Meet Marly Q Casanova | TEDx Speaker, Emcee & Wellness Facilitator

We had the good fortune of connecting with Marly Q Casanova and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Marly Q, where are your from? We’d love to hear about how your background has played a role in who you are today?
I was raised in “the 305” with a deep appreciation for freedom, family, and cafecito! I’m the proud daughter of Cuban immigrants who fled communism in the early 1980’s and landed in Panama, where my big sister and I were born. We moved to Miami, FL when I was just one month old, so while I didn’t spend much time in Panama, I love the country, it’s people and culture!

My upbringing shaped everything about who I am today. I grew up watching my parents struggle, work hard, sacrifice, and build a life from scratch. That immigrant hustle, paired with core values my family instilled in me, drives my passion and work as an inspirational speaker, emcee, and wellness facilitator every day.

Whether I’m on stage speaking at a conference with thousands of people, facilitating a virtual event with hundreds, or hosting an intimate retreat with just a few, I’m here to connect with people and remind them of their purpose, their power and the importance of kindness along the way – because kindness is what has most impacted who I am today.

What should our readers know about your business?
I started my first business in 2008, the same year I earned my Master’s in Higher Education and walked away from a steady high paying job due to chronic stress and burnout. I thought being my own boss would be the solution. Spoiler alert: it wasn’t. I burned out again and again and for the last time, in 2016, this time running my own events and nonprofit.

That was my wake-up call. I didn’t just want a successful business—I wanted to create a successful life. One that prioritized my well-being, my purpose and future family. So as hard as it was, I pressed pause. I committed to yoga practice and became a certified yoga instructor, restructuring everything around wellness, kindness, and sustainability.

Then in 2020, when the pandemic shut down the events industry, I pivoted from planning events altogether to leading them virtually from my living room as a keynote speaker, emcee, and wellness facilitator. I’m proud to BRAG (Be Real And Grateful) that today, I’m a happy wife and mom of two who has delivered 500+ impactful, energizing experiences for organizations and audiences around the world.

I’m passionate about helping people stress less, connect more, and prevent burnout—because I’ve lived it. My personal brand and business is all about leading with kindness and proving that success doesn’t have to come at the cost of your well-being.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
If my best friend came to visit, I’d skip the tourist traps and show them the real Miami … the one people don’t always advertise. It’s not all beach, bikini bodies and botox! Miami is filled with kindness, passion, and purpose. It’s a vibrant, multicultural city with soul and I’d make sure they FELT IT.

We’d eat at small mom and pop restaurants, take a cafecito break at the famous “ventanita” at Versailles (because you can’t say you’ve been to Miami without it!), then explore some of my favorite hidden gems and community events that feed your spirit.

I’d also make sure to connect them with amazing people from communities I LOVE, like the Florida Professionals Association, and if they’re even thinking about starting or growing a business in Miami-Dade, I’d point them straight to the Strive305Hub.com—a powerhouse of local support and opportunity.

I always say that I live in paradise but, to me, the best part of Miami isn’t just the sun and palm trees—it’s the people. That’s what makes this city magical.

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?
My ShoutOut is dedicated to all the PARKers—people who Perform Acts of Random Kindness—because kindness is the singular thread that’s connected every milestone in my journey and success story.

From my one-of-a-kind family to special teachers, mentors, clients, friends and even strangers who offered a kind word, a hand or opportunity at just the right time, your support helped shape the person I am proud to be today.

But if I had to start somewhere, I’d take it back to 4th grade, when one teacher saw something in me I hadn’t seen in myself yet. That small moment of recognition was a spark that lit the path I’m still walking (and it’s a story I share in my TEDx talk “Kindness is your Superpower”).

Website: https://www.marlyQ.com

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

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

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/themarlyq

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@marlyq

Other: Podcast Time to be Kind with Marly Q on SPOTIFY:
https://open.spotify.com/show/67IViDm1O05txxmUpCSlzh?si=fb7109613e864b1d