Students Dialogue with Wakami founder María Pacheco
My name is María. I was born in Guatemala and I am a biologist, an entrepreneur and founder of the Wakami system. I am also a mother and a firm believer that collective dreams are unstoppable. My life’s work has been to find ways to link people who are stuck in cycles of poverty to markets that can create cycles of prosperity.
Mount Madonna School (MMS) high school students first interviewed María Pacheco in 2008, as part of a Values in World Thought learning journey. Pacheco was introduced to teacher SN Ward Mailliard and his students by Alyse Nelson the president of the Washington, D.C.-based Vital Voices. Recently, the MMS junior class met with Pacheco via Zoom, resulting in a meaningful dialogue and learning experience.
“Going into this interview I had heard a lot about María’s success, and talking to her made me understand what type of person she is, not just her accomplishments,” commented junior Kayla Goldstein. “What struck me most is when she was talking about how everyone is born with a purpose. I really like that thought and I look forward to finding mine.”
Pacheco grew up in war-torn Guatemala and has dedicated her life to helping those of the marginalized indigenous population who suffered during the country’s 36-year civil war that only ended in 1996. In 2006 Pacheco and her partners established the Wakami global value chain with the mission of creating a new business model by building a network of rural communities where the fashion products of local women can be sold through an international export chain.
“Going into this Interview I was somewhat nervous to ask my question,” acknowledged junior Benn Glorfield. “After the first question was asked, I immediately felt more comfortable and ready to learn. I thought María was incredibly intelligent and had wonderful ideas to share with us. She talked about the idea that by the items we buy, we can shape our country and our world. This idea impacted me, as I never would have thought about how every little thing I buy directly, either positively or negatively impacts the world. This idea also inspires me to do better with consumerism.”
“I noticed something exceptional about María in terms of her world view, dedication to helping others, and enthusiasm for her work,” commented Mailliard. “We stayed in touch off and on and I received email showing the growing success of Wakami. This fall I decided to make an opportunity and have my students speak with her. I felt the gifts she would bring would include her experience of persevering through long challenge and hardship, her authenticity, and dedication to a purpose. All that and more came from our discussion.”
Student Blythe Wilson reflected on Pacheco’s interest in making a personal connection and her perspective on making positive change.
“At the beginning of our interview, María talked about how she wanted to hear from us,” said Wilson. “She related how we are growing up with the pandemic to her growing up during a war. I really liked that she took a minute to focus on how we are all similar, instead of just answering questions. I went away feeling inspired, and some of the things she touched on that most struck me include: we choose between love and anger, and this is how we change the world; that where she lives, women are told that they have no value, so they find meaning in finding work; that finding work is empowerment, and empowering women is giving worth, empowerment leads to change; and [try to] bring your gifts together in a collective dream.”
Classmate Amirah Alexander also connected with Pacheco’s views on power and change.
“María talked about power coming from the inside and not the outside, and that you don’t need to run after it, but instead go deep inside in order to find it,” said Alexander. “I feel like we are raised in a society where you are taught to see your negative aspects and you don’t see and appreciate the good things in yourself. Growing up with only the negative things being pointed out and told to fix them in order to get better, we forget to enhance and support the good things in ourselves. In order to change the world, María said you need to enhance your talents and do the things you love…She said her inner peace comes from knowing that while she hasn’t changed everything, she has done everything in order to change one thing. That sentence was so powerful and stood out ‘in bold’ for me because it really shows how in order to change or make something, you need to concentrate your power on one or a few things. You cannot make a change if your powers are spread out and not concentrated.”
Student Ben Pearson said he appreciated Pacheco’s leadership and ability to connect people for positive change.
“She brings so many people together with nature to make something so simple, and yet it brings such meaning as well,” commented Pearson. “She talked about how women are leaders, and that they see things holistically due to their nature, which is why they are so ‘complicated.’ This is very interesting to me, because I never really looked at it that way…I am not very exposed to as many powerful women leaders as I feel I should be. It’s not that I don’t know any, it’s just that I am not nearly as exposed to them as I am male leaders. There is so much more that a person can tell you that a website or book just can’t express the same way. What brought the most respect from me, is that she isn’t doing things just to do them and get the rewards; she is doing them to give people meaning and hope in life, which is incredibly honorable.”
Pacheco shared a perspective using language that resonated with students Summer Howley and Alyssa Manzur.
“One of the quotes from our interview that stood out to me was ‘anger or love, and that choices in life can lead to many different places’,” commented Howley. “This really struck me, as I don’t believe in hate, and it’s a very eloquent way to say an idea I had already had given some thought to. She also said ‘I cannot change everything, but I have done everything to change one thing,’ and similarly ‘nobody has all the talent but everyone has a talent.’ I appreciated her reassurance that it’s okay not to be able to do it all, and the reminder to ‘be gentle with yourself’.”
“Something that struck me was the power of listening,” shared Manzur. “Through our class discussions, we are able to practice the skill of listening. However, it was a whole new experience listening to a complete stranger. We not only got to hear her, but she heard us; it was mutual. As our teacher SN reminds us, ‘If you listen, there is a world in a word’.”
Classmates Grace Timan and Liana Kitchel were similarly inspired by Pacheco’s words.
“Two things María shared inspired me,” said Timan. “The first was that we can make the most change in the world by doing what we love. The second was that we all have talent. I think this is really true but the hard part is figuring out what my talent is and what I love doing. Although some people my age have figured out what to do, I feel as if I have searching still and she reminded me of that.”
“I asked her about the stories behind her products,” shared Kitchel. “My favorite one she talked about was the Earth collection. She said each bracelet represents the beginning of Earth and how it was created. She talked about the sun and the moon and how they are on the bracelet because they connect to Earth. María told us ‘nobody has all the talent, everybody has a talent.” along with ‘you can change the world best by doing what you love, not making sacrifices to change the world.’ Her words spoke to me because I love doing art, although I’m not sure if by doing some type of art I will be doing enough. Hearing her perspective made me think that by doing the art I love, I can help change the world with my talent, not by forcing myself to do something I don’t like just because I think is the right thing to do.”
Following the interview, Mailliard wrote an email to Pacheco expressing his appreciation for her gift of time and wisdom shared with his students, and shared some of their reflections. Pacheco wrote back and noted that she, too, found the dialogue to have been a substantive, meaningful conversation.
“It was great to see what touched them the most and what connected with them,” replied Pacheco. “I got so inspired with your students and it was a gift to be able to tap into their mindsets.”
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Contact: Leigh Ann Clifton, director of marketing & communications,
Nestled among the redwoods on 375 acres, Mount Madonna School (MMS) is a diverse learning community dedicated to creative, intellectual, and ethical growth. MMS supports its students in becoming caring, self-aware, discerning and articulate individuals; and believe a fulfilling life includes personal accomplishments, meaningful relationships and service to society. The CAIS and WASC accredited program emphasizes academic excellence, creative self-expression and positive character development. Located on Summit Road between Gilroy and Watsonville. Founded in 1979.