Today we’d like to introduce you to Mariana Ertmann
Hi Mariana, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
Thank you so much for having me! Where can I start? I’m 27 years old, originally from Colombia, and I’ve been living in Houston for a little over a year and a half now. It wasn’t my first choice at all—New York or Spain were definitely higher up on my list—but life had other plans, and Houston has really surprised me. It’s become a place where I’ve found so many opportunities and meaningful connections that have helped me grow both personally and professionally.
I originally studied architecture, and although I was obsessed with Architectural History, I soon realized it wasn’t the right path for me. I switched to design, and everything clicked. I realized that’s where my true passion lies—whether it’s interiors, fashion, or aesthetics in general. I was fortunate enough to land an internship in Texas, which led me to stay here and pursue interior design professionally. I later took on a role as an Associate Designer, which was such a valuable experience and pushed me to really discover myself and who I really was and ultimately made me realize that it’s not quite what I dreamed of doing.
Along the way, I found that content creation was pulling me in. It was something I had been doing at a younger age, but I guess I matured and focused more on my studies at that time. I started creating content around wellness, fashion, and interiors—areas of my life that I am passionate about and live by every day. I quickly started to gain recognition, with many amazing and supportive people offering words of encouragement about my eye for design and taste, as well as my talent for creating images and videos that clearly communicate these things.
Thanks to this, I’ve had the opportunity to collaborate not only with brands but also with professionals and businesses in different design areas, as well as in wellness, working with them as a Creative Consultant.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Aside from content creation, which I do purely out of love for it, I’ve been so lucky to discover my skills and passion for creative consulting. Although I’m not planning to scale that business anytime soon, I really enjoy working on one-on-one collaborations with clients I’ve either known personally or have been introduced to, or just great people I get to meet and feel like I can really help them. I feel that this personal connection allows me to offer a more genuine and refined approach to their brands and businesses, which enables me to creatively elevate their visual identity. I guide them to develop a well-curated vision that ensures they connect with their audience and captivate them on a deeper level.
My background in design and passion for aesthetics gives me a unique perspective on every project. Recently, I had the pleasure of working with South to North here in Houston (if you haven’t checked them out, please do yourself a favor! I absolutely love them), where I directed their marketing efforts and social media. That experience was incredibly fun and eye-opening, and it really sparked my interest in creative consulting.
As for personal projects, I’m excited to share that I’m currently working on my own brand, Borne. I can’t reveal too much just yet, but I can say that it will embody my own style, way of living, and love for art and design.
My passion for interior design remains my biggest inspiration, even though I’ve realized that running an interior design studio isn’t the right fit for me. What I’ve discovered, though, is how strong my eye is for appreciating and understanding well-curated spaces and pieces.
For those interested, you can stay updated through Borne’s Instagram (@borneedit) as well as my personal account. I would love to connect with you and share the process behind creating this brand!
Would you say it’s been a smooth road, and if not, what are some of the biggest challenges you’ve faced along the way?
I don’t think any journey is completely smooth, but I do feel very blessed despite the many moments of uncertainty. One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is to embrace the opportunities that life presents. While it’s important to have a clear vision for yourself and your goals, it’s also okay to accept that life may show us that what we initially thought we wanted isn’t actually what we need or where we’ll excel. Coming from a conservative family, I was taught to take the safe and conventional route (out of love and a desire for the best for me, I’m sure) but as creatives, we know that this path can immediately present challenges that are difficult to overcome because it’s so hard to develop or use our talents in conventional careers.
Luckily, I have loving and supportive family members and after I spent a lot of time pleading with them to switch my degree, they finally agreed to support me, realizing that my initial choice wasn’t making me happy, even if they thought it would. After making that change and finally feeling like I was where I belonged as a university student, I still felt like I was behind other people my age and had lost valuable time. But today, I understand that it wasn’t wasted time and that in fact, it gave me perspectives and skills that others in my field may not have. We can be so hard on ourselves, and that’s definitely the most important lesson I’ve learned—self-love.
After accepting the opportunity to come to Houston (even though I initially would have preferred another city), I realized how valuable it is to keep yourself open to new experiences. Stepping out of your comfort zone brings growth and amazing things. For me, that’s meant learning about discerning relationships, setting healthy boundaries, and not giving up.
I also found the love of my life here, which has been a huge factor in helping me become the best version of myself. Having the right person by your side, someone who supports you unconditionally, can ultimately guide you toward your life’s purpose and dreams. I’ve learned that we can’t always predict how we’ll achieve our goals, but as long as we put in our best effort and do the inner work, we will get there.
Risk-taking is a topic that people have widely differing views on – we’d love to hear your thoughts.
I’m not naturally a risk-taker; I really appreciate stability and safety (I’m very much a Taurus, lol). But life, along with my entrepreneurial spirit, has nudged me to step outside my comfort zone. I try to be discerning about the risks I take and trust my intuition, which I’ve learned is one of my greatest strengths. I believe that, with practice, anyone can develop and rely on their intuition too.
Moving to this country was a risk for me, leaving the safety of home. Leaving the stability of a 9-to-5 job to focus on my own brand and passion was another leap. But looking back, these decisions were the ones that brought me closer to my dreams and goals.
Contact Info:
Instagram: Marianaertmann
I’ve recently created a Substack where I dive more deeply into my personal life. We all know Instagram can be a bit superficial and I truly enjoy writing. Find me there as @marianaertmann
Lastly, for any consulting or collaboration inquiries, you can email me at [email protected]
