Marysela Zamora-Villalobos

Storytelling for change

Hi! I am Marysela. My biggest passion is to envision better realities for everyone. I love public service and righ now I serving as the Costa Rica Film Commissioner.

My heart is made of art and activism and I have the mind of an entrepreneur.

I believe 3 things:

1. Arts and culture develop better human beigns and build smarter societies,

2. Most of our world problems can be solved through gender equality and,

3. We should be in a constant pursuit of new narratives to create new possibilities in people’s minds.

I have many passions:

Films, Arts, Culture and Social Impact.
Gender advocate working with girls, women and young leaders from Latin America, Kenya, Liberia, Bangladehs, Mongolia, Uzbequistan, Nepal, Georgia and other countries.
Citizen engagement, disinformation and democracies.

“Cambiemos la Regla” (Not a luxury. Period. ) is a national campaign that successfully suported the passing of the Menstrual Justice Bill in the Congress in Costa Rica

My work:

Costa Rica Film Commissioner
Founder and CEO of Nosotras Women Connecting.
Head of the Americas Chapter, DCN Global (2022-2023).
Leader, spokeperson, strategist and lobbyist of the national campaing on menstrual health “Cambiemos la Regla”.
Artistic and General Director of the Costa Rica Theatre Company of the Ministry of Culture and Youth, 2020-2022 during Carlos Alvarado Quesada Administration.
Independent producer of performing arts, films, opera, musical theatre, film festivals, among others.
Mentor, facilitator and moderator for international programs of the USA Department of State.

My talents:

I design cultural and social projects from human centered perspective.
I am a storyteller, creative, director and producer.
I develop, manage and support communities of leaders in diverse areas.

I am a fellow in:

Senior Leadership in Public Service, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, NUS, 2023
Every Woman Treaty, 2022.
Google Rare: Google Creative Campus, 2022.
WEAmericas: Women Entrepreneus from Central America, 2018.
Talent Guadalajara (Film Producer) , 2018.
Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative , 2017.
Community Solutions Program, 2014.
Study of the U.S. Institutes SUSIs, 2009.

I have some awards:

Awarded Social Leader of Latin America 2019 by The Global School of Social Leaders.
“SDG’s and Her” 2020 global winner representing the Americas.
Lúdico Film Festival, Best Costa Rican Shortfilm for “Any Other Day”, written and directed by Marysela Zamora.

Project I have led or co-lead have cool awards:

Cambiemos la Regla (Welcome to the group): Silver Lyon Cannes Award PR and Bronze Glass -Lions for Change, Silver Effie Costa Rica, 13 awards in the Global and LATAM Festival of Media.
- Role: Spokesperson, Client, Public Affairs, Political strategy, Education and Citizen Engagement Strategy
“Revolucionarias” – Musical Theatre Play: National Culture Award Costa Rica, Best Director and Best Lighting Design
- Role: Creator and Executive Producer
“Chicago” -Musical Theatre Play: National Culture Award Costa Rica, Best Performance
- Role: General Producer

Some quite nice opportunities I’ve been given:

I was a FORBES Speaker
I have my own TEDx Talk
I served as member of the Costa Rica Presidential Women’s Council 2020-2022, lead by Vicepresident Epsy Cambell Barr.
I am co-founder of Rotary Club La Sabana, Costa Rica.
I’ve been working with UNICEF Costa Rica for 5 years creating initiavies for children and teenagers. Also, I have directed and produced films and comunication strategies to promote childrens rights for Costa Rican and international audiences.

Presidential Team, Solis Rivera Administration, 2017.

Marysela Zamora and Loida Pretiz, Viceministry of Culture and Youth, 2022

Gender Activist

Speaker

The Table, Digital Content.

Nosotras Women Connecting

I went to school:

Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore, Singapore Senior Leadership Fellowship in Public Service (2023)

Facultad de Ciencias Sociales de Latinoamérica (FLACSO) Diploma in Governance and Public Innovation (2022)

Organization of American States, Washington DC, USA Diploma in Inclusion and Human Rights (2022)

Thunderbird School of Global Management, Arizona State University, USA , Accelerator Program for Women Entrepreneurs (WEAmericas Program)- 2018-2019

Young Leaders of the Americas Initiative 2017 – Notre Dame University, South Bend, USA, Entrepreneurship & Leadership Program. October, 2017 – November, 2017

Community Leadership Institute & George Mason University, Fairfax, VA, USA Community Leadership Program. August, 2014 – December, 2014

Universidad de Costa Rica (2005-2011) BSc. in Mass Media with an emphasis in audiovisual production. Honor graduation (2011). Graduate in Mass Media. Studies on Journalism and Public Relations.