📣 I’m rebranding my Substack :)
Excited to introduce you to >> "Fear of Success with Gina Mariko" 🫶🏼✨
For years, I thought my biggest challenges were perfectionism, people-pleasing, and fear of failure. But the deeper I looked, the more I realized something else was hiding underneath:
✨I was scared of becoming the version of myself I actually wanted to be.✨
I was scared of responsibility.
Of visibility.
Of making mistakes.
Of judgment.
Of getting called out.
Of being “too much.”
Of finally getting the things I said I want, only to lose them.
Of what my success would mean for my relationships, my identity, and my community.
And I learned something important:
Success can be just as terrifying as failure. If anything, it’s scarier 💯
🖤 This Space Is For You If:
✨You’re ambitious but overwhelmed
✨You’re doing big things but still feel like an imposter
✨You’ve put off a dream because it feels “too big”
✨You overthink every next step
✨You struggle with success guilt
✨You want more but feel conflicted about wanting it
🖤 Why Subscribe?
This world needs more people who are willing to step into their potential - unapologetically, with heart, and with joyful endurance.
Your support helps give me the encouragement to continue writing and sharing, so please leave comments, likes, and shares :) And one day soon, I am going to finish that damn book!
COMMENT below if this resonates with you, and tell me why :)
Thank you for being a part of the journey 🙏🏼🫶🏼
SUBSCRIBE & SHARE ⏩⏩ ginamariko.substack.com
📸 By the talented @praaaise@comeplum
#eventprofs #makeitmariko #ginamariko #substack
✨MY FOUNDER'S STORY✨
(Full video linked in bio)
Honestly, I can't believe I haven't had one until now. Thank you @ceciliaapelin for encouraging me to do this and helping with creative direction with @indigoskycreative ! And to @j_sugy for the amazing videography.
My journey as an entrepreneur has taken me through so many twists and turns: From running a 501c3 nonprofit arts org, to nonprofit administration, to huge familial loss & tragedy, to launching @makeitmariko , @undiscoveredsf , @balaykreative , @pinayista and @pocfoodandwine 🫶🏼💪🏻🥰
I've been through so much entrepreneurial/leadership/woman of color trauma and JOY at the same time through it all.
But all my hard work and dedication to building strong, diverse, connected communities through events, is finally culminating with the launch of my new nonprofit, @bravenewspaces ✨
If you have a few minutes, I hope you'll listen to my Founder Story and SHARE if it compels you :)
Also cop your ticket to the launch party! MAY 29 ✨✨ .
This week @drfractal and I were so excited to test out San Francisco's newest Filipino fine dining experience, @restaurantnaides .
Owned by @celinewuu and @ipatreek , and named after Patrick's late mother, they created this restaurant after living and foraging through Slovenia.
✨This was easily one of the BEST meals I've ever had✨ Fine dining done right.
Inventive flavors.
Precision presentation.
Course timing was perfect.
Everything I expect with a fine dining experience, but done right and accessibly without feeling overdone or overly fancy for fanciness sake.
I love the humble honesty of this place. The filipino flavors were so prominent and recognizable yet so uniquely presented.
Thank you for the amazing attentive meal! What a kind beautiful staff truly representative of Filipino hospitality 🫶🏼🙏🏼🇵🇭
#undiscoveredsf #filipinofood
10+ years ago we were fighting to be seen 🇵🇭
Now everyone and their mama has an ube latte and a Filipino heritage night 😤
Not everyone is a culture vulture, but many are.
Be mindful of where you spend your money.
And make damn well sure it's supporting real ass Filipinos and respecting our culture.
Because Ube means more than just being purple bish 💯💜
And our culture is not a trend for sale.
#filipino #undiscoveredsf
🇵🇭 PART 2 w/GINA MARIKO ROSALES!!! 🇵🇭
Up now at the link in bio and all the podcast spots (thanks for listening and supporting independent, human-powered media!):
* living and working in SF
* getting a tech job
* leaving that job to start Make It Mariko
* the many amazing self-produced events they've done
All this and much, much more from this bad-ass Filipina/Okinawan. Thanks for all you do for SF/The Bay, Gina!
📸 Mason J.
#AANHPIHeritageMonth #SanFrancisco #EveryKindaPeople
KICKIN' OFF AANHPI HERITAGE MONTH!
Meet and get to know GINA MARIKO ROSALES from MAKE IT MARIKO!
* her and her family's Filipino/Osakan lineage
* growing up in Pacifica
* high school in SF at Sacred Heart
* college over in Berkeley and her return to SF
All this and much, much more up now at the link in our bio+all the podcast apps.
📸 Mason J.
#MakeItMariko #SanFrancisco #EveryKindaPeople
Happy Asian Pacific American Heritage Month! Last November we were asked to be a part of the fifth annual Pinayista Summit hosted @cielcreativespace by @makeitmariko .
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It was a beautiful day celebrating, connecting, and sharing stories. We were on a panel called "Turn Up the Volume: Pinays in Music & Media" with @freskaontheair@itsladyray@amceralvo and we recorded interviews with @ginamariko , her mother Lillian Rosales, @lovedearflor CEO @thelisareid , @chefcharleen , and @itsladyray .
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We are excited to finally have this episode live. You can find it at the link in our bio. 🫶🏼
Got to attend an amazing dinner at @farminghope and super inspired by the work they do in hospitality workforce development! And now I know about @cookbook_week !!
Ate delicious food cooked by @cheftudavidphu and Chef Dong Choi honoring the life of Chef Charles Phan of @slanteddoor 🙏🏼✨ That cheese tart thoughhhhhh hit hard.
Oh yes and met Steve Kerr who is such a kind, warm soul even in person! I told him to keep doing what he's doing speaking out about so many things and fighting for people, and of course plugged Jonny as one of Warriors biggest fans 🤘🏻💯
The night reminded me to keep pushing the work we're doing with @bravenewspaces and to be even more generous and open with the resources we have 🫶🏼
Thanks for the invite @galacticbubbles ILYSM 😘
#farminghope
We’ve spent the last 10 years building spaces for creativity, community, and connection through @makeitmariko .
✨At @trellisworkspace with @creativetransitagency & @kultivatelabs@kimbr
✨At @balaykreative with @drfractal@nonuniformstandard
📣 Now we’re inviting a small group of Founding Resident Creatives to join us in our new studio at 447 Minna in partnership with @bravenewspaces & @castsf .
If you’re a Bay Area creative looking for a space to build, host, and grow in community, come build with us in our Creative Lab.
We have less than 20 spots left 🤘🏻
APPLY NOW at bravenewspaces.org/studio or through the 🔗 in bio
While we're sad to see the news today about Sony AFEELA discontinuing their development, it doesn't take away from how PROUD our @makeitmariko team is about executing this amazing event for their team during #GDC week this past March.
One month.
One iconic alleyway.
One electric car demo unlike anything GDC has ever seen.
When AFEELA came to us with the idea of producing a full-scale electric car activation during GDC week - IN ONE MONTH - we didn't flinch. Instead we said when do we start? 😉
Tucked into one of San Francisco's most iconic alleyways - Harlan Place - right across from the Crunchyroll offices, we built something that stopped foot traffic, turned heads, and proved that the future of in-car entertainment is already here.
From full scale logistics to last-minute pivots, check out our behind-the-scenes story of how Make It Mariko pulled off an ambitious brand activation during GDC Week — in just 30 days.
Shout out our amazing Sr. Producer @medsamorphosis for leading this one!
🎥 Video by @olancool
Event Production & Design: @makeitmariko
Marketing: @dot_dot_dash
Catering: @pinxcatering
Lighting: @LastWaveProductions
Rentals: @stuarteventrentals
Florals: @diosablooms
Decals: Digitek
#eventprofs #makeitmariko #gdc2026 #afeela
