Stories That Started With a Walk

“The first time I heard about the idea it didn't grab me right away. I thought: ‘talking outdoors, walking, can that really work?’. But I quickly discovered that it does.

“I discovered Pasos de Bienestar in one of the most uncertain moments I have ever lived through: the pandemic. Amid so much change, Marco created something that seemed simple at the time, a space for conversation, and that over time became one of the most valuable practices in my professional and personal development.

“When I think of Pasos de Bienestar, the first thing I remember is that I never let a session go by.

“I worked alongside Marco for more than six years, and it was during the pandemic restrictions that we began the practice of Pasos de Bienestar. Those walks turned out to be much more than a call: walking outdoors cleared the mind and, combined with Marco's years of experience and track record, as well as his leadership and communication style, it created a space of complete trust and ease to think out loud.

“Pasos de Bienestar was one of the experiences that has most marked my professional life. I remember those walks and conversations with great affection, because they were much more than a space to talk about work. It was a one-on-one moment, outdoors, in which I could talk with a leader I deeply admire and share professional concerns, personal situations that could be impacting my work, ask for advice, or simply have an honest and close conversation.

“Our walks became a space of trust where I could speak with complete candor about my ideas, my doubts and my barriers. In Marco I found someone who truly listens; someone who tells you straight when you are falling short, but who also helps you get back up, order your perspective and remember that you are not alone.

“The best way to have a 1:1

“Pasos de Bienestar was a very interesting experience because, within a formal and hierarchical relationship, it is not always easy to break down the barriers of work and open space for personal, more human conversations.

“Pasos de Bienestar has been much more than a conversation outside the routine. It has been a space of trust, open and genuine, where walking and talking lets you pause, share concerns freely and look at situations from a different perspective.

“Pasos de Bienestar was a moment I looked forward to because it allowed me to have a more relaxed conversation. What I loved was that it wasn't only about work and the day to day, but about something more personal: me as a person and my surroundings — my family, my network and my work peers.

“My experience with Pasos de Bienestar was very positive. It was a space that combined something as important as physical activity with the opportunity to have a close, different kind of conversation with my boss.

“Our 1:1 walks with Marco were much more than follow-up spaces; they were a constant catalyst for my personal and professional growth and development.

“For me, Pasos de Bienestar meant the opportunity to have a 1:1 with Marco from a different kind of vulnerability: wearing sports clothes, walking along a trail near my home, and far from the usual dynamic of sitting behind a desk going through a list of pending items.