Meet Mariana Barahona | Mental Health Advocate & Children’s Book Author

We had the good fortune of connecting with Mariana Barahona and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Mariana, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
Starting my own business was the perfect blend of creativity freedom and the opportunity to truly control the mission and meaning behind it. This freedom allowed me to stay authentic to my vision and the intention behind creating LYLO Life Academy. The process of building my business was starting out with the basics and adding to it until I was able to find a landing place for where I wanted to take it and to where it could grow. Initially marketing and branding was an important part of starting my business when introducing it to the public. Once it was created the greatest challenge to overcome was believing in the value and worth of the business. Justifying that it is something people want, need and that you can deliver at a level that meets, and even surpasses the standards. Once you overcome that challenge you’ll be able to fully advocate for your business.

Can you give our readers an introduction to your business? Maybe you can share a bit about what you do and what sets you apart from others?

LYLO Life Academy was created to foster self-awareness internally and externally. What sets us apart is the approach that we connect the mindset of “Love Yourself” with “Love Others”, which is what LYLO Stands for. We exist as individuals but we bond with others and creating that balance is healthy when becoming the best version of yourself. At LYLO Life Academy we also foster creativity and aim to bring an educational and creative way to building self-awareness and resiliency in our youth. Through the academy I was able to also find inspiration and courage to write my first children’s book called, Searching for Bold. We also offer the Bold project program that parallels our mission to build bold minds.

It wasn’t always easy to push your vision to the public when we’re so passionate about it. However, the best thing I was able to do for my business was allow others to be part of it and contribute to the business. Doing it all alone can only get you so far, and building a team will take you to new heights. I’m the most proud of the impact it has had in others and the ability to remain focused on creating a positive impact for the community.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I will always recommend looking beyond the city lights and visit locally. Connect with the local lifestyle and join in an afternoon picnic at the Buffalo Bayou Park. Grab Coffee at Uncle Bean’s and then get lost in all the mural the city has to offer. There are many great spots to visit and Houston will not disappoint.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
Being involved in philanthropy during pivotal moments of my life, really changed the the type of contribution I wanted to have in my career and in the lives of others. I had a village on my side as I placed the building blocks to what LYLO Life Academy would look like. My mother who has always been a self-started and a creative mind was the first person I shared my business idea with, shes also the proud owner of Decobys Events in Houston. My siblings and friends who never hesitate to not only cheer me on but be a part of it too. It was also with Girls on the run where I found my voice and passion to lead and be a role model. This organization modeled values and passion that I knew I wanted to reflect and share. While shaping the format of LYLO Life academy I came across the Kids book about publishing collection. These collections carried titles that welcomed tough conversations with our youth. Having witnessed the early stages of this company, allowed me to believe and lean into that leadership voice that I had found while volunteering with Girls on the Run and it strengthen when I wanted to become part of the community that wanted to foster wholeness, empathy, self-awareness, creativity and growth.

Website: www.thelylo.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lylolifeacademy/?hl=en

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LYLOLIFEACADEMY

Other: Children’s Book: Searching for Bold https://amzn.to/3z6OpGD Photographer: Jenny Lily Photography

Image Credits
Jenny Lily Photography