Mariana Barros, Video Editor at Vital Proteins
I first met Mariana Barros when I worked as the copy lead at Vital Proteins in Chicago. As is the case whenever I meet a fellow Latina, I was excited when I learned she joined the content team as their newest video editor. Like Barros shares in our interview, there’s an immediate sense of relief and belonging when you’re around people from the same cultural background. They just get you.
Not only is this Peruvian creative super talented, but she’s also come so far from appeasing her family’s wishes of pursuing a stable, reputable career; she’s now truly following her passion in videography. “I’m proud of pursuing a field that I’ve loved since I was a kid, and I'm especially proud of being able to say that I love what I do,” she says. (For the record, we’re all proud of you, too, Mar!)
Ready to meet this mujer de magia? Keep reading for our candid conversation about combating imposter syndrome, carving space in predominantly white workspaces, and more.
Grace Gavilanes: Tell us about the road to becoming a video editor. Was it always your dream?
Mariana Barros: To be honest, never in a million years did I imagine myself becoming a video editor — but it has always been a passion of mine since I was a kid. It wasn't initially my "dream" because I didn't realize it was even an option for me, but the moment I discovered a video camera, I became captivated. When I was 11, I asked my mom if I could get a big green cloth from Michael's, and even though she probably had no idea what I was planning to do with it, she kindly agreed. I set it up in my house, recorded random silly videos, taught myself how to chroma key in Final Cut Pro, and it opened up a whole new world for me. Ever since then, I've been recording and editing videos — telling stories, documenting my life, and experimenting with new editing techniques; it became one of the many things I did for fun. I've always been drawn to creating. Whether it was through drawing, video editing, writing, dancing, or music, I loved getting to flex my creativity muscles. However, when it came to college, I chose to study architecture, believing it was the only "real" job that would feed my creativity while also making my mother proud. After years of studying and working in architecture firms, I came to the realization that I wasn't doing it for myself, but rather to please my mother. I was miserable living that way. It was then that I remembered how I used to stay up until 3 a.m., editing videos for the sheer love of it. I recalled how I had been passionate about making videos for over a decade. That's when it all clicked for me, and I decided to pursue a career in videography. When I mustered the courage to take a leap of faith and pursue filmmaking, I created a short film called "MELT" for my Honors Thesis and poured my heart and soul into making it. That film landed me my first job after college, and the rest is history — I've been professionally producing and editing videos ever since!
GG: What is the most rewarding part of your work?
MB: The most rewarding part of my work as a video editor is the ability to bring stories to life. Whether I'm working on a short film, a commercial, an animation, or any other project, I have the opportunity to weave together elements like footage, sound, music, and graphics to create an engaging narrative. Another rewarding aspect is getting to collaborate creatively with a team of talented directors, videographers, designers, and artists. Working together to achieve a shared vision and piecing the synergy of our collective efforts into a final video is the most satisfying feeling. I like to say that video editing often feels like solving a 5 million-piece jigsaw puzzle with only a vague idea of what the final image should look like — but that’s the best part, getting to figure out the best way to fit all the pieces together to paint the picture that only previously existed as a concept. As a video editor, I get to bring a vision to life, make something still full of movement, and turn a written story into a dynamic experience. It’s a creative process that’s rewarding in every way.
GG: What advice would you give someone looking to follow in your footsteps?
MB: I would tell them to make videos as often as they can. As a self-taught video editor, I learned the most from my hands-on experience in making videos. The more you create, the better you will get at your craft and the more confident you’ll be in your skills. The other piece of advice would be to always be open to learning. The worst thing you could do as a video editor is to get stuck in your ways. There are a million ways to do things, and with editing technology constantly evolving, it’s so important to stay on top of the latest software, plugins, techniques, and trends. Keep a curious mind and fuel that curiosity with knowledge and trial. There are so many online resources on how to achieve different editing techniques and how to use new programs. I am always watching those kinds of educational videos and thinking about how I can incorporate new tools into my workflow. Lastly, don’t be afraid to just go for it; make mistakes along the way. If you are passionate about something, people will feel it in your work; it’s what I believe to be the most important ingredient in creating videos, and it is definitely what got me to where I am today.
GG: Imposter syndrome is a very real thing in our community. Have you experienced it? If so, how do you reconnect with yourself?
MB: Oh 100%, I have experienced imposter syndrome practically my whole life. Growing up, I had a tendency of brushing off my achievements and downplaying the time, hard work, and effort I put into my hobbies and education. I would often feel like I only got this far because of how hard my mom, a Peruvian immigrant, worked to provide for me and my brother. Being raised by a single mother who moved to the U.S. for a better life when I was born, pushed me to feel like I needed to succeed to make her sacrifice worth it. I know this is something a lot of Latinas and first-gens experience, and it’s been an ongoing learning process to break that pattern of thinking. Even as an adult, working in an industry that is heavily dominated by white men, it’s easy to feel like I’m not taken as seriously or don’t belong here. But I’ve worked hard to learn how to reconnect with myself in moments like those. Whenever a thought like that pops into my head, I shut it down, and think about the hard work, passion, and creativity that got me to where I am today. I’ve made it a habit to celebrate the small victories, regularly look back on how far I’ve come, and build confidence while staying grateful and eager to grow.
GG: What accomplishment are you most proud of, both in your personal and professional life?
MB: Personally, I’m proud of my resilience, empathy, work ethic, authenticity, and kindness. I’m proud of knowing I always chose to become a better version of myself when there were many moments I could’ve gone down a dark road. I’m proud of choosing to follow my heart and stay true to myself, even if that meant taking the harder path or breaking a cycle of generational trauma. Professionally (and most recently), I’m proud of not being afraid to stand up for myself, and knowing my worth. I’m really proud of being an empathetic teammate, and always vocalizing how much I appreciate my colleagues and mentors. I’m proud of pursuing a field that I’ve loved since I was a kid, and I'm especially proud of being able to say that I love what I do.
GG: What does being Latina mean to you?
MB: Being Latina to me means being incredibly proud to be Peruvian, while also feeling grateful to be raised in the U.S. It means living between two worlds that don’t entirely recognize me as their own, but embracing both of them equally. It means dancing to salsa and merengue music whenever I’m cleaning or cooking. It means being passionate about fútbol and screaming “CARAJO!” when playing FIFA. It means proudly wearing my Peruvian jersey and getting excited when someone asks me about it. It means cooking ají de gallina, lomo saltado, and causa for my friends and making them all try Inca Kola, the soda I grew up on. It means feeling instantly connected and understood whenever I meet another Latina. It means putting family first. It’s in my name, it’s in my blood, it’s in the way I move and it’s a part of me I cherish and can’t wait to pass down to my own familia one day.
““I’ve made it a habit to celebrate the small victories, regularly look back on how far I’ve come, and build confidence while staying grateful and eager to grow.””
GG: How would you say your upbringing and cultural background contributed to your career aspirations?
MB: My upbringing and cultural background definitely contributed to my career path and aspirations. My parents are both incredibly smart, hardworking doctors from Peru that moved to the U.S. for a better life and education. I watched my mom work long hours at multiple hospitals every single day to be able to provide for us and allow us to pursue our passions and college education. Although I have always been right-brained and interested in the arts, I felt a lot of pressure to become a doctor like my parents or at least something similar. Even though I didn’t become the doctor they wanted me to be, and making that decision was extremely tough, I am so grateful for the support my mother gave me throughout the years and the work ethic she instilled in me from a young age. I learned from her that I am capable of achieving anything I put my mind to.
GG: What would you tell 15-year-old Mar right now if you had the opportunity?
MB: I would tell her not to worry so much about what other people think, and just do what makes her happy. I spent way too much time as a 15-year-old letting other people’s opinions and actions bring me down. I’d tell her to stop comparing herself to other people, to not be so afraid of failure, and to stop straightening her hair! I wish I had learned how to embrace my natural curls much earlier in life.
