We recently connected with Yari Blanco and have shared our conversation below.

Yari, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Let’s start with important influences in our lives. Is there a historical figure you look up to?

This is going to be an unexpected answer as it’s not an actual person. When I read this question I immediately thought of Ariel from the Little Mermaid. I watched this film countless times when I was six years old. Most people think it is a story about a girl falling for a boy. But that’s not it. Ariel is courageous, and curious. She intrinsically knows that the world is bigger than where she’s from, and instead of allowing others limiting beliefs to sway her, she remains inquisitive and says yes to adventure. To figuring it out herself. Prince Eric was just a bonus in her journey.

I am like Ariel in that I deeply care about learning and understanding the world around me. This shows up in the the research and strategy work I do for clients. I lead with curiosity and I’m not scared to try new things, because growth happens outside of our comfort zone. And while I like order and rules when I am in-house, I am known for defying authority when it is harmful to my peers and our work. I like to think Ariel influenced a lot of that.

Yari, 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?

I was raised in Queens, NYC, by my single mother and band of aunts. With a career spanning over 17 years, my focus has been on celebrating audiences through brand / strategic marketing, social media, editorial, experiential, and DEI work. When I graduated college I knew no one in media and entertainment. One night I befriended a bartender at an event who turned out to be the Marketing Director at People en Español Magazine. She helped me get my first interview in the business. In other words, being prepared, enthusiastic, and open minded is how I got my foot in the door.

As a multidisciplinary creative I offer a suite of skillsets to my clients which includes: multicultural strategy, brand partnerships, curation, influencer marketing, content creation, brand marketing, event programming, video production and confidence coaching (to name a few). I am a one stop shop for clients who feel overwhelmed and don’t know where to start, have the budget but not the time, and for those who need someone who sits at the intersection of culture and community.

From a fan video with Halle Berry when I worked at Twitter, to a Pitch competition for female start-ups when I worked at a women’s hospitality company named The Wing, I’m proud that the work that I have done both in corporate and with my own brands have always brought joy and or resources to the communities being focused on.

Have you ever had to pivot?

I think my life has been full of pivots, small and big. My latest pivot has been as a consultant. I’ve never done this as I have been attached to a corporate entity the majority of my career, and the learning curve has been steep, mostly because of the mental shift it required. Being a beginner is inherently risky, and therefore scary. It can also make you question your talent and paralyze you. But once you surrender to the process (becoming comfortable with trial and error, not taking any no’s personal etc.) you start to find your footing and are reminded that everyone else is also figuring it out.

Is there a particular goal or mission driving your creative journey?

At the moment I am using Blanco Studio as a conduit to collaborate with people/brands/agencies whose projects I feel aligned with, and to pursue personal endeavors that light me up! I do not want to limit myself or my creativity. I care about polishing my skills while adding new ones to my toolbox.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://yariblanco.com
• Instagram: @blancoxstudios
• Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/yariblanco/
• Other: tiktok: @blancoxstudios

Image Credits

For the main photo of me winking, the photographers name is Christopher Polk and for the one of me speaking on stage where it says latin billboard in the background, the photographer is Gustavo Caballero.