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Mariana Atencio

News Personality, Public Speaker, Author and Entrepreneur.

  • Peabody Award-winning journalist with over 10 years experience
  • TED speaker with 11 million views and author of "Perfectly You".

Speaking & Testimonials

"Mariana was powerful on stage, engaging, thought provoking and the perfect speaker for our flagship global annual conference held in Miami." - Citi Private Bank.

"Mariana provided some wonderful lessons and insights into her journey and how each of us can celebrate and share what makes us different." - Microsoft

Mariana has keynoted at LinkedIn and Spotify's annual conferences, Microsoft, Citi Private Bank, Bacardi, the United Nations and the American Library Association. 

Topics are customized per client but can include: authenticity; motivation; female empowerment; diversity; and teamwork. 

Work History

National Correspondent

20162020
NBC News & MSNBC
  • Doing live hits and breaking news on domestic and international stories such as: the 2020 US election; the family separation policy at the border (nominated for a national Emmy Award); the crisis in Venezuela & hurricane Dorian in The Bahamas.  
  • Covered the importance of Latino voters in the US during the 2020, 2018 (mid-terms) and 2016 elections reporting from the campaign trail nationwide.
  • Interviewed Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, Julián Castro, Tim Kaine.  

Anchor / Correspondent

20112016
UNIVISION & FUSION NETWORK, an ABC-Univision joint venture
  • Co-anchored Univision's 2016 Democratic Debate, anchored "Noticiero Univision".
  • Contributing correspondent, ABC News, reported for 20/20's  Virtual Audience with Pope Francis, World News & Good Morning America.
  • Led the network's coverage during global news events like the aftermath of the earthquake in Haiti, the student rallies in Hong Kong and the protests in Ferguson.
  • Anchored "Al Punto, Florida," regional Sunday public affairs show (2016).
  • Anchored morning show for Millennials (2014-2015).
  • Member of Univision's Investigative & Documentary Unit. 
  • Directed, anchored "PRESSIONADOS" a documentary on free press in Latin America. 

Education

M.S in Journalism with Broadcast Concentration

20082009
COLUMBIA UNIVERSITY, New York, NY. (full merit scholarship)

Undergraduate in Communications (Valedictorian)

20032008
UNIVERSIDAD CATÓLICA ANDRÉS BELLO, Venezuela.

Influence

Mariana's debut memoir was #1 on Amazon for Latino Biographies, an Apple "Must Listen" and Audible Editor's Pick.

AdWeek's "Young Influentials".  

40 under 40 Latinos in American Politics - Huffington Post.

TEDx Talk: "What Makes you Special?" (Top 10 most watched TEDx Talks on Youtube). 

Following

Facebook (182k)

Instagram (132k)

Twitter (64.8k)

Awards

  • The Presidential Award
    from The National Association of Hispanic Journalists (2019).
  • Alumni of the Decade Award Columbia University's Journalism School (2019)
  • Hillman Prize for Broadcast Journalism. Torn Apart (2019).
  • Gabriel Award (2016): Pope Francis and the People.
  • National Headliner Award: Unearthing the Tomb (2015)
  • Peabody Award “Fast and Furious: Arming the enemy”  (2013).
  • IRE Award (2013).
  • Gracie Award  
    Outstanding Documentary (2013).

Languages

Bilingual English-Spanish. Conversational French.