A little bit about Maria Kamila Severiche Buelvas (Kamy)
I am from the coast of Colombia, South America, and moved to the US in 2021. I used to come to St.Louis on vacation to visit my sister, and during my last visit, I met my now husband Kyle, who is from Columbia, Missouri. Together, we have a fur baby, Duke, a golden doodle that makes us very happy.
The three of us (sister Maria Jose, Kyle, and I) work on our business Element. This platform connects verified artisans in Latin America with buyers in the US who are looking for one-of-a-kind handmade items that are unique, authentic, and worth the price.
In terms of my professional background, I did my undergraduate degree in Business Administration, and my Master’s in Human Development Management, both in EAFIT University, Medellin, Colombia. And even though I have always been involved in the business world, what really motivates me is being an advocate for Mental Health, I volunteer as a Support Group Facilitator for NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Illness) and it is one of my favorite roles in life.
When I am not working for Element or studying for the MBA at Olin, I am planning my next trip; I love traveling because I admire the beauty that exists in a diversity of cultures and believes every region has magic. So, now that I am approaching graduation, the most asked question I get is: what is your plan after graduation? I say: all I know is that I am going to Bali on December 27th. And when I am not traveling, you can find me enjoying a good cup of coffee or a glass of wine and eating a lot of chocolate or sour gummies while reading a psychological book (thrillers) or watching Law and Order: SVU.
