A high-stakes stage requires more than a host.

It requires a moderator who can earn trust quickly, ask the right questions, and guide a conversation toward real insight. 

Peabody Award- winning journalist and author Mariana Atencio is trusted by leading global organizations to anchor their most important dialogues and keep audiences fully engaged.

Mariana has interviewed and shared the stage with world leaders, cultural icons, and business

executives, including:

• Pope Francis

• the King of Spain

• Heads of State in the US, Brazil, Asia and Venezuela

• Michael Bloomberg

• Bill Ackman

• Arianna Huffington

• Tyler Perry

• Rafael Nadal

• Serena Williams

She is known for making guests feel prepared and at ease, which leads to sharper answers, more candid moments, and takeaways that resonate beyond the event.

Mariana doesn’t just moderate; she acts as an editorial partner. 

With an investigative journalism background, she helps shape the throughline of a program, develops questions that match the moment, and navigates complex topics with clarity, from geopolitics and technology to finance, media, and culture. 

Mariana brings structure without stiffness and energy without chaos, so momentum stays high across multi-session and multi-day programs.

She works seamlessly with global AV and production teams to ensure technical execution is as

polished as the content. 

Mariana is a trusted moderator and MC for major stages and convenings, including:

• The Future Investment Initiative (FII) in Saudi Arabia

• Citi Private Bank dialogues

• Global events for Microsoft

• Nasdaq

• Hyundai

• Foreign Policy, and

• The United Nations General Assembly

Whether it’s a 60-minute fireside chat with a CEO or a multi-day summit (virtual or in-person), Mariana keeps the conversation on track, the transitions smooth, and your speakers set up to deliver their best.