Daniela Spanier: The Humanistic Spirit becomes a Guiding Light in the Principality of Monaco

As the only Bolivian resident of the Principality of Monaco, Daniela Spanier unites the local community by building cultural bridges to Latin American culture. As she states, Santa Cruz de la Sierra – her hometown – is built upon similar society pillars as Monaco, therefore, learning from her diverse background Daniela never stops inspiring.

Born to Bolivian-Lebanese and Italian-Venezuelan parents, Daniela Spanier speaks five languages, including Spanish, German, English, French, and Italian. 

Daniela is the co-founder of the Monaco Latin American Association (Association Monégasque pour l’Amérique Latine), known as AMLA.

AMLA is a non-governmental organisation serving as a link to promote the cultural dialogue, cooperation, and exchange between the Principality of Monaco and the countries of Latin America. Its activity focuses on providing a platform and a community for Monaco residents to discover Latin American sociocultural heritage and lifestyle, through a series of charity events ranging from galas and workshops to music auditions and conferences.

How did the idea of AMLA come to you?

“I grew up with charities and social events, as my grandmother was highly involved socially. As I grew up around all these strong women, I always felt the need to run for the next big thing. Having just one role as a mom was not so exciting for me. I always had this eagerness and edge, almost like a yearning to do something more in my life, to feel fulfilled on more levels,” – says Daniela. – “On the other side, it always hurt me that Latin America is usually seen as a cliché. Knowing that there is much more excellence and beauty lying behind these clichés that are never communicated, I wanted to create more awareness around my culture.”

Daniela met in Monaco with Yilen Pons Ramirez, Claudia Guevara and Marcela de Kern Royer who had complimentary ideas and intentions, and together they defined and launched AMLA. 

“When people come together for a purpose, my role is to define and structure it into manifesting itself; I see myself as someone, who knows and feels what is meant to be far before it happens; I collect and connect all the pieces of one puzzle.”

How did people in Monaco welcome your idea?

“In the beginning, it took us some time to understand the mentality and protocol, and found it challenging to match our enthusiasm and vision. We were only seen as a bunch of women. We were not structured administratively, simply driven by our Latino passion. 

The typical way in Monaco is to have very strict protocols and clear ways toward the goals. We did not have that,” – concludes Daniela. – “Although the local organizations were reluctant and distant we still had a good educated team, a clear vision and the public stood next to us. This made a huge difference.”

So it is right to say that AMLA brought something new to Monaco.

“Well, we did things differently and purposefully. We do not believe in reinventing the wheel, but in evolving it. 

Our purpose was to create a platform that feels like Latin America for those who join our events. We wanted to create a mentality, a community of thinkers alike, all sharing the Latin American way of celebrating life and friendships. 

We wanted to make a difference, so our first events were organised for friends and family.”

Did you have a lot of supporters in the Latino community?

“In the beginning, we did salsa courses and we started to gather all the Latinas together in Monaco. However, we realized immediately that Latinos are not very responsive. Everyone was doing their things individually and in the first year, we did not have the desired impact we wanted to make.”

What brought the breakthrough for AMLA?

“We decided to think big. We came up with the concept to create an annual Gala, which is dedicated every year to a Latin American country. 

Our first big event was dedicated to Cuba which was a huge success. We successfully introduced and brought closer the Cuban culture to Monaco residents.”

It must have been difficult to merge different cultural backgrounds during the years.

“For me, it was surprisingly easy as Monaco and Santa Cruz have many similarities, since they are both based on social relationships. Monaco’s attractivity strongly depends  on the people who live here. 

The fact that H.S.H. Prince Albert II is involved in many activities and events tell you that focusing on culture is quite important for the Principality of Monaco.”

What has been the biggest challenge for AMLA so far?

“Definitely the Gala last year. Unfortunately, some of our team members left and I was totally alone with a huge responsibility on my shoulders. For a temporary moment of weakness, I questioned myself whether we should continue with AMLA. 

Luckily, I had a friend, Sylvia Bourne from Brazil who motivated me. The pure fact that she believed in me was enough to re-energise myself and to make the biggest gala we ever had in Monaco for Latin Americans. It turned out to be a turning point, a real milestone moment for AMLA.”

Daniela was born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra, which is the largest city in Bolivia and considered to be the economic and industrial capital of the country. However, from an early age, she has lived the life of a global citizen.

“I was an international child born in Bolivia, but already between the age of one to four, I was living in Australia. My father was a diplomat there and later, I studied in the USA, Germany, and Switzerland too,” – starts Daniela.

Being a young kid in Australia, it was natural that the first language Daniela learnt was English.

As Daniela was only 4 years old, her parents divorced and her mother moved back to her parents’ home in Bolivia.  Daniela grew up accompanying her grandmother to local charities, social events, and other activities. 

Daniela’s grandmother is a former President of Rotary, Lions, the Comite Pro Santa Cruz and Head of Language and Mathematics at the Universidad Privada de Santa Cruz UPSA. Her grandfather was a renowned doctor with an active social life regularly hosting parties.

“I remember my grandparents’ home was a beautiful colonial house with sixteen rooms and two gardens in the middle. It was a really conservative house. 

My grandfather with Irish origins was the first Bolivian doctor who graduated from Harvard and the first gynecologist who inspired women to give birth in a hospital not at home, as was the rule back then in the 80s. He was very strict about the protocols, such as the eating hours or how we had to sit at the table. I grew up with a lot of those protocols,” – remembers Daniela.

Was your grandmother strict too?

“My grandmother had a very strong personality and her compliance to protocols and social common practices was very present. As a child, I went to all these charity events as the Rotary Club hosted many events to help people in need. I grew up in this circle of social events which shaped who I am today.”

The uniqueness of Santa Cruz and Latin America, in general is that it is very colourful and focused on all things beautiful. Small communities like, Santa Cruz in the 60s to the 90s, incubated highly protective and socially interdependent societies.

“Latin America has an important beauty industry and I grew up with much of this beauty around me. We celebrated carnival every year and we had a lot of “Comparsas” too. Most carnival activities revolve around a “Comparsa”, which is basically a group of male friends, who organise weekly gatherings around an “asado” and football (no women are allowed to participate). Its like a gentlemen’s club in London”.  Different comparsas compete against each other in football tournaments organized by them. 

During the carnival, each  comparsa names a queen and chooses a partner to dance with. The team members wear the same t-shirts to represent their comparsa to which they belong. I remember that when I was seven and eight, I even modelled to the Club Social with Rotary,” – laughs Daniela.

What is the most striking memory of your childhood?

“The endless shades of the green vegetation. Whenever I land  in Bolivia, as I feel the heat and the smell of humid earth I know that I am home. It is a beautiful sensation and since my childhood, nature forms a significant part of my life.”

What kind of games did you play as a small child?

“As a child, we often went to my uncle’s farmhouse. He had a lot of cattle,” – giggles Daniela. – “Probably twice per month all the cousins gathered together there. I had two cousins living on the same road which was wonderful as a child because we could just knock on each others’ doors whenever we wanted to. 

I had a very free childhood, immersed in nature. We used to climb up even on the rooftops, having lots of fun like chasing cats.

During our stay at my uncle, we woke up at 6 in the morning and went to the farm to drink freshly milked milk. We had our own cows, we made our cheese, baked our bread and we hunted for frogs. My childhood was spirited with freedom.”

Did you ever get into trouble because of climbing on the rooftops?

“Yes, whenever it rained. We had the type of roof that breaks underweight and whenever it rained it leaked, revealing our secret.”

How would you define the culture of your country?

“Co-operative and social, the whole system reflects this culture.”

Is it still the same today?

“In my childhood, many people knew each other. Unfortunately, nowadays as the result of massive emigration from the neighbouring cities, Santa Cruz has become a massive city of two million inhabitants. 

As a child, when it was raining, the roads were filled up with water and we all played in that dark, muddy water. It was similar to the kids in Africa as we were playing in the muddy paddles. Everyone was playing in this dirty water and there was nothing wrong nor discriminative with it.

I also remember that on the national holidays everyone took their bicycles to go to the centre, which is a truly beautiful colonial centre with a cathedral of its own.

When I grew up, the tradition of serenade and boyfriends singing and sending flowers with anonymous love declarations for girls still existed. I grew up in a very romantic and old school society.”

It sounds very romantic. When did you receive your first serenade?

“I was 16. It was a fairy-tale-like experience at my grandma’s house. The song still rings in my ears.

The society back then was very conservative and full of taboos, with very clear ideals about the role of women and men. It had to be  built upon social status, education, and social responsibility. 

Eventhough Santa Cruz is based on a men-dominated society, it is actually women who define and manage family and social values, and everyday practices. Nowadays of course, everything has opened up.” 

What is the role of love in Bolivia?

“Bolivian girls, especially those from Santa Cruz believe in the “blue prince”, just as fairy tales used to refer to the prince at the end of the story and are very warm-hearted, generous, and caring. We grow up with telenovelas, romanticism, and dramatic magic. Love is all around our cultural DNA.”

Daniela’s mother was very conservative, she never got married again and devoted her life to her two daughters and her career.

“My mom is the most wonderful and devoted woman with a strong sense of ethics. She never spoke badly about my father after the divorce. She made sure we regularly visited him, made my sister and I believe that nothing is impossible, and thought us to believe in magic and hardwork to achieve our dreams. Eventhough she worked and studied very hard she never disregarded our home. 

I remember that I was very upset when my mother left to New York to work at the UN in Manhattan and left us with my grandmother for one year. Every time she came to visit us, she was quite emotional which made me ashamed in front of my classmates. It was sad but my mother had to focus on getting settled before we could reunite with her.”

When Daniela turned eleven, she moved to New York to be with her mother.

Did you speak English when you enrolled in the American school?

“When I arrived in New York, I did not speak a word in English. Eventhough English had been my first language in Australia, I had forgotten it by then. However, I was quite fluent after four months. When you are young, you learn quickly because you are focused on being understood.”

Daniela was thirteen when the family moved back to Santa Cruz. She didn’t go back to the German School but was enrolled in the American school to pursue the language. By then, she spoke fluent German, English, and Spanish. This changed her life, she says. The kids in her school had a very different mentality than in the disciplined, old school German curriculum.  

“I found my best friends for life in this school. After one year, we left Santa Cruz and moved to la Paz, where my mother was managing a sustainable development project at USAID. 

Arriving in La Paz as a teenager was very difficult. It was a cultural schock for my growth and international background.”

La Paz, in Bolivia, is the highest administrative capital in the world, resting on the Andes’ Altiplano plateau at more than 3,500m above sea level.

“La Paz has a different mentality. While Santa Cruz is a rather open-minded city, proud and beautiful, I experienced La Paz as cold, conservative, and dishonest, where things were managed under the table. 

I also encountered a lot of jealousy and gossip during this time. This period was quite difficult for me, I could not wait to get out of there. The minute I graduated, I packed and left, and never went back. When I go back to Bolivia, I go to Santa Cruz. However, I made some very close friendships with whom I am still in contact. The older I get, the closer I grow to my friends made during those teenage years, I guess it is a very critical age where bonding lasts.”

How would you summarize your childhood in Bolivia?

“I had a happy childhood in Santa Cruz. I was allowed to be a child in a safe and protected environment. I see the same similarity in Monaco where children live freely and securily lacking no extra curricular activies nor opportunities for leisure and friendships.”

You were a model and grew up with charities. Did you experience any competition with your sister?

“No, but I have to confess that I excluded my sister a lot. I felt that I had a position to stay popular among my friends. Having my little sister around made me had the urge to protect her which limited me to be a cool teenager. 

My younger sister was looking up to me and I did not think that I was worth looking up to. I was a determined and ambitious teenager with plenty of insecurities and a lack of confidence. Although I excluded her, I always tried to protect her though.

Between us, I was the popular girl. I always got the shortcut and was in the front. Nevertheless, she was a top student and always a wonderful sister which is an amazing quality in her.”

After graduation, you left Bolivia, why?

“I was a determined ambitious teenager with a wide vision and urge for purpose. My world was and still is limitless, and Bolivia’s closed society and narrow mindset was suffocating for me. Although I had many insecurities, I had a dream and  I’ve never stopped dreaming, even in difficult situations. 

Today I know that dreams come true the minute you get out of the way; it is only and always you, who is standing in your way. I owe this right to dream to my mother, who always taught me that life exists as long and as far as your aspirations go.”

How do you see it now, who did you learn more from? Your grandmother or your mother?

“I would say from my grandmother because she was a society lady. I have never seen her without make-up or a perfect dress. I admired her because she was the one who was teaching us mathematics and language, helping with the school work. I spent a lot of time with her even if she was very short-minded.”

Daniela’s father was a diplomat and because of this, she travelled a lot to visit him. Her mother too worked internationally, just like later at the World Bank of Panama. All these travels made Daniela feel without any strong roots. 

“I knew deep inside that if I want to escape from my destiny, motivated by making a career and a better life, I had to leave Bolivia. In Bolivia, the fact is that the society is small and strongly interdependent which limits your right of choice and flexibility. 

I was always someone who felt that I belong to the big world. I had dreams and ambitions because I wanted to do something with a purpose. 

Staying in Santa Cruz, one dies the way they are born. There are rules and ways, and if you do something different, then you are outclassed by society. The term “society” today is wider and more diverse than it was when I grew up. 

I didn’t want to fit in a society that was all about adapting to the existing. I wanted to take risks, to make a difference, expand horizons and meet others as “crazy” as me. The only way for this was to go out into the big world and I did, all by myself. I followed my voice and dreams.”

Daniela, who spoke fluently German thanks to her early years’ of education in Santa Cruz, decided to try her luck in Konstanz, which is a city on Lake Constance (Bodensee), in southern Germany.

“I left Bolivia to Konstanz with only one backpack. I did not know if I will be able to stay there because there was an admission exam I had to do to enter the university. Luckily I was admitted.”

Later on, she moved to Stuttgart, the capital of southwest Germany’s Baden-Württemberg state, known as a manufacturing hub for automotive brands such as Mercedes-Benz and Porsche.

She started to study finance there. Later on, she transferred her status to Zürich, Switzerland, a global centre for banking and finance.

“I really loved Zürich. I graduated in International Management in Switzerland and started to work in banking. My first job was at Credit Suisse as an assistant private banker for the Latin American team, focusing on Bolivia, Ecuador, Peru, and Chile.”

What was the key benefit of Switzerland over Germany?

“In Germany, there were a lot of people who discriminated against me just because of my nationality. I kept thinking that is not how I was educated. We are not different because we have different nationalities, we are different because we have different backgrounds. 

Compared to the cliché-filled Germany, Switzerland was very international and professional, and it was really rewarding staying there. On top of this, Switzerland was organized, clean, and just like paradise.”

After Credit Suisse, Daniela changed to project consulting, and later on she ended up with the recruitment business company Michael Page.

“I was blessed to work with Michael Page because I had a chance to neutralize my view of hierarchy and focus on developing my strategic, planing and sales skills. My salary was based on a fix and bonus. We had weekly KPI’s including how many phone calls, interviews, and mandates I made. It was a great period until 2007, the financial crises.”

Working in Switzerland, Daniela met with the love of her life, her German-French future husband. They are now blessed with three children, Chiara (10), Dario (8), and Mateo (3).

Her husband was already a resident of the Principality of Monaco when they met, and it was a natural move for Daniela to join him from Switzerland to Monte-Carlo.

“Monaco was a totally different world for me, especially since I was eight months pregnant,” – remembers back Daniela. – “I came with him because I was scared to give birth alone and did not want to quit my job. I did not speak a word of French. I had a baby, I had no job and I had to build up everything from zero. Being a mother in a foreign country and not knowing the language can be challenging without help.”

Was it difficult to integrate into a money-driven society in Monaco? 

“It was super easy to integrate. I felt it’s much easier to socialize here because once you are accepted as a resident, you are part of the local community. The security and exclusivity make integration much easier.”

Who were your first friends here?

“My immediate circle consisted of moms. For me, at that time it was more about the lifestyle of the moms. It was about what you do as a mom. Being a mom myself, I was always seeking out those types of circles.Monaco helped me to feel happy inside, it has a beautiful community.”

 How important are personal connections to you?

“I truly believe in connections because they are sustainable. Things that are connected are aligned. This is very different than aiming to control an outcome.”

After giving birth, Daniela got some job offers, but she decided to decline them. She was more interested in learning French for her better integration.

As a new step, a few years after her arrival, she co-founded the Monaco Latin American Association (Association Monégasque pour l’Amérique Latine), known as AMLA.

Did you receive discrimination in Monaco?

“No. Actually, I was the biased one. I was obsessed with the clichés from my past. I realised that Monaco has so many international residents in such a tiny place that there are no clichés here.”

Have you ever experienced a cultural shock in Monaco?

“Not here,” – laughs Daniela. – “My cultural shock happened in Germany where everyone and everything is almost always aligned in a unified society. Germans are lovely, they even have more humor  than French people and are interested in others, but when it comes to rules they are terrible. I remember the first time when I tried to cut the queue in the supermarket and everyone was lecturing me.”

How about French people?

“One thing that I have observed is that French people like to banalise enthusiasm. Latinos are similar to Americans, we dream and imagine huge things to happen. We are enthusiastic and driven by passion.”

Do you think society can be a trap for some people?

“I would not call it a trap, but it can definitely limit you in certain ways. For instance, in Europe if you do not like a restaurant, you have the choice to go to another one. There is freedom of choice. On the other hand, in Bolivia, it is the society that decides the accepted places. You do not have a choice.”

In your opinion is Monaco an easy place for women entrepreneurs?

“I do not consider myself as an entrepreneur because I do not seek to sell anything to anyone. My intention is to love what I do and share this love with others. I believe experimenting different realities allows us to think outside the box and see beyond paradigm.  

I am the president and co-founder of an association, not a corporation. Our job is about building bridges in the community in the hope to awaken curiosity and solidarity for a good cause. AMLA supports several local charities focusing on children’s access to education and health. Nevertheless, AMLA is not a classical business.”

What would your advice be to people who like you, have a dream, a desire to bring out purpose in their lives? What is the key element to becoming successful in Monaco?

“I think you have to manage the right balance between desire and acceptance. You should never lose hope, your passion and seeking something. On the other hand, you should be aware of the higher source that is managing your path, especially when things do not happen as you want them to.

I have always believed that if one door closes then another, a much better one will open up. There is a balance between internal peace, ambition, and acceptance.”

Do you feel at home in Monaco? 

“Looking back at the time when I lived in Switzerland where everything worked well, I can say now that even though I loved my job and friends, I and my circle were not part of the country.

In contrast, here in Monaco, I feel at home because “everyone” is international. I however sometimes miss living in a big city. If you look at the traffic cameras, I probably pass the same spot around, fifteen times every day because the place is so small. I sometimes feel like being in the Truman Show. In the long run, it can be a bit small for me,” – laughs Daniela.

Did you ever have the urge to move back to Bolivia?

“What I miss from Bolivia does not exist anymore. The Bolivia I grew up in and loved so much does not exist anymore. Since then, there has been a huge transformation, a major economic growth and the values are not the same anymore. As the cities have expanded you don’t know anyone anymore.”

Have you thought of helping Bolivians and bringing there the “No Finish Line” concept from Monaco?

“I am a big fan of the No Finish Line project because it is a very innovative and unique event. I would not describe it as a race, it is more like a community event, a platform where one participates in charity. I wanted to bring this kind of event also to Latin America. Actually, the idea came from my mom, who is an ambassador in Latin America and she is very deeply involved in everything.”

Did you ever compete in the No Finish Line?

“Yes, I first started four years ago, although I am not so sporty. I also created a team and we collected together. We were called AMLA 39.”

What is the closest cuisine here in Europe to Bolivian food?

“We have a lot of potatoes and eat a lot of steaks.”

What is the one food that you most miss from Bolivia?

“Definitely the empanada. It is a type of baked or fried turnover consisting of pastry and filling, common in Latin American cultures. The name comes from the Spanish verb “empanar”, and translates as “breaded”, that is, wrapped or coated in bread. It is a slightly similar concept as the Monégasque Barbagiuan with the difference that in Bolivia we often fill it with cheese instead of spinach.”

How would you describe Monaco in three words?

“Community, solidarity, and glamour. I could even say respect because residents here in Monaco have huge respect for diversity.”

Would you recommend Bolivians Monaco as a place to live in?

“I would because Monaco offers security, good schools for families, and the possibilities to meet thinkers alike. Strategically and geographically it is very well placed. It makes sense for anyone who would like to relocate. 

I nevertheless would also make them aware that without travelling Monaco might get boring in the long-term,” – laughs Daniela.

How do you see yourself in the future, do you want to settle and stay in Monaco?

“For the future, I don’t want to live in one place. I imagine having homes in multiple places, keeping Monaco, but also to living maybe in Madrid, Spain.

The truth is that I went through a difficult realisation some years ago as I did not feel at home in either Germany, Switzerland, or Bolivia. I went through an identity shock when I thought about where my home is. I came to realise that I have travelled all my life and I do not have one home as a physical place, as I am a citizen of the world and home is where my husband and 3 children are.”

Are you a proud Bolivian?

“I am very proud of being Latin American. And I am very proud of being Bolivian, especially from Santa Cruz. I believe that my openness and love for nature, my understanding of the society, of being social and interactive, and my resilient spirit are true Bolivian.”

How about your children?

“My kids speak Spanish and they are proud Bolivians too. I remember that a few years ago, I wrote a will in case an accident would happen to me. I did not mention anything about money or inheritance in the will, I only talked about my Bolivian roots. I wrote that if something happens to me, my children need to go back to Bolivia,” – laughs Daniela.

Have you been to Bolivia with your husband and children?

“Yes, but it was not the same. My husband easily gets bored in Bolivia, because we have too many social engagements and must visit all family members.”

How would you differentiate a Bolivian man from a European one?

“I would say, based on their rationality. Europeans like to plan the future more than we Latinos. 

We tend to be more emotional and take more risks because we live for the present.”

Latinos are charismatic and passionate people. Who is the boss at home?

“It would be me,” – smiles Daniela. – “Germans are in general very loyal and less emotional. They can neutralise extremes, while we Latinos tend to like extremes.”

What do you think about your children growing up in such an environment as Monaco?

“It is different for several reasons, mainly because their family is limited to their parents and grandparents from the father side, unlike for me, where family was extended to cousins and uncles. Also, here they have never seen homeless people or distressed children. Lastly they grow up with a less serviced household, opposite to Bolivia where having a maid was quite common. 

However, there are many similarities and that includes the protected secure environment (Santa Cruz was never a dangerous town), an extensive offering of extra curricular activities, and many opportunities to meet peers. My son, Dario is more relaxed, while my daughter Chiara is a hard worker.

I give them the values and education, the vision to be more open. Furthermore, I teach them to see things holistically, to think rather than learn. 

There are many other parents like me. The fact that you grow up without fears and in good faith, can make you a little bit naive. Of course, this does not necessarily mean that you will end up on the wrong path. Such a background gives already a certain advantage.

I learnt that the only way to protect my children is by empowering them and not by controlling them. Therefore, I try to give them as much inner strength as possible.”

How do you see yourself, do you consider yourself a housewife?

“Not at all. My grandmother was always working, my mother was working too, and we always had somebody to help with the house works. Our family was about the fulfilment on a higher level, to leaving a footprint for the next generation.

I have struggled all my life with the sense of femininity. I never felt like a typical woman because I worked as hard as a man. I think the power of femininity has been underrated for so many years. I always diminished things linked by society to women, such as cooking.”

How about your Italian roots? It is well-known that in Italy it is the tradition for the mamma to take care of her son, even when he is in his thirties. Did you inherit some traits from these roots?

“I am half Italian, my grandparents are also Italian. I can say that I identify myself also with the Italian style, but I have inherited a very different gift, the gift of art. I love music, art, and creativity.”

Do you have artists in your family?

“All my Italian relatives are very artistic including actors, painters, musicians, and singers. Therefore, I am equally proud of my European side because it developed the love for the arts in my DNA.”

How has this artistic heritage affected your life?

“For many years I felt ashamed of my artistic “innocence”. With time I realised that my innocence is connected to consciousness. I was often criticised that my belief in the good in people is naive, however, I see it more as a value. 

I have always refused to assume that there is evil. A soul can not be evil, it only has accumulated negative energy for the need of releasing it. People often see this quality in me as a handicap.”

Is music important in your family?

“Super important. I always wanted to sing. Singing for me is the last mile because it makes me feel free. For me, music has enormous power because it teaches you to breath and it aligns your energy. I believe music should be an important part of education.”

You also believe in spirituality and even more in life energies.

“Indeed. I could define it as pure energy. The source of sustainability is the self-regenerative power of nature, human cells, our ecosystem, and of life itself. We all have the power to regenerate. Power is internal it is not something external and it does not include appropriation nor taking away from anyone or anything. It simply means, awareness and creation from within. 

This is who I am and what I want to pass on as well to my children. We must focus on the source of things, not the reactions. We must look inside not outside, and we must know we all have what it takes within.”

Daniela speaks from a place of wholeness, coming from her holistic and comprehensive life, full of anecdotes, learnings, and encounters; grateful for the many blessings, losses, and corrections along the way. 

It is Daniela’s vision, genuine nature, and confidence that puts her today in that place of wholeness she calls “the observer”.

“The observer is delighted, powerful, and wise. She peacefully observes her own creation in “the self” and the life around her bliss, which is her “learning stage” in certainty and faith. 

She knows deep within that, whatever happens, is meant to happen and that she has what it takes to learn what has to be learned to grow. 

The observer never stops desiring to receive, to give, to grow, to learn. The observer is pure energy, she knows no fear, no attachments, no doubts. 

The observer is what it takes to love free of conditioning, to allow the flow and the way to true human compassion, mutual inspiration, and personal fulfilment. The observer is her, is you, is our collective consciousness waiting patiently to be awakened within each of us.”

Talking about education and on this highly spirited note, what is the next big AMLA Gala event?

“It is finally dedicated to discovering the mystical face of Bolivia,” – states Daniela proudly. – “and it will be held in September.”

What is the promise of the Gala?

“An exceptional experience bringing together a unique and diverse mix of individuals. Our aim with the Gala is to establish an intimate socio-cultural exchange between the Principality of Monaco and Bolivia, to enrich our guests’ knowledge and awareness, and lastly to give back to our communities with our raised finances. Moreover, through this exciting gathering, AMLA wants to both unite and highlight our individual and unique ideas and perspectives to bring the Bolivian culture closer to all valued guests from every corner of the world.”

Who are the targeted guests?

“It is open to all those who wish to expand their horizons, contribute to our incentive to give back to local communities – as this special gathering represents our association in the Bolivian spirit. AMLA truly aims to show that we can all experience, create, and influence in the same joyful and harmonious manner.”

AMLA believes that if we share our heritage and unite in a positive spirit, we can create a collective storage and an overflowing space of inspiration for everyone to freely use and benefit from. By bringing the best of our world to the world we all chose as our second home, we offer the chance to understand one another.

On a final note, what has been the best decision you have taken in Monaco?

“Without hesitation, the foundation of AMLA.”

With her strong humanitarian view, Daniela is committed to inspiring us to switch on the light within, seeking true connections and real understanding among us human beings and back to our roots, Mother Earth – Our Pachamama.