Hello, I'm
Katherine Velasquez Garcia
About Me
Civil Engineer by profession, strategist by passion, and entrepreneur by instinct.
01
Roots & Independence
Since I was a child, I was resourceful and independent; I sold caramel cones and accessories because I wanted my own income. In my first college semesters, I went to downtown Medellín to sell jeans and hand out flyers just to secure my first trip to Coveñas. It was always clear to me that movement and independence were my path.
02
The Academic Marathon
Before finishing my degree, I decided to open my own businesses: a tattoo studio and a rock clothing store in the famous Paseo de the Playa shopping center. For three years, I was in an impressive marathon: I studied Civil Engineering, did an MBA applying every class directly to my businesses, and worked as a professional dancer at night.
In the end, I did my thesis calculating the rainfall runoff risk with the help of Empresas Públicas de Medellín (EPM). I graduated, but decided not to practice civil engineering or work for anyone else. I stayed independent.
03
The Collision & The Crash
I moved my businesses to El Poblado, opened a screen printing workshop, and fell in love with professional piercing. I was newly married and decided to make my biggest investment... just before the pandemic hit. COVID hit me hard: I fell into total bankruptcy and was forced into absolute liquidation, with no options left.
But crises don't freeze me.
04
Resilience From Scratch
Right in the middle of the pandemic, I rose again from scratch as a professional piercer and created my brand, Katherine Piercing Jewelry. But as I was getting back on my feet financially, I entered a massive emotional trial: I received the news that my mother had cancer. Without hesitation, I started the beautiful yet challenging journey of caring for, assisting, and supporting her with all the love in my soul. My mother overcame this great test. After two years of such a heavy load, my relationship hit a rough patch, and I decided to separate after a 12-year relationship. With my self-esteem on the floor but my drive intact, I decided not to let myself be defeated and started from scratch in every aspect of my life.
05
Sudden Emigration & Risk Management
I threw myself headfirst into the world of trading. Living alone, empowered, and combining body piercing with investing, I started feeling at my best. I organized my projects to leave the country step-by-step, but life decided to speed up the clock and change my plans overnight. Due to a financial conflict involving a very close family member I love, which directly compromised my peace of mind, I was forced to make a radical decision: emigrate in less than a week.
Sometimes,the best risk management is given to you by life itself.
06
Adventures & Mango Creative
I lived through too many wild adventures abroad. To certify all the business experience I carried from so many years, I applied for two scholarships for a double master's degree in Madrid... and I got in! That gave me the opportunity to live in Spain for a while. However, the emotional roller coaster of trading did not align with the peace I wanted for my future, so I decided to step away from the markets, even though I was doing well.
All of us who have emigrated know it's a process where your body is in another country, but your heart remains in Colombia. And it was right then when I received the second wave: my mother was diagnosed with cancer again. Since I couldn't be physically there to care for her like the first time, my beloved father played an amazing role supporting everything. In the end, my mother, who is an absolute warrior, successfully overcame this second battle.
I received a job offer in Spain that guaranteed I could stay legally with a long-term contract. But the idea of locking myself up to work in a traditional company simply didn't fit who I was. In 2024 Mango Creative Studio was born, my pilot project to work freelance that grew into my creative agency, while traveling through India, Vietnam, Thailand, Israel, Italy, and the United States—and, well, also opening the doors of my heart to love.
07
The Traveler's Question
In every destination, I met other travelers. Whenever you run into people on the same wavelength, curiosity strikes, and that typical question is born:
Typical Question
“Hey, what do you do for a living that you're here on a workday, at noon, sitting in a cafe or near the beach?”
That's how I started connecting with people who had different needs in their businesses. Many led startups or were boosting their personal brands; projects that were running well but going through tight spots that I offered to solve. Day by day, I tested my creativity, designing custom strategies for the people I met along the way. Collecting so many challenges with positive results, I realized something: the method I applied, which always worked successfully, had a huge common denominator.
Travel Gallery
The life behind the
strategy
India, Thailand, and every destination that shaped the path: real moments from the journey where Estrategia 360 was born.
08
Estrategia 360 is Born
Today I call it Estrategia 360 (360° Strategy): an all-encompassing methodology that binds business development, digital strategies, and a growth mindset.
Through this method, I have led operations optimization for people in different parts of the world, helping them crush it in their industries. He guided brands to go from financial struggles to generating revenues of $250,000 USD.
That's how KT. VELASQUEZ was born.
Let's Talk
Straight
At every stage of my life, I had the chance to take the 'safe' path of a traditional job, but I always followed my passion for entrepreneurship. Why? That story I will share when you invite me to a podcast.
I don't tell you all this to make you see how sad my story was—there were also wonderful things. I tell you this because if you identify with any of my stages and decide to take the step, I'm here to walk with you. Together we'll choose the service that fits you, have a coffee, and start organizing your project with all the energy and attitude.