Meet Marisol Consuegra Prado | Entrepreneur & Mental Health Advocate

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marisol Consuegra Prado and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marisol, can you walk us through the thought-process of starting your business?
I started Strawberry Planner in October of 2020. I had lost my grandfather to Covid-19, relocated to Miami after having been in Boston for 6 years, and was unsure about my career path. Shortly after, I had my first panic attack. I felt unable to help my body and mind. After trying to understand what happened, I came to the realization that at least knowing what triggered the panic attack will help me better prepare for next time. Wanting to prepare and, dare I say, prevent my next panic attack, I turned to self-care planners. Planners help us prepare and keeps us accountable. I decided that as I confront my mental health journey creating self-care planners, I could also help others by making my products available.

What should our readers know about your business?
Strawberry Planner is a stationery company that helps individuals pause and prioritize their self-care using self-care planners and notebooks.

When I started my mental health journey, I struggled to find a good balance between structure and flexibility in other self-care planners. A lot of times, people create products purely from their own experience. With Strawberry Planner, we wanted to make sure there was a diversity of thought when designing the inside of the planner, as opposed to other companies. We decided to include the community in our design decisions. We conducted an online survey, set up live interviews, and hosted a giveaway. From all, we were able to learn people’s planning habits, self-care practices, and planning preferences. In the end, we created a planner that had structure but allowed for flexibility. As you go through it, you have a sense of security and freedom that you’ll be able to commit to your self-care routine and stay accountable.

Along the way, we have learned that there is a lot of value in including the community in our design process and self-care conversations. We now run a live text line where anyone can talk to us about their self-care and mental health. Running this line, allows us to get to know the community’s needs and create useful products. Every Sunday, we send a short self-care tip and throughout the month we have themed conversations. You can join us by texting us at (786) 746-8026.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
After I left Cuba, I moved to Miami and it was absolutely amazing. I would recommend a friend to the spots below!

For amazing breakfast and churros,
http://churrosmanolo.com/en/

To view all of the city,

Heli Air Miami Home

For a quick lunch or dinner,

Home

For a fun beach walk,
Miami Beach Boardwalk or sand edge.

For night-time drinks,
Lincoln Road

For cultural exploration,
visit Calle 8 or Wynwood

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
I would like to dedicate this shoutout to my late grandfather L.P.L (I’m not sharing his full name for privacy). As his nickname, I called him Apa. He always taught me to do what I loved the most and to always prioritize helping others.

During his life, he took roles as a teacher, lawyer, and entrepreneur. I learned from him what it means to be aware of the needs of a community and how to best help. He was also an amazing listener and supporter. I aspire to grow into those qualities through the Strawberry Planner’s self-care text line. Through there, I strive to be a good listener and cheerleader of all those who contact my number.

Apa passed away because of Covid-19 but I try to honor him every day. In fact, for every purchase made, we donate to plant a tree in the Andes Mountains. He was born in Peru and so I feel like I am spiritually and literally embodying the values he taught me and thanking him for all the love and encouragement he put into this world.

Website: www.StrawberryPlanner.com

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mystrawberryplanner/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/marisolcp/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Strawberry-Planner-105293348190071

Other: Self-Care Text Line*: (786) 746-8026 *Text me to talk about self-care and receive self-care tips every Sunday right to your phone.