Meet Chiara Maya | Strategic Coordinator and Spiritual Consultant

We had the good fortune of connecting with Chiara Maya and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Chiara, Let’s talk about principles and values – what matters to you most?
The principle that matters most to me is trust. As an entrepreneur, I return to the core principle of trust all the time because trust is not a static thing, something that is just present within me or not. To me, trust is a metric of growth. It is fluid and like a river. I have to engage with conversations with myself all the time of much am I trusting or what do I need to do to trust. Mostly, I think this principle, and the process of checking in around it, feels so crucial because on the other end of engaging with trust is fear. Fear will drive me if I’m not asking myself to trust. Ultimately, if I can not trust myself then how can I expect others to partner with me, to work with me, or to invest in my products and services.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
I work in a few different sectors. I’ve been an actor, producer in the entertainment industry for the last 10 years and just recently transitioned into a coordinator position. The arts and entertainment are a very dynamic and fluid industry and having a vocational calling to them requires a diversification of resources: a second job was a must to support myself and stay sane :). I explored what that could over the years, throwing myself in fully over and over when in 2016 I found a path to become a spiritual and clarity consultant.

It hasn’t been a straightforward path at all. Similar to the entertainment industry, I had to rely on my creativity and self-starter energy to grow my spiritual business. The balance of these two industries, creativity and spirituality have been very helpful I’ve found, but not without their challenges. The most significant challenge I’ve experienced has been how to maintain structure and be tactical in both the work and approach. These are both very subjective and non-tangible art forms (the healing arts and the creative arts). I’ve had to develop immense resiliency and build a significant self care practice to deliver a high quality and meaningful experience for my clients . The same is true for delivering a grounded and real experience in a casting office or for a director.

I love it! The challenge is so profound. Meaning, it’s something I feel I will never master and I will endlessly be able to find new levels of exploration to peak my interest and open my heart.

Producing and the work I do as a coordinator has allowed a different kind of balance that I also appreciate. I’ve come to understand that my greatest skill set has been in organization. I love to organize. I’m such a nerd in this way. And whether it’s developing an efficient shooting schedule or helping a client find coherence between their heart, mind, and spirit, both feel like pure magic to me. My greatest satisfaction comes from watching something (or someone) change for the better and progress from my contributions.

My most recent endeavor combines both of these career paths into one I feel, and that’s why I’m the most excited about it. In the coming months, My sister and I are launching an original podcast about change. At the time of writing this we haven’t yet dropped the name as a part of our launch promotion, but it has been a trusting and collaborative process that I already so proud of. We will be exploring change in all its facets and testing a hypothesis that we’ve long held: changing yourself can ripple out and change the world. The podcast extends a enthusiastic invitation to anyone who want to be a part of the journey of discovering how we change ourselves to affect the whole.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
I lived in Weho for 10 years, and although I just moved out of the area, I would recommend my old stomping grounds for a delightful day. I have a design background and a foodie heart, so environment and flavors are where my mind go when hosting. First, I’d bring us to the Petite Ermitage and do a rooftop breakfast bar to start. That place is a hidden gem. Of course I would not want them to miss out on one of my favorite spots in a LA, so I’d have to leave Weho to get some exercise. I’d take them on a hike up to the Griffith Park Observatory. Coming back to Weho for lunch I’d have to bring them to my favorite spot: Tu Madre for inventive and delicious tacos. I’d be sure to order us both Hibiscus-Rose Agua Frescas – or any of their margaritas if we were feeling spicy! Finally dinner would have to be at Ysabel. The ambiance and food make me feel spoiled and special.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
I’d like to shout out to the Stanford Alumni Consulting Team (SACT). SACT is an organization that provides pro bono consulting expertise for non profits in a variety of ways. I began working with them through the The Live Like Geno Foundation, a non-profit that I helped found in 2016. The coaching, council, and advise I received from SACT and their consultants Barbara Bishop and Ron Wormser has been foundational to the way I conduct myself in business. I truly wouldn’t be where I am today without their support. Thank you!

Website: www.rippleaffectpod.com

Instagram: www.instagram.com/thechiaramaya

Linkedin: www.linkedin.com/in/thechiaramaya

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ms.chiara.maya

Image Credits
Omid Kianersi, James Depietro