What if the key to building a global career isn’t talent or timing…

But your ability to stay curious, adaptable, and true to yourself, no matter the noise around you?

Today on The SMARTA Podcast, we’re diving into a conversation with someone who has shaped the global entertainment landscape from every angle, from Sony Pictures Iberia to Movistar Plus+ to Huawei Technologies.

My guest, Maria Valenzuela, has generated over €2 billion in international deals, built award-winning teams, launched global content, and now leads Brisa Media, her own international production company. She also teaches at IE University and speaks five languages, bringing a rare global perspective to creativity, leadership, and career growth.

What You’ll Learn

• How to negotiate with fairness, reliability, and integrity
• The truth about AI’s impact on content and creativity
• The skills young professionals must develop right now
• How to turn a creative vision into a viable global business
• Why curiosity is the “battery” for success
• Why it’s okay not to have your passion figured out at 17
• How to stay true to your path in a fast-changing world

Maria Valenzuela is a global media executive with 20+ years of senior leadership experience across Europe, Asia, and the U.S. She has served as SVP at Sony Pictures Iberia, General Manager at Movistar Plus+ International, and Global Head of Video Strategy at Huawei. She is the founder of Brisa Media, a multilingual professor at IE University, and a leading expert in content strategy, co-productions, AI in media, and international entertainment.

Find her work here:

🔗 Brisa Media – https://brisamedia.com (or preferred link you provide)

In this episode:

00:00 – Welcome

01:00 – 3 Takeaways You Won’t Want to Miss

02:17 – How to Build Long-Lasting Global Collaborations

04:10 – What Thinking “Beyond Borders” Teaches Young Professionals

05:43 – How AI Will Transform the Media Industry

09:18 – The Skills Young Professionals Need Today

10:37 – What Maria Looks for in Her Ideal Student

11:52 – Turning Creative Vision Into a Global Business

14:14 – What Audiences Want Across Cultures

16:21 – The Role of Curiosity, Adaptability & Lifelong Learning

17:37 – How Learning Languages Becomes a Superpower

19:09 – Advice to Maria’s 17-Year-Old Self

20:18 – Hot to Balance Creativity With Financial Independence

21:52 – Books That Changed Maria’s Life

23:42 – How to Overcome Imposter Syndrome

26:10 – A Challenge for the Listener: Why Do You Want This?

27:18 – Maria’s Final Message

28:31 – Thank You

🎄 GIVEAWAY NOTE

I’m running a Christmas giveaway with a finance & self-development book, details will drop in the next episode. Stay tuned. Follow my Instagram to stay up to date to any updates and news!

If you learned something new from this episode, double-check that you’re subscribed for more weekly conversations that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out. Also, rate this podcast 5 stars as it’s what helps me grow the show!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

🌐 Learn more about Sonia Marta: www.soniamarta.com

📖 See Sonia’s books: www.soniamarta.com/books.

📲 Follow Sonia on Instagram @soniamartaauthor and connect via linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

What if the only thing standing between you and financial freedom is the story you keep telling yourself about money?

Today on The SMARTA Podcast, we’re cutting through the noise. We’re talking about the money habits keeping you stuck, the mindset shifts that actually matter, and the three mistakes almost EVERYONE makes. Even high-net-worth families Jacqui advises. Whether you’re 17, 27, or 47, this episode gives you the clarity you wish school had taught you.

What you’ll learn:

• The 3 biggest money mistakes and how to avoid them

• How to shift your money mindset (even if you grew up with scarcity)

• Why your financial literacy matters more than your income

• How to build control with one simple habit

• How to handle peer pressure, lifestyle creep, and “wearing and driving your money”

• What financial independence actually looks like at 18+

• Why money is a tool, not your identity

• How to start building your safety net today

Jacqui Clarke is one of Australia’s leading strategic financial advisors, known for guiding some of the country’s wealthiest families. Author of Stop Worrying About Money, she’s built a career demystifying finance, simplifying money for the everyday person, and teaching people how to take back control of their financial lives.

Find her here: jacquiclarke.me

BUY JACQUI’S BOOK

Stop Worrying About Money:

👉 Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/Stop-Worrying-About-Money

In this episode:

00:00 – Welcome + Why Finance Feels Complicated

00:51 – The 3 Big Money Takeaways

01:55 – Your Money Mindset Shift

02:40 – Why Talking About Money Matters

04:52 – Money, Values & Goal Setting

07:45 – Taking Back Control of Your Spending

10:20 – Lifestyle Choices & The “Front Door Cost”

11:46 – Healthy Money Habits at 18

13:08 – Money Mistake #1: Wearing & Driving Your Money

17:55 – Emotional Money Pitfalls

20:39 – Money Mistake #2: Head-in-the-Sand

21:07 – Money Mistake #3: Not Knowing Your Baseline

24:39 – Building Financial Literacy Today

26:59 – Lifestyle Creep & Living Within Your Means

33:24 – The Hard Truth About Money

34:42 – How Creatives Can Stay True and Earn

35:58 – Advice to Her 17-Year-Old Self

36:29 – Books That Changed Her Life

37:00 – Final Message to You

🎄 GIVEAWAY NOTE

This is one of the final guests before December! I’m running a Christmas giveaway with three finance & self-development books, details will drop in the next episode. Stay tuned. Follow my Instagram to stay up to date to any updates and news!

If you learned something new from this episode, double-check that you’re subscribed for more weekly conversations that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out. Also, rate this podcast 5 stars as it’s what helps me grow the show!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

🌐 Learn more about Sonia Marta: www.soniamarta.com

📖 See Sonia’s books: www.soniamarta.com/books.

📲 Follow Sonia on Instagram @soniamartaauthor and connect via linktr.ee/soniamartauthor

What if the only thing standing between you and the life you want… is courage?

If you’ve ever doubted yourself, felt behind, or wondered if you’re “too much” or “not enough,” today’s episode is just what you needed.

In this conversation, bestselling author and leadership expert Sonia McDonald reveals the mindset shifts, courage rituals, and confidence habits that helped her rebuild her life from scratch after a “life-quake,” become a global keynote speaker, and develop her signature philosophy of leading with kindness, courage, and authenticity.

What we talk about:

• How to build unshakeable self-belief (even when you’re scared)

• Why courage is a muscle and how to strengthen it

• How to lead with kindness without losing your power

• Why authenticity is your greatest competitive advantage

• What the “Courage Compass” is and how to use it in real life

What You’ll Learn:

1. Why courage + kindness are the leadership skills of the future

2. How to reinvent yourself after setbacks, rejection, or starting over

3. The daily neuroscience-backed habits Sonia uses to create confidence

4. How to stop people-pleasing and become unapologetically yourself

5. The one mindset shift that eliminates imposter syndrome

6. How to find your purpose and use it to fuel action, not pressure

7. Why your 8-year-old self and your future self hold the keys to your success

Sonia McDonald is an award-winning global keynote speaker, leadership expert, CEO of LeadershipHQ, and author of Just Rock It, Leadership Attitude, and First Comes Courage. Known for her energetic stage presence and neuroscience-backed approach to confidence and leadership, she has trained thousands of leaders worldwide and works with top organizations to build courageous, human-centered leadership cultures.

Find her at: soniamcdonald.com

In this episode:

00:00 Welcome

03:06 Mindset Reset: Where Focus Goes, Power Flows

06:08 What Audiences Love About Sonia’s Speaking

08:18 The Three Leadership Questions to Ask Yourself

12:03 Practical Confidence Habits You Can Start Today

14:47 The “Courage Compass” Explained

21:01 Kindness, AI & The Future of Human Leadership

24:51 Why Gen Z Will Change the World

29:33 Becoming the Leader You Needed

32:29 Imposter Syndrome & How Sonia Overcame It

36:39 Saying YES: The Power of Taking the Leap

40:07 Night Routines & Priming for Success

42:03 What She’d Tell Her 17-Year-Old Self

43:46 Books That Changed Sonia’s Life

44:12 60-Second Challenge: Why You Should Read Just Rock It

45:47 Final Message: Do What Brings You Joy

47:15 Play, Paint, and Reconnect with Your Inner Child

41:00 Closing

If you learned something new from this episode, double-check that you’re subscribed for more weekly conversations that fuel growth, clarity, and leadership from the inside out. Also, rate this podcast 5 stars as it’s what helps me grow the show!

📺 Watch on YouTube: The SMARTA Podcast Playlist

🌐 Learn more about Sonia Marta: www.soniamarta.com

📖 See Sonia’s books: www.soniamarta.com/books.

📲 Follow Sonia on Instagram @soniamartaauthor and connect via linktr.ee/soniamartauthor