Today we’d like to introduce you to Deyna Olivera.
Alright, so thank you so much for sharing your story and insight with our readers. To kick things off, can you tell us a bit about how you got started?
Back in 2020, when the entrepreneurship wave took off thanks to COVID, I, like many others, started questioning what was next for me professionally. The world had hit pause, and for the first time in a long time, I had space to reflect. That’s when I realized I wasn’t doing something I was truly passionate about. Do you want to know what the problem was? I had no idea where to start, what I liked, or even what I wanted.
In the middle of that uncertainty, I had a conversation with a conference speaker that changed everything. He said something so simple yet so powerful: “If you don’t know where to start, go back to what you loved as a child. As simple as that”, and that hit me.
As a kid, I was that person, the one organizing family parties, setting up game nights for Christmas, making sure everything had a special touch. I loved it. And suddenly, it clicked. I wanted to create experiences. But not just any experiences. I wanted to blend my love for luxury with sustainability.
So, naturally, I did what any new entrepreneur does. I went to IKEA and bought my first ever two bohemian rugs. That moment felt huge. No one on my mother’s side, which whom I was raised had ever fully stepped into entrepreneurship, so I knew I was entering uncharted territory. But that day, I also made a promise to myself to trust my instincts, follow my inner child’s joy and build something that truly reflected me.
And that’s exactly what I did.
Like many entrepreneurs know, some days you have clients, and some days you don’t. And I was that entrepreneur, THE ROOKIE ONE, who, if I wasn’t booking clients, would stop promoting myself and lose motivation. But over time, I learned to navigate that roller coaster (which, by the way, never stops) and realized just how key networking is. If someone had told me earlier that networking wasn’t just essential but actually fun, I would’ve started sooner making connections, forming alliances, and collaborating with others.
So that’s exactly what I did. After two years of organizing soft openings, elopements, birthdays, and mostly date night settings, I decided to level up. I stepped into a bigger world 2 years ago decorating and producing larger scale events, especially in the wellness industry. Month after month, I found myself designing and coordinating events for a lot of people. And I didn’t stop there.
Now, I organize and produce health and wellness retreats, weddings, event launches, and even tennis tournaments. It’s been a wild ride filled with challenges, learning curves, and incredible moments. And honestly? I know the best is yet to come.
Can you talk to us a bit about the challenges and lessons you’ve learned along the way. Looking back would you say it’s been easy or smooth in retrospect?
Oh, absolutely! Challenges come with the territory. If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that something unexpected will happen at every event. It’s basically a rule at this point.
Like, picture this: you spend the entire day setting up an outdoor event, making sure every single detail is perfect… and then, at 3 AM, it decides to pour rain. So now, instead of waking up refreshed, you’re waking up to a soaked venue. Or how about driving to an event, feeling all good and prepared, and, BOOM, a rogue nail in the road decides your tire’s fate? And let’s not forget the time the main entertainer of the event just forgot to set his alarm. Like, sir… you had one job. LOL
These things? They’re small in theory but huge when you’re already running on adrenaline. But honestly, over time, I’ve learned to expect the unexpected. Instead of panicking, I’ve come to enjoy the adventure of finding solutions. It’s like a real life problem solving game just with way more guests waiting on you 👀.
At the end of the day, these moments are what make event production exciting. They keep me on my toes, force me to be creative, and let’s be real, make for great stories afterward.
Thanks for sharing that. So, maybe next you can tell us a bit more about your work?
I feel like the same creativity I’ve had since I was little is the same creativity that forms the heartbeat of my brand EBANODA. A brand that isn’t just about beautiful setups, but about transforming experiences. We take creativity, small details, and eco-luxury to a whole new level. But it’s not just about aesthetics. It’s about how people feel from the moment they arrive until the moment they leave. That’s something I’ve shaped from the start and will continue to refine because that is what sets the difference.
But here’s what I believe. If we’re constantly growing as individuals, our businesses will grow too. That’s why I take so much pride in what I do, bringing eco-luxurious art into events, creating experiences that feel like dreams come to life, and making sure every event I produce is as special as the people I’m creating it for. And honestly? This is something I’ll never get enough of.
If we knew you growing up, how would we have described you?
Academics? Meh. You see, when I was a kid, I wasn’t exactly the A+ student. I was more of the C- girl, but thriving in creativity type of student. But put me in anything artistic, creative, or athletic, and I owned it. I was on the girls’ track team, winning every race from first to sixth grade. I had my own dance team, performing at every school event. And then, there was that moment m, the one, that still gets me emotional to this day.
At graduation, they were about to give out the Leadership Medal. And in my head, I thought, Oh, this is obviously going to Jessica, the straight A’s girl. But then, they called my name. Me?! The C- girl?! I remember being completely stunned, while my parents were in the crowd losing their minds, cheering and clapping. That moment changed everything. It made me realize everyone has their thing. And mine? Was creativity.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://linktr.ee/ebanoda?utm_source=linktree_profile_share<sid=167ec8ef-eda5-40c8-8bdf-207180d74db8
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/ebanoda?igsh=MTIxc3liODM1aWtsbg%3D%3D&utm_source=qr
Image Credits
@pran_o_graphy @photobyanniediaz
