Meet Zel Rivera | Anti-Chief Everything Officer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Zel Rivera and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Zel, what do you attribute your success to?
I’d say it’s the decision to stay intentional even when things felt unfamiliar, uncertain, or overwhelming. I didn’t step into this as a polished founder, I stepped in as the Anti-Chief Everything Officer, doing the gritty work of building systems, shaping strategies, and laying a foundation strong enough to grow with or without me.

Hey Maria wasn’t born out of comfort. I launched Hey Maria in a foreign country where I had no connections, no family, and no safety net. Every part of it, from taxes to culture, was new. But I made the decision to lead with strategy, resilience, and quiet confidence. That mindset, more than anything else, is what carried us through.

In the early months, I was often asked for a portfolio. And while I’ve led projects across 19 countries in Asia Pacific, I realized Hey Maria itself is the portfolio. It was built from scratch, in a place where I was a complete outsider and yet, in less than a year, we’ve helped multiple businesses grow by becoming a true extension of their team.

We are not just a service provider. We are a growth engine. Hey Maria is a reflection of the transformation we deliver: structured, strategic, and built to grow. That’s the real difference and that’s why we win.

What should our readers know about your business?
At its core, Hey Maria isn’t just a service. We’re a team, and that’s our biggest edge. When someone works with us, they’re not just hiring one person, they’re gaining a trained, strategic support system backing your business. At the price of one, you gain the power of many. That’s because we don’t operate as task-takers. We operate as growth partners. So that if someone on your account needs to step away, your business doesn’t pause. You’re never left scrambling. We step in. We support. We scale.  That’s the kind of momentum we’re built for.

I got here through experience, over a decade of leading projects across Asia Pacific for global brands and corporate giants. Over the years, I’ve had the chance to lead projects for brands across Asia Pacific, working in unfamiliar markets and adjusting to all kinds of dynamics, and learned one thing: business doesn’t wait. You have to move fast, adapt faster, and stay focused on outcomes. I brought that same mindset into Hey Maria.

It wasn’t easy building this from scratch in a foreign country with no connections. But I knew the formula: systems, strategy, and the right people. That’s what I built, and that’s what we deliver to our clients.

We’re not just about taking tasks off your plate. Hey Maria empowers you to do less and achieve more.

Let’s say your best friend was visiting the area and you wanted to show them the best time ever. Where would you take them? Give us a little itinerary – say it was a week long trip, where would you eat, drink, visit, hang out, etc.
This one’s a little tricky, my best friend and I have traveled across the world together, including much of the U.S., so we’ve seen and experienced a lot. But if she were visiting me here in Texas, I’d definitely want to give her something a little different. First on the list? Texas brisket. It’s a must-try. But instead of just taking her to a restaurant, I’d flip the script, I’d make my own version and host a backyard barbecue just for us. That’s something we haven’t done together, and I know we’d both love the experience.

The rest of the week would be a mix of relaxed mornings, spontaneous drives, and discovering local gems. I’d take her to a few underrated spots for tacos and Tex-Mex, grab mocktails at a rooftop downtown, and carve out time for a road trip to a quiet nearby town, somewhere with charm, good coffee, and a story to tell.

At the end of the day, it’s not just about the places. It’s about creating new memories, trying something we’ve never done before, and slowing down in a way we rarely get to. And Texas, with all its flavor and character, is the perfect backdrop for that.

Shoutout is all about shouting out others who you feel deserve additional recognition and exposure. Who would you like to shoutout?
While I built Hey Maria from the ground up as a solo founder in a foreign country, I know that success is never truly a solo journey. My growth was shaped by the support, trust, and influence of both people and institutions who believed in me early on.

I was fortunate to be mentored and trained by some of the world’s most respected global brands, true giants in their industries. At a very young age, I was immersed in high-level brand management, global campaigns, and business transformation strategies. Those experiences didn’t just sharpen my skills; they shaped my mindset, my discipline, and my vision. If it weren’t for those early years, I wouldn’t be the leader or strategist I am today. That foundation is the reason I now proudly carry the title of Global Business Transformation Strategist.

I’m also deeply grateful to the women who came before me and the ones who rise beside me. Their resilience continues to inspire how I build and lead. To my earliest clients, thank you for believing in Hey Maria when it was just a vision. You didn’t just invest in a service; you invested in possibility.

And lastly, to the younger version of me, who kept showing up, learning fast, and choosing growth even when survival would’ve been enough, this is for her, too.

Website: https://www.heymaria.us

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/heymaria.us

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/company/heymaria

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/heymaria.us

Other: https://www.zelrivera.com

Image Credits
www.heymaria.us