Today we’d like to introduce you to Maria Carolina Diaz.
Hi Maria Carolina, we’re thrilled to have a chance to learn your story today. So, before we get into specifics, maybe you can briefly walk us through how you got to where you are today?
I am an engineer by training and I left South Florida in 2007 after school to start my professional career. Living outside of my comfort zone, I struggled finding people I could connect to and get used to the new city; I struggled with my personal life because something I did not know why was lacking! And one day, I made the decision to go to the gym and try Zumba on a regular basis (I had tried before, and I knew I loved dancing).
Shortly after, the regular instructor quit the gym, and I made the decision that I could be the one leading the class and went ahead to get the instructor training. I was thinking they were going to offer me the position right after I got the license since I considered I was a good dancer.
Needless to say, my plan did not work the way I wanted. Few months after I got my license, I came back to South Florida and tried to join the gym again but it didn’t work out either. I kept paying for the license but I was fully focused on my career. I continued to do Zumba on a regular basis throughout though (I never stopped after I started back in 2009).
In 2013, I lost my job as an engineer and decided that was the moment for me to start doing something with Zumba and I started creating my social media, recording videos, practicing new songs, etc while I tried to get an engineering job. Since I attended regular Zumba classes, I started to meet instructors around the area and I shared the fact that I was an instructor. One of them pushed me to start teaching; she pushed me so much that she recommended me for a class she was contacted for and couldn’t take. Thats when Zumba started taking off for me. I did some of those classes on and off for two years while at the same time I continued to attend regular Zumba classes at the gym from other instructors.
I met the regional coordinator along the way and every time I saw her, I asked her about letting me join the organization. I asked her SO much that in 2015 she finally decided to give me the opportunity. I went to an audition and she picked me! I was THE HAPPIEST when she gave me the OK to join her team; I have tried to do this for so long and it was finally happening!!!
I wish I could say the rest was history! But that was not the case! I had never taught a big group and I was assigned a class that belonged to a very popular instructor. Needless to say people’s reactions were shocking to me (I was expecting that everyone would love my class, and that was very far from the reality). I thought about leaving the gym; but then I thought about everything I did to be picked as an instructor and I changed my mind. I consciously made a decision to not take things personal and only focus on the good reactions of the students; and let go of the other not so good ones. When I changed my mind, everything started to change at the same time. Suddenly, I started to have more students and I started to enjoy the class even more. I worked for the gym for about five years; until COVID happened and I was let go.
When COVID happened and I found myself trapped at home (work from home, gym closed, without the option to visit family), I said to myself it was time to reinvent myself! Stopping teaching the Zumba classes was not an option; I can certainly say I am a better engineer and a better people leader because I have taught Zumba classes! I started going to a park to teach for free; but shortly after I was told I could not teach in that location. I tried teaching online classes, but the attendance in the online classes is so much less than in-person classes. A few of my old students reached out to me because they did not feel comfortable going to the gym in the current environment and asked me to look for another location in which we could get together. I found another place that was close to home and I started teaching on a regular basis again. This time from Monday to Thursday, for free. My objective was to attract as much people from the neighborhood as possible; I thought that by offering free classes, the attendance numbers were going to increase and we would have a bigger turnout. Classes did get bigger, but not too much. I kept publishing my classes online, and I kept showing up even in the days that I did not feel like it, either because I was tired or because not many people showed interest. I can proudly say that now we have a group of around 15 people showing up weekly on a regular basis. And I have recently started charging a small fee per class. Looking forward to what the next year has in store for me in my Zumba Journey!
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
Absolutely not! The previous answer shares all my struggles and the times when I have lacked motivation; but I continue to show up and continue to share my passion with others. Little by little!
Success is NEVER a straight line.
I have learned that from my career as an engineer as well.
Thanks – so what else should our readers know about your work and what you’re currently focused on?
Zumba is my passion; my side job. But my career is being an Industrial & Systems Engineer.
I work for Spirit Airlines as a Business Process Optimization Manager. My specialty is process improvement; in other words, I optimize processes across the enterprise (any area) to improve efficiency and effectiveness (Do more with less).
I am definitely known for my extrovert personality, as well as my passion, energy, and positivity. I can’t contain my energy and passion in everything I do. I am very hyperactive and that shows both in my personal and professional lives.
I am proud that, despite the challenges I have faced both personally and professionally, I made the decision to keep showing up and keep bringing my best self to everything I do, even when I didn’t feel like it. It has certainly paid off in the long run.
I am known for creating a community that revolves around zumba in our local neighborhood (Downtown Doral), bringing lots of positive energy, union, and joy to it.
Any advice for finding a mentor or networking in general?
I love networking! Both for Engineering and Zumba. I learned very early in my career that opportunities will only come by if I put myself in front of the right people; and the only way to find that “right people” is by networking.
For both worlds, I recommend joining groups associations that relate to what you are interested in; in my case, I am an active member of the Institute of Industrial & Systems Engineers and an active member of the Zumba Instructor Network. For both associations, I try to take the lead role by joining the organizer’s team that will bring everyone else together. I have attended several conferences for both associations, and I have also organized several non-profit classes with groups of instructors to network with relevant people.
Also, I use LinkedIn on a regular basis for networking as well. In an increasing Online world, Networking Online works essential; this is how I was found for my current job.
From all the people I have met networking, I choose those people whom I want to be close with and whom I want to be my mentors and I am fortunate that I have had many great mentors along the way who have helped me become the person I am today. They have supported me and believed in me, even when I did not believe in me and, for that, I am forever thankful.
Pricing:
- 20 dollars for daily classes Monday to Thursday per month
Contact Info:
- Email: rumbafitness305@gmail.com
- Website: www.rumbafitness305.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rumbafitness305/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RumbaFitness305
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/c/RumbaFitness305
