We recently had the chance to connect with Maria Alejandra Hernandez and have shared our conversation below.
Hi Maria Alejandra, thank you so much for joining us today. We’re thrilled to learn more about your journey, values and what you are currently working on. Let’s start with an ice breaker: Have any recent moments made you laugh or feel proud?
One recent moment that made me feel both proud and genuinely happy was the release of my new book, Esto también es crear, now available on Amazon. What made this milestone even more special is that I wrote it alongside a close friend I deeply admire, María Viviana Colmenares, founder of El Truck de las Flores.
Through the book, we were able to share a very honest look at our creative process—how ideas take shape, evolve, and guide the way we build what we do. Seeing the book finally out in the world was surreal, not just because of the work behind it, but because it represents a deeply personal chapter of my creative journey.
There was a specific moment when I held the finished book in my hands and laughed a little, partly out of disbelief and partly out of gratitude. It reminded me that creating isn’t always about speed or perfection; sometimes it’s about trusting the process long enough to let something meaningful take shape. That moment felt like a quiet win—one that reaffirmed why I create in the first place.
Can you briefly introduce yourself and share what makes you or your brand unique?
I’m Mariale, a creative director, designer, and civil engineer by training. I’m the founder of Alibombo, a design and art studio where branding, storytelling, and thoughtful design come together—especially within the world of weddings, celebrations, and meaningful life moments.
My work lives at the intersection of structure and intuition. Coming from an engineering background, I approach creativity with intention and clarity, but always leave room for emotion, imperfection, and soul. At Alibombo, we don’t just design pieces; we build experiences that feel personal, elevated, and deeply human.
Alongside my studio work, I recently released my second book, Esto también es crear, now available on Amazon. The book explores creativity beyond results—focusing on process, pauses, and the courage it takes to begin. It reflects much of what I’m currently working on: expanding my creative practice beyond client work, building community, and creating tools and spaces that help others reconnect with their own creative voice.
Great, so let’s dive into your journey a bit more. Who saw you clearly before you could see yourself?
My family and close friends saw me clearly before I was able to see myself. They always believed in me—often more than I did—especially in my ability to create, adapt, and turn ideas into something tangible. Even in moments of doubt, they reminded me of my capacity, my discipline, and my sensitivity toward detail and meaning.
Having people around me who trusted my potential gave me the confidence to keep going, even when the path felt uncertain or nonlinear. Their belief became a quiet foundation—one that allowed me to grow, take creative risks, and eventually build something that feels deeply aligned with who I am today.
What did suffering teach you that success never could?
Suffering taught me that the most meaningful lessons in life rarely come from success—they come from struggle. Success can validate you, but adversity is what actually shapes you. It forces you to slow down, to reflect, and to confront parts of yourself that comfort and praise never reveal.
I’ve learned that growth only happens when we allow ourselves to ask a different question. Instead of staying in complaint or victimization, I try to ask: What is this situation trying to teach me? That shift creates space for honest, lasting learning—learning that stays with you long after the moment has passed.
Struggle, when met with awareness, becomes a teacher. And those lessons, though uncomfortable, are the ones that truly transform us.
Sure, so let’s go deeper into your values and how you think. Is the public version of you the real you?
Yes—but it’s a curated version of the real me. The public version of myself reflects my values, my work ethic, and the way I choose to show up in the world, but it doesn’t capture every doubt, pause, or internal process that happens behind the scenes. And I think that distinction is healthy.
I believe authenticity isn’t about sharing everything; it’s about being honest with what you do choose to share. What people see publicly is grounded in who I am—thoughtful, intentional, creative—but the quieter moments of uncertainty, reflection, and growth are just as real, even if they’re lived more privately.
That said, I’ve recently been opening up a bit more about those processes through my personal account, @sketchingmyjourney, where I share glimpses of my creative thinking, reflections, and the in-between moments that don’t always make it into the polished final result.
That balance allows me to stay true to myself while still protecting the space I need to grow, evolve, and create with clarity.
Before we go, we’d love to hear your thoughts on some longer-run, legacy type questions. Are you doing what you were born to do—or what you were told to do?
For a long time, I did what I was told to do—what felt responsible, logical, and safe. And that phase mattered; it gave me structure, discipline, and tools I still use every day. But over time, I realized that what I was born to do wasn’t a single role or title—it was to create, to build, and to give meaning to ideas.
Today, I feel I’m much closer to what I was born to do. Not because I’ve arrived, but because I’m listening more carefully to myself. Alibombo is one of the clearest expressions of that choice—a space where intention, creativity, and structure come together to create experiences that feel thoughtful, human, and lasting.
I’m choosing a path that honors both who I am and who I’m becoming—one that values intention over expectation, and purpose over performance.
That, to me, is legacy in motion.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.alibombo.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/_alibombo_
- Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/maría-alejandra-hernández-182745191
- Other: My new Book:
https://a.co/d/iaa7bwD
