Name: Maia M.
Position: Social Media Manager
Location: Buenos Aires, Argentina
Dream destination: Japan, I’d love to go to Tokyo and Osaka.
Drink or treat of choice: I can’t live without Coke Zero and coffee, coffee, coffee.

When Maia started working at Marriott, she had a five-month-old baby and was worried that she could not do it all.

“I was just coming back from my maternity leave and there was a summit in another country,” she recalls. “But they gave me the opportunity to take my baby with me and I felt really supported during the summit. My son stayed with me in my hotel room with a nanny, and I was able to take breaks and go to the room to breastfeed him. He even came to dinner with my team! It was amazing.”

Maia was so glad she didn’t miss any of the action at the summit while also being there for her baby. “Realizing that this is a real corporation that prioritizes people was a very important moment for me.”

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Today, Maia oversees Marriott’s Center of Excellence, a platform that supports hotels in the CALA region (Caribbean and Latin America) with all of their social media and shared services needs.

“My role is focused on ensuring that the hotels have the top-notch service of our specialized team, aligned with the brand and regional efforts as well as best social media practices,” she says.

Before she started her Marriott journey, Maia worked as a community manager at an international advertising agency for one of the biggest insurance companies in Argentina. When Marriott created the Center of Excellence for the CALA region, she was first hired as a contractor to coordinate the social media side of the project and ended up joining the company as an associate that same year.

“In September 2019, I was promoted to a manager position for the South America social media department and then, during the pandemic, we unified the area as Central & South America (CASA),” she recalls. Just last May, she was promoted to senior manager of the social media team.

Learn more about Maia’s Marriott journey in her own words below.

How would you describe Marriott’s culture?

I feel that the company’s “putting people first” value is really a thing; it’s not just a speech. You feel the Marriott associate cares about people. We work for our guests and stakeholders. Marriott believes in people, in their strengths, in their development, and in their potential. This is a culture of innovation, excellence, respect, and collaboration. It’s like a family of people that strive to make a difference and create memorable experiences for all our guests and customers.

What is your favorite part of working at Marriott?

My favorite aspect is how really international my job is. It’s fantastic to learn about other places, cultures, and the people you work with while traveling to different nations. Also, the diversity of people in this company and that this job really gives you a chance to travel the globe and see it in a different way.

What’s your experience been like as a remote associate?

I have been working remotely since the beginning, so for me, as a working mom with two kids, this was amazing. I can manage my time to pick them up from school, and if they are ill, I don’t have any rush or worry about who will take care of them. During the pandemic, it was kind of a mess because they have had all the school year remotely since March 14, 2020 (school season in Argentina is from March until December), so we didn’t have enough tablets or notebooks for them to participate. They are also young, so me or my husband have to be with them in the classes while both are still working. But I guess that situation taught me a lot about my strengths and resolution skills.

I always remember once I was presenting a project to my team in a video call with my director, and my youngest child came to me and asked me to change the batteries of the dinosaur he loves. I was speaking while using the screwdriver, and my director said, “Wait, I’ve never seen something like this before. Please take a moment to fix the dinosaur, and you can continue then. We can wait a minute”. It was funny, and at the same time, it’s another reason why you can see this company is truly people’s first.

Proudest moment of your career so far?

Winning the Social Media Superstar Award back in 2019, that was when I was promoted to manager of a team. My proudest moments are also every time I see my team shine and grow. When I can help them get to the next level in their careers, and when they share with me how I supported them to get to that point. I am very proud of the work I do with my team, and that makes me feel fulfilled.

Which one of Marriott’s values do you most identify with?

I feel really connected to one of Bill Marriott’s quotes: “Success is never final.” My career has been a journey of changing things around and making an impact. The social media industry is always changing, and the hospitality industry is growing every year. I’ve been doing social media for at least 12 years; I’ll never get bored. That’s my favorite part of the job, evolving.

What does a good day at work look like for you?

A good day at work always starts with coffee, a to-do list, and a packed agenda with calls with my team, leaders, and stakeholders. It ends with a sense that I did a good job. I value being able to contribute to the growth of the company and to the work with my team. I also love it when I am able to mentor or support someone in their career growth.

What is the most exciting thing you’ve been able to do at Marriott so far?

There are so many exciting things I’ve been able to do in my job! From participating in a Take Care activity for Associate Appreciation Week by painting toys for kids in foster homes, to participating in the ATP Buenos Aires (Argentina’s biggest annual tennis championship); I met the 2020 champion, Casper Ruud.

How has Marriott supported your growth these years?

I’ve got great leaders who have inspired me and pushed me — in a good way — to innovate, grow, and bring the best out of me. Also, my team inspires me every day to be a better leader for them. This amazing support made me believe that I can do more, try new things, innovate, be bold, and take risks. Marriott has helped me to believe in myself and in my potential.

How have you used the Marriott Explore Rate?

I used it during the pandemic to have a staycation with my family.
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