The Lopez Lens: Women Who Rock
SocialMiami's Marile Lopez appears on the launch episode of SPOTLIGHT
Recently I had the honor of being interviewed on SPOTLIGHT a new show produced by Emily Zubi, founder & CEO of “Miami Women Who Rock.” Zubi, a sales and marketing guru, happens to have some serious credentials when it comes to television production. She was instrumental in launching MTV for Latin America and afterward, went on to launch 10 other networks including Nickelodeon, E! Entertainment, HBO Latin America before founding her own media company. Emily is the Author of “99 Tips and Inspirations on Starting a Business” and was featured on Wall Street Radio. Her tagline is “Rock your Health, Rock the World.” Always a community activist, Zubi was one of the first Hispanic Women to infiltrate Wall Street, where she trained MBA Executives at Goldman Sachs in presentation and sales skills.
Because Zubi’s passion is to empower women and motivate them to rebuild their lives, many of her programs honor and profile women and their families in the Miami community. Women supporting women is not just an idea but a way of life for me. As a mother of five – including two young women — I encourage my daughters to advocate for and encourage other women. We must lift each other up and be there with a helping hand, a smile or a hug. It can make a difference not only in one person’s life but also to all the people surrounding them.
On SPOTLIGHT, Zubi and I talked about faith, family, fashion, philanthropy and the importance of strong friendship bonds-specially between women. A Latina struggling to be successful in a man’s world, Zubi graciously shares the lessons she has learned to help other women’s lives and careers flourish.
The three lessons are:
Role Models, Women Icons & Mentoring are Key to Success
So much of the woman am I owe to my Mother Miriam and my Mother in law, Tere.
My mother began a second career at the age of 35. She was an insurance sales agent for Prudential and within the first year ranked as the top 5 percent. I was 15 years old at the time and every Saturday morning she would hand me a stack of 20 to 25 index cards with names and phone numbers and told me to get as many appointments as I could for the following week.
“Confidence is the thing you had before you knew better”-I did not know I was cold calling but practice makes perfect and I became extremely good at it.
My mother-in-law, Tere Zubizarreta what is one of the most caring, giving, dynamic & incredible business woman I have ever met. Her story of how she came from Cuba and ended up starting Zubi Adverting as one of the most successful advertising agencies in the U.S. is so inspirational.
Today I focus on the mentoring I receive from our Founders Circle and I am empowered up by their stories. It is also why that is one of the first questions I start with in every SPOTLIGHT one on one interview.
Giving Back is good for the soul and spiritual growth never stops.
Becoming a woman of substance begins with faith and living in God’s grace.
Age is but a number but attitude is everything. Making my first million dollars in my 40s was a temporary career high but presenting a check at the Day of Caring event for breast cancer awareness was life changing …as I looked at over 400 mostly survivors in the audience my heart changed forever. This has been so critical in our growth at Miami Women Who Rock because “we are a network of women and business that believe in giving back”. Giving back is that core value that binds us.
Lean in to your story, embrace the pain that made you strong.
Every woman has a story. I am Puerto Rican, grew up in Jersey City, my family was very much hard-working blue-collar and I was the first to go to college. Our home was an emergency foster home and at one point had as many as 12 kids. We learned to share whether it was the last piece of bread or cereal box and “hand me downs” were a way of life.
Those times as challenging as they were going through them made me strong filled with perseverance and a beautiful sense of humanity.
What I saw kids go through at a very early age has filled me with a sense of responsibility and I love working with charities like Branches, Kristi House and Chapman Partnership that make a difference in a child’s life.
Marile Lopez is the Chief Financial Officer at Jorge Luis Lopez Law Firm, a governmental affairs firm representing Municipal Governments, Florida 100 and Fortune 500 companies at the federal, state and local levels. As CFO, she manages the financial reporting, income taxes, account receivable, drafting of contracts, and investments for the firm. Prior to joining the firm in 2006, Mrs. Lopez founded and was creative director for Maria Elena Headpieces, a successful million dollar bridal accessory company which designs, manufactures, and sells products to high-end international wedding boutiques.
Mrs. Lopez also dedicates time to serve the community through leadership roles in a number of organizations. She is Chair of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital’s South Florida Executive Committee, whose initial focus is to host the 2020 Legends for Charity Dinner (NFL Super Bowl LIV). She is also Chair of FIU’s Steven J. Green School of International and Public Affairs Dean’s Advisory Council, where she is leading her 2nd — multi-million dollar capital campaign as part of “Next Horizon: The Campaign for FIU”. She also serves on the board of Chapman Partnership, Boys and Girls Club of Miami-Dade, FIU President’s Council, and the American Red Cross. She has served as Chair of Miami Children’s Hospital (MCH) Foundation, on the Board of Nicklaus Children’s Hospital and the Miami Children’s Health System Board, as well as on the Board of American Cancer Society’s Miami-Dade Unit.
Marile Lopez and her husband, Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq., are widely known for their philanthropic work in our South Florida community. They have received numerous awards for their exceeding dedication, including the 2017 Power Couple by Big Brothers Big Sisters of Miami, 2015 American Red Cross Philanthropy Volunteer of the Year Award, the 2014 Charles “Bebe” Rebozo Humanitarian Award from the Boys & Girls Club of Miami-Dade, the 2013 James W. McLamore Volunteer of the Year Award for Outstanding Volunteer Service by the Association of Fundraising Professionals.
Marile received in 2018 the MDC Parks Foundation in the Company of Women Award, the Take a Walk in her Shoes Award by Chapman Partnership, and the Woman of the Year Award by Miami Women Who Rock. In 2017, she received the Philanthropy Award by Fairchild Botanical Gardens, and in 2016, she was the recipient of Torch Award – Community Leadership Professional Achievement Award by Florida International University, the American Red Cross Spectrum Award, and the Women of Substance & Style Award by Buoniconti Fund. In 2015, Marile received the Woman of Distinction and Caring by Plaza Health Network, and in 2014, the Women of Faith with the Virtue of Charity Award from the Archdiocese of Miami, Mujeres Giving Back Treasure by The Woman’s Fund, Women Who Have Influenced the Community with Outstanding Charitable Causes by Neiman Marcus-Coral Gables, Miracle Maker by Big Brothers Big Sisters, and the Hispanic Leadership Philanthropy Award by the South Florida Hispanic Chamber of Commerce. Marile was also the recipient of the Inner Circle of 12 recognition from the American Cancer Society in 2013, and St. Jude Honors in 2012.
Mrs. Lopez received her Master’s degree in Business Administration from the University of Phoenix, Bachelor’s degree in Health Services Administration from Florida International University, and Associate’s degree from Miami-Dade College.
Marile and Jorge Luis Lopez, Esq., have five children: AR, Carli, Annia, Saramelia and Luis Jorge. They all reside in Coconut Grove, Flo
