that gave us the idea for Stellar Hitch over 16 years ago. Our lovely guests were having a hard time meeting other quality people. Many of them were simply unprepared or unaware how to attract what they were looking for. Beautiful women were coming in alone or with their girlfriends. Eligible bachelors were trusting me to decide the fate of their dates: ‘Pour the Nebbiolo if you think she’s a keeper” or ‘Give her the Cabernet if she’s just a fling’. It was wild. Introducing our guests became our purpose but getting them to pay attention to how they were showing up was our passion.
This is how Stellar Hitch Private Matchmaking began. Real-life, spontaneous connections are no longer the norm while people strive for work-life balance. Time is our biggest commodity, and most singles don’t want to spend it swiping. They need a refined strategy and better options. Exceptional people want to meet other exceptional people. I work with very high-quality gentlemen that have little time to waste and know exactly what they want. My job is to find her. Scouting for extraordinary women isn’t difficult when you know where and how to look. Having a wide, diverse network is essential but it doesn’t end there. Asking the right questions, knowing what to share, making it a flawless and meaningful experience — while getting people in a playful, excited mood– is where the magic lies. I become my client’s confidante, personal casting director and cheerleader. Discretion, integrity and elegance is our gold standard. Everyone deserves their happy ending.
Besides the countless relationships we’ve put together, I’m so proud of Stellar Hitch being a word-of-mouth, heart-based business. Referrals from our happy couples is the highest compliment.
What’s a lesson you had to unlearn and what’s the backstory?
I learned that it pays to be authentic and genuine — no matter what! Once I unlearned following ‘the experts’ that promoted this avalanche of constant posting on social media, I settled into a more intentional flow that worked for me and my brand. There’s a sense of urgency today that I refuse to follow. Being productive is one thing but not buying into the noise is a necessary discipline for me. Focusing my energy on doing an amazing job for my clients is all that counts.
People that value quality, integrity and meaningful connections will find me. You attract what you are. As an entrepreneur, it’s important to constantly improve your business and see what’s happening around you, but there comes a moment when you must commit to what you stand for and embrace that wholeheartedly. Just like in dating, we all have something unique to offer.
Has your business ever had a near-death moment? Would you mind sharing the story?
Covid came in hot ~ and forced us to be creative and approach introductions differently. We sharpened our clients’ skills in the art of conversation and looking good on camera. The pandemic became a built-in conversation starter, thus making it easier for less outgoing clients to connect. It was interesting to see the different approaches to meeting new people. Nobody wanted to pause their membership; staying connected and in the game was a necessity. The politics of the pandemic also came into play. Some clients only wanted to meet people that were vaccinated; others wanted the opposite. It was a wild time! We were extremely lucky that our clients remained curious and flexible. The highlight turned out to be a transformative, two-part, game-changer for us. First, it allowed us to operate in different markets since we were relying on Zoom to work directly with clients. Our business expanded from the Los Angeles market to Southwest Florida, New York, Milan and London. Second, it’s vastly broadened our matchmaking portfolio. Ninety percent of our clients and database members are able to relocate; this has been the biggest boon for our business. Geography is rarely an issue so people can focus on meeting the right person, not zip code!
Contact Info:
- Website: https://stellarhitch.com
- Instagram: @stellarhitch
- Facebook: https://facebook.com/cristinamarchionemorara
- Linkedin: https://linkedin.com/in/matchmakercristinamorara
Image Credits
Lesley Pedraza (initial picture + picture in blue button-down shirt)