How It All Started & Why You Should Choose the Life You Really Want

There’s a moment in life when you look around and realize you’re moving, but not necessarily in the direction you want to go.
You’re checking the boxes, doing what’s expected — studying, working, trying to fit into the structure of what “success” is supposed to look like. But deep down, something whispers: there must be something more.

That whisper was the beginning of everything for me.

Finding Meaning Between Cultures

I grew up near Barcelona, surrounded by a mix of cultures, languages, and perspectives. My family had roots that reached across the ocean — to Virginia, USA — and I think that’s where my curiosity about people first began.

I was always fascinated by how communication connects us: how words, images, and stories can cross borders and create understanding. That’s why I chose to study Social and Cultural Anthropology — to understand the “why” behind human behavior, to explore culture, identity, and meaning.

But anthropology did something deeper than just teach me about people — it taught me empathy. It gave me a way to see the world through others’ eyes, and that, I later realized, would become the foundation of how I see marketing.

The Journey That Changed Everything

For a while, I followed the path we’re all told to take. Study. Work. Be practical.
But something inside me was craving more. Not more things, but more purpose.

So I started traveling. And travel changes everything.

When you’re far from home, every conversation, every mistake, every new place strips you of what’s familiar, and replaces it with perspective.
You start realizing what really matters: connection, creativity, and courage.

I remember sitting by the ocean once, camera in hand, watching how people moved; the surfers chasing waves and the kids laughing in a language I didn’t speak. It hit me then: this is communication at its purest form. No filters, no campaigns, just humans connecting through movement, through energy.

And I knew I wanted to do that for a living: to help brands, projects, and people communicate with that same authenticity.

From Anthropology to Digital Marketing

When I came back home, I didn’t want to go back to doing something that didn’t make me feel alive.
So I took everything I’d learned about culture, people and storytelling. Then, I studied Digital Marketing.

Marketing gave me the tools to turn meaning into action.
It taught me how to combine creativity with strategy, visuals with analytics, emotion with data.

But what really drives me isn’t just marketing itself — it’s the ability to help others share their purpose with the world.
That’s how MK Studio was born: a space where culture meets creativity, and where strategy starts with empathy.

Why You Should Choose What You Love

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s this:
Life doesn’t wait for you to feel ready. You just have to start.

Change is uncomfortable. It’s uncertain. But it’s also where you’ll find your strength.
When you do what you truly love — whether it’s marketing, design, writing, surfing, or teaching — you stop existing for approval and start living for connection.

The world doesn’t need more people following a path that doesn’t inspire them.
It needs people brave enough to create their own.

So if you’re reading this and you feel that same whisper, that pull toward something more, listen to it.
Start small. Learn. Travel. Create. Fall, and stand again.

Because the most beautiful things in life and in business begin when you decide to follow what truly moves you.

The Beginning of MK Studio

MK Studio Zone isn’t just a marketing studio. It’s the reflection of this journey.
It’s about helping others turn ideas into stories, and stories into connection.
It’s built on everything I’ve learned through anthropology, travel, and creativity:
that marketing, at its core, is human.

This isn’t just my work, it’s my calling.
And every project I take on is a reminder that passion, empathy, and purpose are the best strategies of all.

We all have our ocean: that one place, idea or dream calling us to move.

5 Smart Marketing Strategies Every Startup Should Use in 2025

Starting a business is exciting — but getting noticed can feel impossible in a crowded digital space. The good news? With the right marketing strategies, even small startups can compete with big brands. Here are five powerful ways to build awareness and grow faster in 2025.

1. Define Your Brand Early: Don’t just design a logo; build a story and voice.

2. Leverage Social Media Smartly: Pick 1 or 2 key platforms instead of trying to be everywhere.

3. Invest in Quality Content: Consistency builds credibility.

4. Run Targeted Ads: Even a small budget can go far with precise targeting.

5. Track & Adjust: Use analytics to understand what’s working and pivot fast.

1. Define Your Brand Early

Don’t just design a logo; build a story and voice.

Your brand is the personality of your business, it’s how people recognize you, remember you, and decide whether they trust you. Take the time to define what your brand stands for: your purpose, your values, your tone of voice, and your visual style.

Ask yourself:

• What problem do we solve, and why does it matter?

• How do we want people to feel when they see our content?

• What’s our story and how can we tell it consistently?

When you know who you are, every post, ad, and campaign feels aligned and intentional. That consistency builds trust — and trust builds customers.

2. Leverage Social Media Smartly

Pick 1 or 2 key platforms instead of trying to be everywhere.

You don’t need to post on every social network, you just need to show up well where your audience spends the most time. For most startups, that means choosing the channels where you can deliver consistent, quality content.

For example:

• If your brand is visually driven, focus on Instagram or TikTok.

• If you’re B2B or service-based, prioritize LinkedIn.

• If storytelling is your strength, use YouTube or Pinterest to build long-term value.

Social media isn’t about volume, it’s about clarity and connection. Create content that educates, inspires, or entertains, and make your followers feel part of your journey.

3. Invest in Quality Content

Consistency builds credibility.

Content is the bridge between your brand and your audience. It’s what makes people stop scrolling, start trusting, and eventually, buy. But “content” doesn’t just mean random posts. It means strategic storytelling through visuals, videos, blogs, or newsletters that bring value.

In 2025, focus on quality over quantity.
Here’s what that looks like:

• A clear brand voice that feels human and relatable.

• High-quality visuals or graphics that reflect your identity.

• Educational or inspiring content that solves real problems.

• A consistent posting rhythm your audience can rely on.

Think of your content as your digital handshake. It’s the first impression that shows who you are before you ever speak.

4. Run Targeted Ads

Even a small budget can go far with precise targeting.

Paid advertising isn’t just for big brands, it’s for smart ones. A few well-designed campaigns can help you reach thousands of new people who actually care about what you offer.

Start small. Use Facebook, Instagram, or Google Ads to target specific audiences by interests, location, or behavior. Experiment with short-term campaigns to test what resonates, then scale what works.

The key is to use ads that feel authentic to your brand. No clickbait, no generic copy: just honest, engaging messages that speak to your ideal customer’s needs.

5. Track & Adjust

Use analytics to understand what’s working — and pivot fast.

Marketing isn’t about guessing; it’s about learning.
Every post, ad, and campaign gives you data, and that data is gold.

Pay attention to metrics like engagement rate, reach, website traffic, and conversions. Ask yourself what’s driving results and what isn’t. Use tools like Google Analytics, Meta Insights, or Canva Reports to see the full picture.

Then, adjust quickly. Stop doing what doesn’t work, and double down on what does.
The brands that grow fastest are the ones that listen not just to their customers, but to the numbers behind them.

Every big brand you admire started small : the difference is consistency, clarity, and courage.

In today’s world, authenticity beats perfection every time.
You don’t need a huge team or a giant budget to make an impact; you just need purpose, creativity, and the willingness to adapt.

Start by defining your brand, showing up where it matters, and creating content that connects.

The growth will follow.

Why Understanding Cultures and Traveling Makes You a Better Marketer

In marketing, we often talk about algorithms, metrics, and trends.
But behind every click and every purchase is a person — with emotions, values, and a story shaped by their culture. The best marketers aren’t just creative or strategic; they’re empathetic. And empathy is born from understanding people, which is why travel, cultural curiosity, and anthropology are some of the most powerful tools a marketer can have.

Marketing Is About People, Not Products

When you travel or study different cultures, you start to see how people’s values, habits, and beliefs shape the way they see the world.
In some countries, community and family are central — in others, independence and innovation are prized. These subtle cultural differences influence how people connect with brands, respond to messages, and make decisions.

Travel Expands Perspective

Every place teaches you something about communication.

How people greet each other, share meals, express emotions, or celebrate; all these small details reveal how humans connect. When you travel, you begin to recognize the universal patterns of human behavior, as well as the cultural nuances that make each audience unique.

These insights translate directly into better storytelling, design, and strategy.
You learn to read between the lines — to listen, to observe, to understand context — which is the foundation of authentic and inclusive marketing.

Anthropology and the Art of Observation

Anthropology, the study of humans and societies, is deeply connected to marketing. Both are about observing, analyzing, and understanding human behavior.
An anthropologist might study rituals and beliefs; a marketer studies customer journeys and behavior patterns. The goal is the same: to understand why people do what they do.

By thinking like an anthropologist, marketers learn to ask deeper questions:

• What motivates people?

• How do their social values influence their choices?

• What stories resonate within their culture?

This perspective leads to marketing that feels real, respectful, and emotionally intelligent.

Culture Builds Empathy. Empathy Builds Connection.

Empathy is the heart of every successful marketing campaign. It allows you to create messages that touch emotions and build trust.
When you’ve experienced different cultures — or even just learned about them — you start to see the world through others’ eyes. You understand that what’s “normal” for you might not be for someone else.

That awareness helps you create content and campaigns that include rather than exclude. It’s what transforms marketing from selling into connecting.

Travel Teaches Adaptability: a Marketer’s Superpower

Traveling challenges you. You adapt to new languages, foods, schedules, and ways of thinking.
That adaptability mirrors the ever-changing world of digital marketing — where trends shift overnight and audiences evolve constantly.

A marketer who can navigate cultural differences can also navigate industry changes with ease. Flexibility, curiosity, and openness to new perspectives are the exact qualities that keep marketing relevant and impactful.

Marketing with a Human Lens

At its core, marketing is about understanding people — not just targeting them.
The more you explore, learn, and experience, the more depth you bring to your strategies and storytelling. You start creating not just for algorithms, but for humans.

Because when we see the world through a broader lens, we market with more meaning, empathy, and authenticity. That’s the kind of marketing that truly connects.

Travel and culture don’t just enrich your life, they shape you into a better listener, observer, and creator. They remind you that behind every “target audience” is a world of perspectives, emotions, and dreams. Understanding that is what turns good marketers into great ones.

How sports help you become a better marketer

Marketing, like sports, is all about rhythm, teamwork, and timing.
Behind every campaign or brand strategy are people working together, adapting fast, and pushing through challenges — just like athletes on the field or surfers waiting for the perfect wave.

Doing sports isn’t just good for your body — it’s vital for developing communicative and leadership skills in the marketing world.
It teaches you to collaborate, stay calm under pressure, and find creative solutions when things don’t go as planned.

Don’t worry about sounding professional. Sound like you. There are over 1.5 billion websites out there, but your story is what’s going to separate this one from the rest. If you read the words back and don’t hear your own voice in your head, that’s a good sign you still have more work to do.

Be clear, be confident and don’t overthink it. The beauty of your story is that it’s going to continue to evolve and your site can evolve with it. Your goal should be to make it feel right for right now. Later will take care of itself. It always does.

Sports Build Teamwork and Communication

In both marketing and sports, communication is everything.
Whether you’re coordinating a campaign launch or passing the ball on the field, you learn that success depends on trust, timing, and clarity.

Team sports — like soccer, basketball, or rowing — teach you to listen actively, read non-verbal cues, and adapt to others’ strengths. These are the same skills marketers use when working across creative teams, agencies, or client relationships.

Why Water Sports Are Especially Powerful

There’s something unique about water. It demands balance, awareness, and patience.
Unlike traditional sports, water sports teach you to move with nature, not against it — a lesson that translates beautifully into creative work and communication.

In surfing, for example, you can’t control the waves. You have to observe, wait, and respond at the right moment. That’s exactly how marketing works: you can’t control trends or audiences, but you can learn to read them and react with agility.

Paddleboarding, kayaking, and sailing also sharpen your sense of coordination, teamwork, and intuition — all crucial in fast-moving marketing environments.

Surfing: The Perfect Metaphor for Creative Flow

Surfing isn’t just a sport — it’s a mindset.
It teaches patience, resilience, and flow — the ability to stay calm while adapting to constant change.

In marketing, this mindset helps you:

• Manage stress and anxiety when projects get intense.

• Stay flexible when plans shift unexpectedly.

• Recognize opportunities in chaos (just like catching a wave at the perfect time).

Surfers learn to fail often and try again quickly, a trait shared by the best marketers. Each wave is a test, and each campaign is a new opportunity to learn, adjust, and grow.

Managing Stress and Finding Balance

Sports, and especially water activities, are a natural form of stress management.
They reconnect you to your body and your breathing — something many marketers forget to do during busy projects.

Regular physical activity reduces anxiety and clears your mind, allowing space for creativity and better decision-making.
When your mind is calm and your body energized, your communication becomes clearer, your ideas flow faster, and your collaboration feels more natural.

Quick Thinking and Problem Solving

Sports train your brain to process information quickly while staying focused under pressure. You learn to stay calm in unpredictable situations — something every marketer needs when the unexpected happens (and it always does).

Both marketing and sports require fast thinking and adaptability.
On the water, you make split-second decisions: when to paddle, when to wait, when to turn. In marketing, you do the same with campaign strategy, deadlines, and client needs.

Surf Lifestyle and Creative Energy

Surf culture isn’t just about sport — it’s about balance, community, and flow.
Surfers live by values that align perfectly with modern marketing: freedom, creativity, connection, and sustainability.

Living the surf lifestyle teaches marketers to prioritize well-being, teamwork, and passion — because burnout kills creativity faster than failure.
When you live with intention and balance, your communication becomes more authentic, and your work reflects real energy and joy.

Doing sports — and especially embracing water sports like surfing — shapes you into a more grounded, communicative, and creative marketer.
You learn to collaborate, to handle stress with grace, and to think clearly even when things get rough.

Whether you’re in a boardroom or on a surfboard, the lesson is the same: listen, adapt, and move with flow.

Because great marketing, like surfing, isn’t about control — it’s about connection, rhythm, and the courage to ride every wave.