Experience Design for Building Community.

Make it Mariko (pronounced MAH-ree-ko) is an award-winning Bay Area creative events agency led by women of color that creates magical, meaningful moments for the community.

We are experience curators, community activators, corporate planners, nonprofit advocates, and event enthusiasts.

We are committed to curating creative, inclusive, and diverse spaces in the events industry, to challenge the status quo, and pave the way for a new generation of event experience curators.

As Featured In

Our Commitments

To curate creative, inclusive, and diverse spaces in the events industry.

To challenge the status quo and pave the way for a new generation of event experience curators.

To work and dream out of abundance – for ourselves, our clients, and our community.

Sustainable Events For All

Sustainability comes in many ways. At Make it Mariko, we strive for a holistic approach to event production & planning that keeps in mind the well being and joy of all: Client, Attendee, Vendors, Planners, and Environment.

We believe Clients deserve our best ideas and effort.
We believe Attendees deserve magical experiences and inspiration.
We believe Vendors deserve respect and equal opportunity.
We believe Planners deserve rest and balance.
We believe the Environment deserves our care and concern.

Our Values

Experience first

People over Pinterest photos.

Hire Local & POC

Support the local ecosystem. Hire people of color and creatives as much as possible.

Relationships are everything

Build with every person, no matter their title.

MAKE MAGIC

Make it magical, meaningful, and memorable.

Strive for excellence, not perfection

We design from a human-centric approach with memorable moments at the heart of the work.

Dream big.

Get creative, have fun, and dream big. If you’re not excited, there’s something wrong.

Meet the Team

As Featured in Forbes! Read the article here.

Gina Mariko Rosales
Founder & Chief experience officer (ceo)

Get to know gina
Fun Stuff

Gina Mariko Rosales is a Filipino Japanese American entrepreneur, events enthusiast, efficiency nerd, dancer, and nonprofit advocate. Prior to founding Make it Mariko, Gina spent 10 years doing corporate & nonprofit event planning, administration, and operations. She was the first Administrative Business Partner for the Google Self-Driving Car Team, and the first Head of Marketing Events at X, the moonshot factory (formerly Google X) where she planned large scale tech event activations, press, and public policy events. Gina has helped found and launch multiple nonprofit and arts & culture projects that all help to amplify POC creatives, entrepreneurs, and artists, namely:

UNDISCOVERED SF Creative Night Market in SOMA Pilipinas Cultural District (Co-Founder)
Pinayista, a nonprofit community of Filipino women dedicated to building sisterhood in the hustle (Founder & Director)
Balay Kreative, nonprofit arts & culture incubator in SF (Co-Founder)

Gina’s personal mission is to create magical, meaningful moments that help remind us of the beauty and interconnectedness of life.

I was born and raised in the Bay Area, and my language reflects it (#HELLA). I take great pride in my city, San Francisco. Don’t call it San Fran, or we can’t work together.
I love karaoke. Our team frequents it often, and you are welcome to join!
A beautiful glass of Pinot Noir or Beaujolais is the way to my heart. I just finished a scholarship program at the San Francisco Wine School.
My last meal would be chicken adobo over rice (saucy, not dry).
I love sarcasm and a good pun.
My favorite color is purple. Can you tell?!? 🙂
I’m a Capricorn. Enough said.

DONITA BATTAD
Administrative Business Partner

Sydney PADERNA
Event Manager

ELLE HEMBRA
Marketing Coordinator

Click to see open roles & opportunities

here.

Our History

Read more on the blog

blog here

Our founder Gina’s family has a motto: “to da dit” (literally “to the death” said in a Filipino accent).

IN GINA’S WORDS: It started off as a saying the cousins learned from our uncles; our version of “Cheers!” that we’d say before taking shots at family parties. It was a fun phrase to get the party started as we pledged to drink “to the death”. But after my cousin only 3 months younger than me died by suicide in 2011 and then my uncle in 2014 to leukemia, the meaning changed drastically for our entire family. “To da dit” became something more real — a mantra reminding us to never forget how precious our lives are, to appreciate every single day, and most importantly, to appreciate each other.

Family, community, and love is everything. Life can be cut short at any moment, and you never know when, or how. The moments we create with each other are what matter the most, and are what we’ll remember for the rest of our lives. That’s why our goal at Make it Mariko is to create magical, meaningful, and unforgettable moments for you, your family, your community, your company, and your loved ones. Moments worth remembering “to da dit” and beyond.

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