Her grit bought her success, so let’s take a look at her remarkable story…

I always knew I wanted adventure, something different. My family never had plans to leave Panama, but something sparked in me from a young age. 

When I was a little girl, I used to put on my best “Spanish from Spain” accent, call the airlines and ask about buying a ticket to Paris. 

I remember I spoke to one kind flight agent over the phone who answered some questions for me and when she asked my age, she told me to call back in about 20 years. 

I spent much of my childhood selling door to door with my great grandmother, Mercedes. We would sell perfume, jewelry and other little treasures. I guess you can say that’s where my knowledge and love of business really began. 

I grew up in a working class suburb of Panama city. I remember buying green grapes or fig newtons as a special luxury treat when we had a little extra money. 

My parents, Virgilio and Idalia,  always kept a roof over my head and food on the table, even if it was just rice, beans and some platanos from the back yard.

But I found pleasure in these small joys.

My life really began to change when it came time for me to attend 9th grade.

I had previously only attended a public school, however my grandmother, Julia and my aunt, Deyanira, offered to pay for me to attend a private high school where I could receive a better education and get into a better college. 

However, there was a long waitlist for public school students. You only had a slim chance if you had perfect grades.

I remember showing up there on a hot sticky day, with hundreds of other hopeful students ahead of me in line, hoping for an interview.

My grandmother Julia grabbed my hand and pushed her way through the line, told the school attendants about important people she knew (she worked high up in the government), and hence, the principle agreed to see me. 

As soon as I walked in, the principle took one look at me and said “oh, you’re obviously a public school girl, you can’t keep up with our standards here.”

But I was determined, I demanded he look at my grades as I was top of my class, despite my dirty shoes and worn dress. 

He slightly raised his brow and asked what I was interested in studying. The school had three paths; science, liberal arts and business.

At first, I was interested in science. 

He shook his head and said there were no openings in science, and that from speaking with me, he felt my personality was much better suited to business.

I was very arrogant and wanted everything my way, but I accepted the spot in business with the promise of the possibility of switching to the science pathway the next year.

However, business was my passion, and I decided not to switch. 

Once I graduated high school, I began to attend college and studied technology. However, it was now the 80s and the political climate in Panama was growing more turbulent by the day. 

Everyone my age wanted to leave Panama, we saw no possibility of a future there with a dictatorship taking over. 

I was 17 and took a job as a secretary at the electric company. I answered phones, ran errands, did computer work, anything to save money so I could get out of Panama. 

In 1987, I first flew to America as a tourist. I visited New York & Miami, I decided Miami would be where I lived since there was a large hispanic population, and it was more like what I was used to. 

I came back home and saved every penny I could. 

Getting a visa at this time was a very difficult task because everyone wanted to leave the country.

I spent the night outside the embassy with my grandmother Marie Elena. We arrived at 11pm and at 8am the doors opened. By some miraculous stroke of fate, we were granted the visa, while most people were turned away.

So there I was, 18 years old, about to leave everything I had ever known behind for the hope and knowledge that I could forge a new life for myself.

I had two suitcases and a boombox (essential, I know). I had saved $1,500, some friends of the family also pitched in what they could to help me achieve my dream, which I am forever grateful for.

On July 19, 1988, I arrived in Miami wearing a blue and white pilot style suit and feeling every bit a movie star making her dramatic entrance. 

In Miami, I stayed with some friends of my family who opened there house to my grandmother, Marie Elena and I. 

I attended college and worked as a waitress. 

At 18 I got married to a nice musician/ scientist I met at the restaurant I was working at. 

Miami in the late 80s/ early 90s was one big party. I immersed myself in the Cuban culture, enjoyed going to the beach, and even saw Celia Cruz perform one New Years Eve. Aside from this, everything in Miami was inexpensive and under development.

I later began working for a mortgage company, and this is where my interest in real estate began. 

My boss was a woman named Norma Strydio. She was a strong woman, just like my grandmother and I learned so much from her. 

I loved the paper work, the detail and helping people qualify. 

In 1993, at 24, I bought my first home in Miami.

Upon a series of life changing events, I came to Atlanta in 1996.

My English was good, but not perfect, so I mainly wanted to work with the Hispanic community, which was growing in Atlanta at the time. The Olympics were coming and there were endless jobs and opportunities. 

Whilst flipping through the yellow pages, I saw an Ad for a real estate agent, so I called.

The woman who owned this company was named Gloria. She was a Cuban- American businesswoman. 

When I arrived, she claimed I was a godsend as she was just recovering from cancer. She handed me a notebook full of names and numbers of people who had been calling for six months, wanting to buy a house. 

In 1996 I ended up selling over 100 homes and giving birth to my first child, Hadassah, who now works with me.  

25 years later (years that have been filled with experience, learning and growing), I have started Marielena Angulo International Realty Group.

We are a family owned and operated company. 

Here are some members of our team:

My two daughters: Hadassah and Katrina

My two brothers: Abdiel and Virgilio

My cousin: Julissa

Life motto? 

Live live live, enjoy life…. Responsibly. 

If you could say something to your 20 year old self what would it be? 

Don’t work so hard, don’t get married so young, travel more.

Favorite place in the world to visit?

Scotland

3 Beauty Essentials?

L’occitane skincare, concealer, eyeliner.

What is your favorite film? 

Dr Zchivago

Star sign? 

Leo 

I am so happy to have shared a little part of my story with you.